It was a day of frustrations for the Monster Energy WBR Yamaha Team at round three of the ProMX championship at Gillman, in South Australia.
The weekend promised plenty with the MX3 championship leader, Ky Woods, in good form after two impressive rounds to start the year. Koby Hantis is improving by the week on his return from injury and Madi Simpson out to redeem herself from a disappointing opening round of the Women’s championship.Woods started the day in good form and took P1 in qualifying after posting the fastest lap on the challenging Gillman circuit. Woods selected his gate and got himself ready to race when his bike leapt forward and over the start gate. He quickly got back behind the gate and readied himself again, but the same thing happened.
Again, he repositioned his bike, get his start button locked down and this time without any issues, he charged towards the first turn once the gates dropped. He slotted into the top four, made quick work of the riders in the front and soon found his way into the race lead. He was able to put some real estate between himself and the rider behind when he started to slow.
Suddenly the intensity in his riding was gone and while still circulating at a brisk pace, it wasn’t the all-out speed he showed in the opening laps. He lost the lead but the gap back to third was more than enough and he was able to secure second place as he crossed the finish line.
But his plight wasn’t over, race officials issued a penalty for outside assistance when his bike leapt over the start gate and as a result he was removed from the race result. The team quickly lodged a protest but that was rejected, and he was awarded no points from the opening moto.
Unsure of the issue, the team swapped motors for race two and he was back on the start and trying to salvage any points he could. His start was inside the top five and he slowly but surely moved his way forward. He was into fourth, then third, then second and with a couple of laps to go, Woods had the race leader in sight.
He put in a final lap charge but came up just short and finished the day in ninth place with DQ-2 results.
“This wasn’t the day I had hoped for. I felt good in qualifying because I haven’t done a lot of laps around here, was happy that I adjusted quickly, and the bike was working well. But on the start line I didn’t know what was happening as it kept jumping forward but the start was ok and the bike was good for a while before I started hearing some strange noises, so I just tried to nurse it home as best I could but then I heard there was an issue with my mechanic being on the grid after the two minute board went up and I had my points taken from me from that race.
“The team protested it while the rest of the guys sorted my bike out and I just had to focus on the next race. It took me a few laps to get going, but felt I got better as the race went on and was happy to finish the race in second as at least get some points for the weekend.
“I have dropped to second in the championship and now 22 points from the lead, but we still have five rounds to go and 10 races so plenty of racing to come before they hand out championships,” Woods said.
Koby Hantis was able to get another couple of weeks riding and training under his belt between rounds two and three and the improvement was evident in his speed and fitness.
Hantis finished with 12-7 results and still not where he wants to be, but knowing things are headed in the right direction. The opening moto 12th was a result of a first turn crash that left him stone last and well behind the pack as he remounted his bike and rejoined the race. He was big effort to climb that far back through the pack in 20 minutes.
Race two was a little less dramatic but a mid-pack start certainly didn’t help his cause.
“We have another month until round four, so I hope to be a lot closer to the front by the time we get to Traralgon,” Hantis said. “It's been harder than expected to come back from my shoulder injury but think it’s coming good now and it won't be much longer until I’m back to full speed and fitness.
“Thanks to the WBR Yamaha team for their patience and my plan is to reward them with some race wins in the back half of the season.”
Madi Simpson had an up and down day at Gillman, finishing with a strong fourth place in race one, then having to charge from the rear of the field in race two to claim 10th, giving her eighth for the round.
Simpson started moto one well and was in third position and within sight of second for most for the moto. It wasn’t until the final two laps when she lost a spot and finished fourth. The second race saw her hit the deck in the first turn and took some time to get to her feet and get moving.
She then did her best to pass as many riders as she could before race end.
“Today was just ok. I have a goal each round to be on the podium and haven’t go there yet, so I need to keep working and make sure I get it done for the final two rounds. I rode pretty well in race one but the first turn crash in race two meant I had no chance of getting podium for the round, so I need to make that up at our next WMX round,” Simpson said.
ProMX Results
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ProMX Results
Round 3 – Gillman
15th Koby Hantis – 37 (Yamaha YZ250F)
MX3
1st Kayd Kingsford – 50
2nd Jet Alsop – 40
3rd Jack Deveson – 36
4th Seth Shackleton – 32
5th Baylin Townsend – 27
6th Cooper Rowe – 25
7th Koby Hantis – 23 (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha)
8th Casey Wilmington – 23
9th Ky Woods – 22 (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha)
10th Kayden Strode – 21
WMX
1st Charli Cannon – 50
2nd Tayla McCutcheon – 42
3rd Talya Thompson – 34
4th Karaitiana Horne – 33
5th Madison Healey – 32
6th Darci Whalley – 32
7th Leah Rimbas - 30
8th Madi Simpson – 29 (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha)
9th Makayla Rimbas – 26
10th Emily Lambert – 24
MX3 Championship Standings
1st Kayd Kingsford – 141
2nd Ky Woods – 119 (Yamaha YZ250F)
3rd Jet Alsop – 113
4th Jack Deveson – 96
5th Jackson Fuller – 83
6th Seth Shackleton – 80
7th Cooper Rowe – 61
8th Baylin Townsend – 60
9th Casey Wilmington – 55
10th Kayden Strode – 51
WMX Championship Standings
1st Charli Cannon – 100
2nd Tayla McCutcheon – 74
3rd Taylor Thompson – 67
4th Karaitiana Horne – 59
5th Darci Whalley – 54
6th Madi Simpson – 49 (Yamaha YZ250F)
7th Madison Healey – 48
8th Lachlan Turner – 44 (Yamaha YZ250F)
9th Jordon Jarvis – 40 (Yamaha YZ250F)
10th Leah Rimbas - 40