Picture: FOREMOST MEDIA
FORMER Mount Gambier motocross rider Kirk Gibbs fell one point short of another Manjimup 15000 crown, when he competed in Western Australia on the weekend.
Gibbs is no stranger to the prestigious event, having won it on three occasions.
The field was stacked with talent and as a result the winner was only decided after the final race of the day.
Three eight-lap motos determined the winner, raced on one of the best circuits in Australia against some tough competition.
Several of the leading East Coast riders made the trip west, along with some international stars.
Gibbs entered the event fresh off a shoulder injury sustained at the last round of the Australian Motocross Championships, which restricted his opportunity to properly prepare.
However, that mattered little when the gates dropped and Gibbs instantly showed he was on the pace.
He finished fifth in the opening moto, but ironed out the wrinkles in the final two races to claim both wins and finish with a 5-1-1 result.
Heading into the final moto Gibbs needed a victory, but also relied on the results of riders behind him.
Gibbs played his part and won the race, but rising star Regan Duffy managed a third to take the overall victory by a single point.
Duffy is a Western Australian local and now the youngest rider to ever win the Manjimup 15000, at just 16 years of age.
However, Gibbs remained gracious in defeat and was happy to be competitive on the day.
“It was another good day at Manjimup and I always love coming as it’s a great place to race,” he said.
“The fifth in the first race was the downfall for me as overcoming that point gap in a three-race format is tough when the other riders were pretty consistent.”
Despite missing out on the top step of the podium, there was one big positive to take from the weekend.
“It was pleasing to be able to race at a good level so quickly after my shoulder injury and it still felt good at the end of the day on a demanding track,” Gibbs said.
Yamaha teammate Luke Clout also made the journey west to test himself in his first Manjimup 15000, but a DNF in the second moto put an end to his pursuit.
However, fourth-place finishes in both the first and third motos saw him with a credible 12th overall.
Both riders will now set their sights on round six of the national series in Gympie, Queensland on June 23.
