Australia's best storm into Wonthaggi for 2021 ProMX opener

It was like a storyline from Game of Thrones – winter was coming and so was the first round of the new-look ProMX Championship. A storm was brewing both on and off the track, and the fact that this was the first national motocross Championship race since August, 2019 only added to the anticipation.

It felt like a decade had passed with the absence of Australia’s pinnacle motocross championship in 2020, and the 2021 ProMX felt new and fresh. It wasn’t just the icy winds from Bass Strait blitzing the Wonthaggi motocross track, there was excitement in the air.

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The MX2 class (250cc) kicked off the racing and when the gate dropped the roar of a packed field at maximum revs was met with plenty of “yeewwws!” and high-pitched whistling from the crowd braving the cold. The frantic pace and brutality of motocross was on display and Honda Racing Team rider Kyle Webster was untouchable as he powered to a commanding lead. Webster hammered consistent laps and made his win look easy as wind, rain, and even hail peppered the circuit.

A surprise package was 17 year-old Alex Larwood who displayed poise and plenty of promise as he rode his WBR Yamaha to second place. This kid has a future. Yamaha Yamalube Racing’s Rhys Budd was third.

Webster put on another clinic in the second MX2 race. The Honda gun remained rock solid with superior fitness and conditioning enabling him to ride a comfortable race on a track that was rough and demanding. Serco Yamaha’s Nathan Crawford charged hard to a well-earned second place – the Queenslander recovering from a broken shoulder just seven weeks prior. Third place went to Crawford’s Serco Yamaha teammate, Jesse Dobson, who engaged in a colorful battle with Crawford for much of the race.

The overall result for the round went to Webster, followed by Larwood with 2-4 results and Crawford with 5-2 moto results for third overall.

The premiere MX1 (450cc) field was looking deep with talent. Defending (2019) champion Todd Waters was spearheading the charge for the Husqvarna Racing Team, but it was CDR Yamaha’s Luke Clout who burst from the gate in the opening moto looking fast and clean. On his tail was veteran racer Brett Metcalfe aboard the Mongrel Boots Honda CRF450R. Behind these two it was game-on, with KTM Racing Team’s Regan Duffy hammering through the pack. Duffy was swapping about and riding on the edge but man, he was riding fast when he was keeping it together.

Metcalfe bided his time and made the pass for the lead in the closing laps to take an impressive win ahead of Clout with Duffy charging to third.

The second moto was all-action in the early laps with Honda’s Kirk Gibbs, CDR Yamaha’s Hayden Mellross and Clout all sharing the lead before young gun Regan Duffy put the hammer down and stormed home to take the win. Waters finished second from Gibbs.

MX1 rookie Regan Duffy took the overall win with 3-1 moto results head of Metcalfe who carded 1-5 while defending champion Waters ended day third with 4-2 placings.

The opening round of the ProMX Championship dished up top-shelf racing action which was also viewed live on SBS and Fox Sports. Round two is scheduled for May 2 in Canberra. Hit www.auspromx.com.au for details.