FORMER Mount Gambier motocross rider Kirk Gibbs wrapped up Sunday’s seventh round of the Australian MX1 National Championships with a second overall in the three-race event.
Held at the Maitland circuit in New South Wales for the first time, he and CDR Yamaha teammate Luke Clout finished 1-2 for the round, which saw Gibbs move up from sixth to fourth in the series standings, while Clout regained the top spot.
Gibbs kicked off the day with a second place finish in the first moto, which saw him record the quickest lap time for the race.
He crossed the line two seconds behind Clout, while he finished in fourth for the second of the back-to-back motos.
Gibbs started back in seventh, but worked his way through the pack to cross the line five seconds shy of a podium finish.
However, he left his best until last and came out firing in the final moto of the day to claim the win over Clout.
It was a positive result for the former Mount Gambier rider, after a podium finish in the previous round.
He was pleased with the weekend’s result as he works his way back up the standings after missing a round due to a shoulder injury.
“Sunday was good with another podium result,” Gibbs said.
“My start in the second back-to-back was really the only little mistake I made for the day.
“In those shorter races, good starts and track position is so important as there are 10 guys who can go fast for seven or eight laps.
“But I am still happy with how things went and I am making good progress since my shoulder injury.”
As it stands, Gibbs sits 73 points away from third-placed Todd Waters and it will take a huge effort to catch up those points for a podium finish at the end of the championships.
However, anything can happen in the action-packed sport and Gibbs will now turn his attention to round eight which will return to the Moree circuit in New South Wales for the first time in several years on Sunday, July 28.
MX NATIONALS ROUND 7 RESULTS
Luke Clout (67 points); Kirk Gibbs (65); Hayden Mellross (58); Todd Waters (53); Brett Metcalfe (52); Dylan Long (51); Jayden Rykers (47); Caleb Ward (44); Connor Tierney (44); Richie Evans (41).
MX NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Luke Clout (397 points); Hayden Mellross (388); Todd Waters (385); Kirk Gibbs (312); Jayden Rykers (300); Brett Metcalfe (293); Justin Rodbell (287); Jesse Dobson (258); Richie Evans (258); Lawson Bopping (215).
