Motocross

A Large Contingent of Australian Riders Show their Game at WJMX Qualifying

Posted:

Saturday, August 25th, 2018

7:11 PM

Bailey Malkiewicz finished second in the 125cc class and looks a good shot at taking a World Championship if the stars align tomorrow. Photo: Garry Morrow

2018 Pirelli MX Nationals Development Champion Bailey Malkiewicz has been piped at the finals stages of qualifying at the 2018 FIM World Junior Motocross Championship (WJMX) at Horsham, Victoria.

Saving his best lap for his last Malkiewicz put in a lap of 1:48.759, but it wasn‰Ûªt enough as Italian Mattia Guadagnini swooped in to qualify fastest with his 1:48.434.

Malkiewicz enjoyed the rough conditions and being on the YZ125; ‰ÛÏIt was quite slick out there and that made it easy to make mistakes, the track changed a lot from this morning and became a bit rougher which I enjoy, and we gained some time. I‰Ûªm happy with how we qualified, and I can‰Ûªt thank Yamaha enough,‰Û

Korey McMahon was 4th fastest in the 125cc class with his best lap of 1:49.008. Photo: Garry Morrow

Blake Fox put his KTM inside the top ten, after dashing around the Horsham circuit in a time of 1:49.957. Making it five Australian riders in the top ten was Regan Duffy, who‰Ûªs time of 1:49.887 qualified him ninth fastest.

The Aussie assault didn‰Ûªt end just inside the top ten, with Dante Hyam just outside in 12th after clocking a best lap of 1:50.540. Just behind Haym was fellow Aussie Matthew Farby who qualified in 13th. Noah Ferguson has qualified in 17th position but had good speed in the first practice session this morning, giving him confidence heading into tomorrow‰Ûªs races.

Ty Jones put in a best lap of 1:51.535 qualifying in 19th position making it ten Australian riders in the top 20.

Blake Fox finished 8th fastest in the 125cc class. Photo: Garry Morrow

The next Australian to qualify was Alex Larwood, with his best lap of 1:52.110 putting him in 23rd, Caleb Clifton was throwing his bike around over the big jumps here at Horsham on his way to qualifying in 26th position.

Ricky Chalmers ended today‰Ûªs qualifying session in 27th position, and the Aussie contingent was completed by Riley Findlay in 32nd.

The quality on show here at Horsham is first class and the Australian riders are mixing it with the best in the world, the 125cc class is back in action tomorrow with the two races to decide who will be the 125cc WJMX Champion

Regan Duffy, who‰Ûªs time of 1:49.887 qualified him ninth fastest in 125cc. Photo: Garry Morrow

In the 85cc FIM World Junior Motocross Championship (WJMX) Qualifying it was Brad West aboard his Kawasaki who was the best of the Australian contingent, grabbing the tenth quickest time of 1:54.980. West best lap came on lap two of the qualifying session as the Horsham circuit got rougher throughout the qualifying session.

‰ÛÏI felt quite good out there, the track is really good. It‰Ûªs starting to rut up a bit and there a few pot holes and square edges but it‰Ûªs fun hitting all the jumps, I‰Ûªm looking forward to racing tomorrow,‰Û

Brad West aboard his Kawasaki who was the best of the Australian contingent, grabbing the tenth quickest time of 1:54.980 in the 85cc class. Photo: Garry Morrow

Behind Towill there was a log jam of Australian with Zac Watson in 14th, Ryan Alexanderson 15th, Ryder Kingsford 16th, Jack Mather 17th and Jett Burgess-Stevens in 18th.

It‰Ûªs another strong pack of riders in the 85cc class with eight riders in the top 20.

Just outside the top 20 in 21st position was Jackson Camilleri who stopped the clock at 1:56.896. Following Camilleri was the pair of Australians Campbell Williams (25th) and Connor Adams (26th).

Jasper Moon has put his KTM into 28th position, followed by Deegan Mancinelli (33rd), then came the Husqvarna pair of Mason Hills (36th) and Jett Kipps (37th).

Zac Watson led a log jam of Australian's in the 85cc class in the middle order with Watson the best of them in 14th. Photo: Garry Morrow

It was the last qualifying session of the day but Australian Braden Plath made it worth the wait, grabbing the second fastest time of qualifying on the last lap in the 65cc class, a 2:00.011.

Plath powered his way around the Horsham circuit and showed he enjoyed the tough and rugged conditions; ‰ÛÏIt was pretty gnarly out there, it was really tacky the whole day but so much fun,‰Û

Australian Braden Plath grabbed the second fastest time of qualifying on the last lap in the 65cc class. Photo: Garry Morrow

Deacon Paice put his KTM into 16th position with a fastest lap 2:04.472, he saved his best for last as he clocked his fastest lap on lap 13. Hixon Mcinnes was another Australian inside the top 20, qualifying 17th. Just behind Mcinnes was Thomas Wood on his Husqvarna with a time of 2:04.687, and in 20th was Seth Shackleton on his KTM.

A popular class for the Australian riders, Seth Burchell (21st), Ty Sharp (23rd), Koby Hantis (24th), Liam Owens (26th), Angus Pearce (27th), Jason West (29th), Nate Thompson (31st), Oliver Paterno (32nd), Billy Cameron (34th) and Nicholas Lovett (36th).