KTM Motocross Racing Team rider Jesse Dobson achieved a personal best performances as the Australian Supercross championship reached its penultimate stop at Avalon Raceway just outside of Melbourne last Saturday night.
In the premier class, Dobson bounced back from youthful adventure in qualifying, as an attempt to clear the quads in one brave leap saw him exit the track at the next corner, and fall uncomfortably on the concrete beyond.
There was no sign of hesitation in the final however, as he recovered quickly from a mid-pack start, intelligently chipping away and moving smoothly forward in very difficult conditions to an eventual sixth aboard his KTM 450 SX.
‰ÛÏThe day started off with me going for a wild ride after trying to do that Quad. I'd gone three the lap before and got it really easily, so I thought somebody is going to try four. I tried it, but it didn't and not too well, I ended up jumping off the berm and landing on the concrete," Dobson explained.
"I played it pretty cool, but it did hurt. It didn't affect me too much though, apart from only getting three laps of practice. I dialled in pretty fast though, and ended up sixth fastest in qualifying and third in my heat.
"I started the main way back, but I just tried to stick to my plan which was to just survive 20 laps, because I knew there was going to be carnage, and that's what I did, and we ended up sixth. So it progressed a little bit in the space of a week, but it was a long 20 laps on the weekend, it was really hard-packed and you had to be really patient. I'm really excited for Oz SX Open this weekend, so I'll come out swinging and try to finish on a good note," Dobson concluded.
Kyle Blunden, KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager, is happy with Dobson's progresss but understood it was a tough night with trying conditions. ‰ÛÏI‰Ûªve never seen a race track as hard-packed and technical as that. It was a lot like concrete out there, so the guys had to be super patient and careful with the amount of power they have on tap. But if you get a good start and keep putting down consistent laps it was going to show dividends in the end.
"I‰Ûªm really impressed with Jesse, he‰Ûªs improving every week, he just kept putting down laps and trying to minimise his mistakes, and came away with a sixth. He should be proud of what he was able to do on a slippery track was very unforgiving.‰Û
