Motocross

Egan Mastin takes a double moto win at Port Macquarie

Posted:

Sunday, July 30th, 2017

10:02 PM

Davey Motorsports KTM rider Egan Mastin took two wins from two motos in the Motul MX2 class and left Port Macquarie undefeated, at what was an epic Round 8 of the Motul MX Nationals today.

With a strong crowd turning out to support the Motul MX National‰Ûªs first ever visit to Port Macquarie, the MX2 category were impressive in both races today, the front runners battling hard as competitors reach the pointy end of their championship.

The Motul MX2 class were treated to prime time track conditions during their qualifying session this morning, and being the first time that the series has visited the venue, the field of riders maximised on the opportunity to get to know the all new circuit.

By the time qualifying had wrapped up, Penrite CRF Honda Racing‰Ûªs Kyle Webster pipped KTM‰Ûªs Mastin for the top spot with a 1:46.859 lap time on his last rotation on the circuit, second quickest was Mastin, (1:47.627) while Serco Yamaha‰Ûªs Mitchell Evans secured the third gate pick with a 1:48.226 lap time.

For the second round in a row Penrite Honda's Kyle Webster just missed the podium but he was the fastest in qualifying. Credit: MXN Images

Moto 1

With only eight points separating the championship leader Wilson Todd from his competition heading into the round, when the MX2 class lined up for their opening moto at Port Macquarie all eyes were on the DPH Motorsport‰Ûªs Yamaha machine.

And it was Todd who secured the first Raceline holeshot of the weekend, followed Mastin and fastest qualifier Webster.

With 30 minutes on the clock in the first race for the Motul MX2 category, after two laps riders settled in to their positions. Todd began to stretch out his lead on Mastin, while Webster back in third had his hands full trying to hold off a hard charging Davey Motorsport‰Ûªs rider Hamish Harwood.

By the five lap mark, Serco Yamaha‰Ûªs Evans made his way back through the field, passing Harwood and moving into fourth behind fastest qualifier Webster.

With Todd having a comfortable lead, the attention then shifted to the battle for positions behind him, and it was Yamaha mounted Richie Evans and and ‰Û÷RUOK themed‰Ûª KSF Racing‰Ûªs Dylan Wills‰Ûª who‰Ûªs battle for sixth captured the crowd‰Ûªs attention.

But just as both Wills and Evans had kick started their battle, Mastin closed in on race leader Todd, and set up one hell of a fight for control of the opening moto.

Mastin made the move on Todd just after the first turn, but Todd retaliated, the pair switching back and forth a handful of times before KTM‰Ûªs Mastin found the edge and began to pull a gap on his Yamaha competitor.

By the halfway point in race one, the running order saw Mastin leading from Todd and Webster ‰ÛÒ Evans, Harwood and Richie Evans, occupied positions four through to six, while Wills, Raceline Pirelli KTM‰Ûªs Jayden Rykers and Tomas Ravenhorst followed closely behind.

With only a handful of laps left to run in the first moto, Rykers began to find his way through the talented field, passing both Wills and Evans (Richie) and making up two positions in just one rotation.

But by the time rider‰Ûªs received the last lap board, Mastin continued to lead by a healthy eight seconds while behind him, points leader Todd was doing everything in his power to find the lines that would narrow the gap.

But when the chequered flag flew it was Mastin‰Ûªs smooth and calculated riding that saw him take the first race victory at Port Macquarie, second place went to red plate holder Todd, followed by the MX2 fastest qualifier Webster who put in a smart and consistent ride to finish in third. Evans and Harwood completed the top five, followed by Rykers, Wills, Evans, Ravenhorst and Raceline Pirelli KTM‰Ûªs Jay Wilson who all finished inside the top ten.

Wilson Todd (2) finished second overall and still leads the MX2 Championship with two rounds remaining. MXN Images

Moto 2

With Mastin gaining three points on Todd after the opening moto, when bikes lined up for race two this afternoon, the crowd watched on eager to see how the last race of the day would play out.

In race two it was Mastin who pulled the Raceline holeshot, but Todd was just behind him, setting up the final MX2 race as a 20-minute dash to the finish line.

Behind the lead pair, KSF Racing‰Ûªs Wills led the battle for third between himself, Webster and Serco Yamaha‰Ûªs Evans. But by lap three it all came undone for Wills and Webster after coming together and going down down, both losing a number of positions and handing third place to Serco Yamaha‰Ûªs Evans.

By the five lap mark, Mastin had pulled a comfortable four second lead on second placed Todd, while behind the top two, Evans began to close in on the pair, determined not to give away any more points in the MX2 Championship.

By the halfway mark, Mastin, Todd and Evans had put significant distance between themselves and the rest of the field. Just shy of the podium in fourth was New Zealander Harwood, followed by Richie Evans, Webster, Rykers and Wilson.

In the later stages of the moto it was the battle for fifth that captured the crowd‰Ûªs attention ‰ÛÒ Webster, Rykers and Richie Evans all rubbing paint for two laps, before Webster and Rykers relegated Evans back to seventh. But just as the battle had settled down, down went Webster, allowing Raceline Pirelli KTM‰Ûªs Rykers to slot up into fifth.

By the time the last lap board was displayed, Mastin once again was in the box seat to collect his second race win for the day, however behind him Todd and Evans had found each other on the track and Evans also closed in on the KTM race leader‰Ûªs real wheel, making the final lap one of the most exciting of the weekend.

But when the chequered flag flew for the final time today, it was Mastin who collected the Motul MX2 race two victory. Second place went to DPH Motorsport‰Ûªs Todd, followed by Evans who was forced to settle for third. Harwood and Rykers wrapped up moto two in fourth and fifth places respectively, followed by Webster, Evans (Richie), Wills, Wilson and Connor Tierney.

When the points from both motos were calculated, two race wins saw Mastin awarded with the Round 8 victory and the top step of the Motul MX2 podium. Second overall went to Todd, while Serco Yamaha‰Ûªs Evans concluded the Port Macquarie outing in third.

The MX2 podium. Wilson Todd, Egan Mastin and Mitchell Evans

Todd now carries a 13 point lead in the Motul MX2 Championship with two rounds remaining.

‰ÛÏFor me this year I didn‰Ûªt want to peak too early, I train to peak at the right time during the season and I think at the moment that‰Ûªs what we are doing,‰Û