The 2025 Australian ProMX Championship kicked off with a strong showing from Nathan Crawford, who secured second overall in the MX1 class at the season opener in Wonthaggi, Vic.
Crawford qualified fourth-fastest during Sunday morning’s MX1 Pole Shootout, but a crash in the opening moto set him back, and he finished sixth. However, the experienced rider bounced back in the second moto, getting off to another solid start and pushing through the deteriorating track conditions. Crawford climbed steadily through the ranks to finish in second, securing a 6-2 scorecard and second overall for the day.
“I’m super-happy to kick the year off with a good result and to be back at the races with the KTM Racing Team,” said Crawford. “We put in some solid riding this weekend, landing a 6-2 scorecard for second overall. Wonthaggi always has so many question marks, and ultimately you want to leave with good points. I’m very happy to get this result for the team and everyone around me, and I’m looking forward to round two.”
Teammate Kirk Gibbs, another seasoned campaigner, had a mixed outing at the opening round. Despite qualifying third-fastest, Gibbs struggled in the first moto, where a couple of errors and tip-overs left him with a tenth-place finish. However, Gibbs regrouped and improved his performance in the second moto, powering to third place after running as high as second for several laps before being passed by Crawford. This strong result in the second race earned him fifth overall for the round.
“Today was a little up and down,” admitted Gibbs. “I feel like I almost forgot how to ride in the first moto – I didn’t feel good on the bike, I had two tip-overs, and struggled to 10th. I got a great start in the second moto and tried to catch onto the lines of the two guys ahead of me, who know the track well. I felt much more comfortable and brought it home in third, which made for a decent weekend.”
Both Crawford and Gibbs are set to build on their solid results as the championship continues, with plenty of racing still ahead. The KTM Racing Team’s MX1 riders are looking strong, and with the next round of the ProMX series at Appin fast approaching, the team is eager to keep the momentum going.
