Prumm on fire in round one!

The Yamaha Australian Women's Motocross Championship got off to a flying start recently with Katherine Prumm (Yamaha) showing everyone why she is World Champion.

Prumm, who took out both motos with great starts and strong finishes, said she would be using this round as a way to prepare for the up-coming World Championship.

"I haven't ridden on a surface like this before so it's kind of different for me, it's kind of hard pack with a lot of rocks sitting on the top, and so it'll be something new to learn," Prumm said.

"The biggest thing for me is adapting to a new bike and a new team and coming to grips with that, everything is kind of new but it's starting to feel good and to me my main goal is the World Championship so this is a big build up for that.

"This is just used as a practice run, obviously I'm not at my peak now. I'm right in the middle of my training and so it's a good place to come and try new things."

Australian rider Kristy Gillespie (KTM), who fought off Amy Boyd (Suzuki) in the first moto for second place and finished third overall for the round, knew it was going to be a hard fought battle for the final podium places and the top ten.

"Katherine is super fast, there's no doubt about it, she's a World Champion, but I think there's five or six other girls that are also fast," Gillespie said.

"So if Katherine runs away the second and third battle is between four or five riders. It's a pretty open championship once you take Katherine away."

Boyd blew everyone away with an amazing first moto challenge to Prumm, pushing her for the first five laps before the kiwi tore away.

Boyd then managed to hang onto second before Gillespie overtook with only four laps to go.

In the second moto of the day Prumm once again was out in front and chased by Boyd, who came to grief on the back straight and retired from the moto soon after.

Prumm held onto the lead while the battle for final podium places ensued between Gillespie, Ashley Bates (Husqvarna) and Adelia Barton (Honda) with Bates and Barton holding on and Gillespie finishing in fourth.

Bates managed to hold onto second spot despite her wrist giving way half-way through the moto.

"I'm happy with second, I was hoping for a top five finish so second is good," Bates said.

"Half way through the race it was really hard to hold on so I just tried my best and just kept going strong and tried not to make any mistakes."

Event organiser Kevin Williams was thrilled with the way in which the day progressed despite the hot weather.

"It's certainly been hot and that's knocked the riders from down south about, but all in all expected winners did what we expected them to do," Williams said.

"It's been a great start to the series, and has set the scene for what is certain to be a wonderful year of Motocross action."

Round two of the Yamaha Australian Women's Motocross Championship and the MOTUL MX Development Series will be held at Newry, Victoria on Sunday 25 May.