MX Nationals

A Sea Off Blue With A Touch Of Green As Jed Beaton Wins MX2 At Horsham

Posted:

Monday, March 30th, 2015

11:10 AM

Serco Yamaha's Jed Beaton has announced his arrival in the MX2 ranks in sensational style winning the opening round of the 2015 MX Nationals at Horsham, Victoria on Sunday the 29th of March.

Beaton who was the odds on favorite to win the MXD championship in his first season of senior racing in 2014 before secumbing to injury, kicked of the 2015 season in grand style topping the time sheets on a thick mud laiden track as the 250 riders hit the track first thing in the morning.

When the gates dropped on moto one it was Newcastle KTM backed privateer Dylan Wills who earlier qualified third fastest who grabbed the holeshot from JCR / Fox / Yamaha backed racer Jay Wilson. Wilson quickly moved into the lead and was joined at the front by Japanese Champion Takeshi Katsuy aboard his Kawasaki.

The duo battled up front in an epic dice that saw the lead change back and forth on many occasions. Reiging MX2 champion Luke Clout soon joined the two riders up front, passing both and launching his Serco Yamaha into the lead.

Wilson was solid all day and was unlucky to not finish on the podium after a run in with a lapped rider - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

His lead was short lived however with a crash relegating him back through the field, leaving Wilson and Takeshi to resume their battle for the lead, while KTM privateer Riley Graham who finished inside the top ten outright and second in the E1 class at the opening rounds of the 2015 AORC championship just the week prior aboard his KTM 150 two stroke, moved to third aboard his KTM 250 two stoke that he will be mounted on for the 2015 series.

Clout was able to re-group after his crash and moved his way back into third place bringing his team-mate beaton along for the ride. Clout made his way back past the leading two for a second time to re-capture the lead with Beaton following suit and quickly started putting pressure on Clout.

Unfortunately for Beaton he crashed moving him back to fourth. Clout raced on for the moto one win, while behind him, Wilson in second position got caught up with a lapped rider causing him to crash. The crash left Katsuya to capitilise and secure second position, just ahead of Beaton in third while a angry Wilso recovered for fourth.

Nathan Crawford rode through the field to finish 5th ahead of Graham in sixth and Wills in 7th. Wade Hunter, Rhys Carter and Geran Stapleton rounded out the top ten.

Luke Arbon grabbed the holeshot in race two - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

SD3 Husqvarana's Luke Arbon who finished 11th in the opening moto rocket to the lead in race two, pulling the holeshot with Wilson right on his back wheel.

Arbon was able to hold the lead for the opening couple of laps before Wilson made his move into the lead.

Clout claim a race win and had the round in the bag with a second place in race two until a 10 second penalty cost him two positions - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

Much like the first race, Beaton, Wilson, Katsuya and Clout took control of the front four positions and battled their way to the finish.

This time it was Beaton who crossed the line to take his first ever MX2 win in just his first race, with Clout in second place, Wilson third and Katsuya in fourth. Clout provisionally had the overall win for the round, but was soon relegated to fourth for the race and second overall for the round due to receiving a ten second penalty.

Behind Katsuya, Caleb Ward raced a solid second moto to secure fifth place ahead of a consistent Crawford in sixth with Luke Arbon settling for seventh. Wade Hunter, Wills and Carter rounded out the top ten.

Jed Beaton showed he has what it takes to race up front in MX2 in just his first outing Credit: Aaryn Minerds

At the end of the day it was Beaton who left Horsham with the round win and the Red Plate, with Clout in second and Katsuya showing he will be a force to be reckoned with in third overall.

‰ÛÏToday was a good day. I had a bad start in that first one and made a couple of mistakes, but I managed to sort myself out and I‰Ûªm over the moon to be on the podium," Beaton said. ‰ÛÏI have been working really hard so I‰Ûªm not completely shocked by my result, but it‰Ûªs definitely nice to get this one for the team at round one.

‰ÛÏI can‰Ûªt thank my team and also my brother Ross enough. Ross is always out on the pit board and pushing me with my riding so I did this for him today.‰Û

A ten second penalty cost Luke Clout the overall for the day, however he still sits in second place just two points behind Beaton - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

Motul MX2 round overall and Championship points 1) Jed Beaton ‰ÛÒ 65 Pts
2) Luke Clout ‰ÛÒ 63 Pts
3) Takeshi Katsuya ‰ÛÒ 62 Pts
4) Jay Wilson ‰ÛÒ 60 Pts
5) Nathan Crawford ‰ÛÒ 51 Pts
6) Wade Hunter ‰ÛÒ 46 Pts
7) Dylan Wills ‰ÛÒ 46 Pts
8) Caleb Ward ‰ÛÒ 45 Pts
9) Luke Arbon ‰ÛÒ 44 Pts
10) Riley Graham ‰ÛÒ 44 Pts

Top Image: Jed Beaton claimed his first MX2 round win in his first attempt.

Credit: Aaryn Minerds

Takshi Katsuya said pre race he was aiming for a top three result and he came through on his promise finishing on the final step of the podium - Credit: Aaryn Minerds