2022 Season so far

Season 2022 of the Penrite ProMX Championship, presented by AMX Superstores (ProMX) has- after just two rounds- already thrown up some interesting and difficult scenarios. With 2021 THOR MX1 champion Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha) out for the season, it appeared that Honda’s Kyle Webster was in the box seat, only to have him out injured after a training accident post round two. To look forward, let’s first look back on the season to date…

ROUND ONE - WONTHAGGI, VICTORIA

THOR MX1

A huge crowd of 5000 spectators lined the fences to witness the incredible THOR MX1 class action at the sandy Wonthaggi track in Victoria, for the opening round of the Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores.

The highly anticipated debut of Team HRC Honda Racing’s Kyle Webster did not disappoint, as Webster would set a blistering time in THOR MX1 qualifying, backing that up with setting the fastest time in the AMX Superstores Top 10 Pole Shootout.

With pole position, Webster would holeshot moto one and lead early, before going down and handing the lead to the defending champion, Luke Clout on his CDR Yamaha Monster Energy machine. CDR teammate Aaron Tanti would move to 2nd, with Todd Waters in 3rd aboard the Husqvarna Australia FC450. Webster would mount an inedible charge through the field to close up to the rear of race leader Clout, but with two laps to go, Webster would push the front wheel in a turn leaving Luke clout clear to take the moto win ahead of Kyle Webster in 2nd, Arron Tanti in 3rd, Todd Waters 4th and Brett Metcalfe in 5th.

Moto 2 would again see blistering pace from Kyle Webster throughout the opening laps, as Arron Tanti ran 2nd followed by a fierce battle of Metcalfe, Factory KTM’s Kirk Gibbs and Todd Waters rounding out the top 5 spots.

As the race progressed, Clout would charge from outside the top 5 through to 2nd and take advantage of a late race crash by Kyle Webster to take maximum points from Round 1 with the second moto win. Tanti would finish 2nd, Waters

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3rd, with Kirk Gibbs in 4th and Kyle Webster remounting to finish 5th. The overall podium from Wonthaggi for THOR MX1

• 1st - Luke Clout

• 2nd - Aaron Tanti

• 3rd - Todd Waters

Pirelli MX2

The Pirelli MX2 Class had seen much pre-season hype and speculation over who would lead the charge in the 2022 Penrite ProMx Championship (ProMX) presented by AMX Superstores.The riders did not take long to show this was hype justified with incredible on track action in front of a sold out crowd and perfect racing conditions at the sandy Wonthaggi track. In MX2 moto 1, it was Team HRC Honda Racing’s Wilson Todd who would find his way to the lead after early race leader, Gas Gas mounted Noah Ferguson would crash out of proceedings early. Todd would extend a small lead early, only to be challenged for the entire moto by Yamalube Yamaha Racing’s Alex Larwood. Larwood would match the pace of Todd but remain several bike lengths behind throughout the moto, as the pair would finish 1st and 2nd at the flag. Serco Yamaha’s Jesse Dobson rode a constant moto to finish 3rd, with his team mate Bailey Malkiewic in 4th and Haruki Yokohama rounding out the top 5 on his Empire Kawasaki.

Moto 2 was a familiar affair, with Wilson Todd leading from the early stages and Alex Larwood charging from a poor start to close in and match the lap times of the leader in second, trailing the previous MX2 champion for multiple laps around the sandy Wonthaggi track. Late in the moto, Todd was too strong and would take the chequered flag, ahead of Larwood in 2nd and Bailey Malkiewicz in 3rd, Jesse Dobson 4th and Ryder Kingsford 5th.

The overall podium from Wonthaggi for Pirelli MX2

• 1st – Wilson Todd

• 2nd – Alex Larwood

• 3rd – Bailey Malkiewicz

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Maxxis MX3

An incredible 80 Maxxis MX3 riders entered for the opening round of the 2022 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores. With two groups of qualifying, the riders were trimmed to an elite gate of 40 ready to do battle on the fast and sandy Wonthaggi track in Victoria.

With tremendous weather throughout the weekend and a large crowd lining the fences, it was Ride Red Honda’s Cambell Williams who would dominate proceedings with 1-1 Moto scores on his way to taking out the opening round overall.

Moto 1 would see Williams lead from the front, as Gas Gas Australia mounted Byron Dennis would finish 2nd with WA young gun and KTM Australia mounted Kayden Minear in 3rd.

Moto 2 again saw Williams dominate from the front, as Brock Flynn would charge through the pack to 2nd on his Husqvarna Australia ride. Jack Mather would round out the top 3 in the second Maxxis MX3 class moto.

The overall podium for Wonthaggi from Maxxis MX3

• 1st - Cambell Williams

• 2nd - Brock Flynn

• 3rd - Byron Dennis

ROUND TWO – GUM VALLEY (MACKAY), QUEENSLAND

THOR MX1

A spectacular Mackay Gum Valley track presented riders, teams and a huge crowd attendance from the region with an incredible location for Round 2 of the Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores (ProMX)

In THOR MX1, it did not take long for the hype and anticipation that followed Round 1 of the Championship, to ignite onto the Gum Valley race track. In what can only be described as a frantic opening moto, it would be Factory Honda Racing Australia’s Dean Ferris who would lead the pack from the gate drop, only to fall before the conclusion of lap 1.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy and THOR MX1 Red Plate Holder Luke Clout would assume the lead position, where it appeared to be business as usual as Clout began to put together solid laps at the front of the field. However things would soon take a drastic turn for Clout, as a dramatic crash on the backside of the race track would see the defending Champion post a DNF and end his day at Mackay after a trip to the RaceSafe medical unit and subsequently being transported to local Hospital by Ambulance for further evaluation.

It would be Aaron Tanti on the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy YZ450f who would inherit the lead position from team mate Clout’s misfortune. Tanti sprinted at the front of the field but would eventually succumb to the charge of class Rookie Kyle Webster on the Factory Honda Racing

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machine, securing the lead position with 9 minutes to go.

At the chequered flag for Moto 1, it would be Webster taking the win from Tanti in 2nd, whilst a freight train of veteran experience battled for the final podium spot. Todd Waters finished in 3rd on the Husqvarna Racing Australia machine, fending off charges from both GO24 KTM’s Brett Metcalfe who would finish 4th and Dean Ferris who claimed 5th position. from Gibbs opened the door for Webster to move into 3rd.

As the moto continued, it was Dean Ferris who used the 25 minutes plus one lap moto to return to race winning form after just his fourth gate drop back from retirement. Ferris was simply too strong maintaining track position and his trademark strong riding style to take the moto win, ahead of team mate Webster in 2nd. A late moto charge from KTM Racing Australia’s Kirk Gibbs moved him past Tanti into 3rd, as Todd Waters and Brett Metcalfe would also shuffle Tanti back in the final lap, with Waters claiming 4th and Brett Metcalfe a close 5th position.

THOR MX1 Overall Podium

• 1st – Kyle Webster

• 2nd – Dean Ferris

• 3rd – Todd Waters

PIRELLI MX2

Moto 2 saw multi time THOR MX1 Champion Dean Ferris take a commanding holeshot ahead of Aaron Tanti, Kirk Gibbs, Brett Metcalfe and Kyle Webster as the field battled for track position early. Kyle Webster began his charge to the front, first passing Metcalfe for 4th and then a mistake In Pirelli MX2, Honda Racing Australia’s and class Red Plate holder Wilson Todd would pick up where he left off at Wonthaggi, executing a perfect holeshot and establishing great track position to spring away from the field in the opening laps. Yamalube Yamaha’s Rhys Budd would mount

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