KTM Motocross Racing Team
The KTM Motocross Racing Team‰Ûªs Kirk Gibbs is tonight holding the coveted red plate of the MX Nationals Championship Leader for the very first time in his professional career after he dominated the opening round of the 2015 series at Horsham on the weekend.
Gibbs qualified second fastest for the round, then on the back of two excellent starts, launched into early leads in both 30-minute motos, and was never headed in either.
His closest challenge in the first race came from none other than his teammate Luke Styke, who topped off a brilliant runner-up finish in Moto One with an arguably more spectacular ride the second.
In Race Two he toiled his way through to fifth place despite finding himself outside the top 10 coming out of the first turn ‰ÛÒ and it was enough to secure a podium finish for his very first MX1 national championship race in Australia (prior to Super Pole points), behind Gibbs and Kade Mosig.
Rob Twyerould, KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager ‰ÛÒ ‰ÛÏIt's brilliant, for Gibbsy to have the red plate for the first time is pretty amazing. The day started off really good with Kirk unlucky not to win Super Pole. He made a couple of little errors, but still knocked nearly a second of his qualifying time. Luke just didn't quite get a clean lap, but he used his frustration in the race and came out of the start three bike lengths ahead of everyone.
"Gibbsy was then in the lead after a couple of laps and it was just amazing to watch the boys go one to around the track for the rest of the moto in their neon orange gear.
"In Moto 2 Gibbsy had the lead after a lap and rode very sensibly. Luke got a great jump but his gate didn't drop all the way, and his back wheel hit it and it nearly threw him over the handlebars.
"That put him about 12th around the first corner, but he got through pretty quick and on the first lap and he got up to seventh or eighth, and then just worked hard, plugging away and at the end he was unlucky not to get Bopping. It was a huge effort and I'm really proud of him. He was suffering, he‰Ûªs been a little bit sick and off the bike for a week, but he never gave in, it was really impressive.
"It's only the first round, so we have to keep a lid on it and be realistic, but we‰Ûªll enjoy this for a little while, then focus on the next round.‰Û
