RACING: Ferris begins defence in style

Two-time defending Dean Ferris (Yamaha) has started 2018 the same way he finished 2017 by winning both 30-minute MX1 motos in the opening round of the 2018 MX Nationals in Newry (Vic) on April 15.

Ferris opened his championship account in the premier class with a perfect 70 points, ahead of Kirk Gibbs (KTM, 60) and rookie Mitch Evans (KTM, 56).

In the opening moto around the 1.85km track, Ferris and Gibbs traded blows early on before Ferris gained the ascendency and crossed the finish line with a three-second buffer, followed by Kade Mosig (Husqvarna), Brett Metcalfe (Honda) and Evans in the 33-rider field.

Ferris also set the fastest lap of the day in the opener – 2:02.829 at an average speed of 54.522kph.

The Yamaha gun then upped the ante to win the second moto by seven seconds over Gibbs, with Evans third from Luke Clout (KTM) and Caleb Ward (Husqvarna). Metcalfe was a DNF.

“It was a good start to the year and just what myself and the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team were looking for,” Ferris said.

“The track was quite tough to ride and Kirk (Gibbs) kept the pressure on me all the way but I enjoy racing like that and was satisfied with how things turned out.

“The team again did a great job and my bike worked well on a track that was tough to get the right set up.

"If I had to pick something I need to improve, it would be my qualifying positions. I didn’t get a great lap in qualifying and then I didn’t generate enough speed in the superpole lap but it's hard to get too angry after winning both motos."

FULL RESULTS HERE

In MX2, Aaron Tanti (Kawasaki) was the overall winner on 65 points as he bested Nathan Crawford (Yamaha, 63) and Hamish Harwood (KTM, 58).

Round two of the 2018 MX Nationals will be held in Appin (NSW) on April 29.