A FOMER Mount Gambier resident and motocross rider has gained a significant position in a New Zealand event over the weekend.
The 29-year-old KTM factory rider has proven he is the one to beat as he faced tough conditions.
Kirk Gibbs now holds the red plate in the New Zealand Motocross Championships after claiming first overall in Round 3 at Hawkes Bay on the weekend.
The former Mount Gambier resident sits in prime position to take out the championships with just one round remaining.
Consistency handed Gibbs the overall win on Saturday, finishing second in all three races.
He set the tone early, qualifying first with a lap time of 2.23.388, ahead of Todd Waters and Rhys Carter.
A less than satisfactory start in race one cost Gibbs a chance at the lead.
He jumped out of the gate in fourth and was forced to contend with Carter and Hamish Harwood.
On the other hand, Kane Lamont had the perfect nine-lap race, riding in first place from start to finish.
Gibbs was on the pace in the opening four laps and his intensity was rewarded as he passed both Carter and Harwood for second place.
However, Harwood again returned to second place, only for Gibbs to pass him towards the end of the race.
Gibbs crossed the finish line four seconds behind race-winner Lamont.
A chance at the perfect race greeted Gibbs in moto two.
He was able to rocket out of the gate on his 450SX-F to take the holeshot.
Gibbs put in some solid laps in tough conditions, which saw the track deteriorating, only to be passed by John Phillips towards the end of the race.
Phillips managed to gap Gibbs by almost six seconds by the chequered flag.
With two different winners in the opening two motos, the overall was looking good for Gibbs.
Third out of the gate was all Gibbs could manage in the final race.
The 2017 champion – Cody Cooper – and Lamont were ahead of the KTM rider after the first lap.
However, Gibbs charged to pass Lamont early in the moto, but could not reel in Cooper.
The former champion powered to the finish line 31 seconds ahead of Gibbs, while five seconds later Phillips crossed the line in third.
As a result of the three second places, Gibbs finished on the top step of the podium with 66 points, ahead of Phillips with 57 and Harwood with 54.
Gibbs will now gear up for the fourth and final round of the championship series this weekend at Taupo Motorcycle Club in New Zealand.
