Jed Beaton and Brodie Connolly wins in Toowoomba – Australia Pro Motocross Round 6

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Jed Beaton swapped race wins with MX1 series leader Kyle Webster to emerge victorious on countback, and ensure the slender seven-point gap remains with two rounds remaining. The factory Honda Racing team took round honours in the remaining categories, with Brodie Connolly extending his points margin again.

Words | Press release

450 CLASS: CRUCIAL WIN FOR JED BEATON

Kyle Webster claimed the opening moto win, but only after a classic race-long battle with Beaton. The Honda Racing rider scored the holeshot, but Beaton put down some aggressive opening laps to charge from fifth and into the lead early.

The pair matched lap-times for most of the race, before Webster ramped up the pressure and soared past Beaton into the lead, then win by 7.5s. Crawford bounced back from a small early crash to finish a distant P3, as seasoned racers Kirk Gibbs (GASGAS Racing Team) and Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Racing Team) filled the top five.

As the sun sank and the ruts got gnarlier, Beaton bounced back to convincingly win the second MX1 moto, and take the round honours. Crawford took the holeshot, but Beaton made multiple aggressive passes to charge into the lead and put in a statement ride to claim a 21-second win over Webster.

Red plate-holder Webster also had to work his way from outside the top five early to take runner-up spot in brutal track conditions and to ensure the points margin between the two rivals remains at seven with two rounds to go. Crawford crossed the finish in third, ahead of Husqvarna privateer Caleb Ward and Clout, who had an eventful moto.

In the championship standings, Webster still leads Beaton by seven points, with Crawford 42 points behind in third.

450 RESULTS:

Top 10 Overall:

#14 Jed Beaton (Yamaha) 2-1
#96 Kyle Webster (Honda) 1-2
#199 Nathan Crawford (KTM) 3-3
#485 Caleb Ward (Husqvarna) 6-4
#47 Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 5-6
#5 Kirk Gibbs (GasGas) 4-8
#8 Zachary Watson (Husqvarna) 7-7
#4 Luke Clout (Kawasaki) 11-5
#24 Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki) 9-9
#81 Joel Evans (Yamaha) 8-12

Top 10 Standings post Round 6 of 8:

#96 Kyle Webster (Honda) 299
#14 Jed Beaton (Yamaha) 292
#199 Nathan Crawford (KTM) 250
#5 Kirk Gibbs (GasGas) 219
#47 Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 193
#24 Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki) 177
#4 Luke Clout (Kawasaki) 172
#8 Zachary Watson (Husqvarna) 152
#81 Joel Evans (Yamaha) 140
#1 Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 104

250 CLASS: CONNOLLY CLOSER TO THE TITLE

Polyflor Honda Racing’s series leader Connolly continued to relentlessly build his advantage in the Pirelli MX2 class, with a 2-1 result around the rutted Toowoomba circuit. Joining him on the round podium were Reid Taylor (Empire Kawasaki) and Jayce Cosford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing).

The opening moto belonged to local racer Barham, who found a flow around the already-rutted circuit to pass Connolly and take a breakthrough win.

Husqvarna rider Brock Flynn scored the holeshot from Barham and Ryder Kingsford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), but Connolly surged by Barham to take the early lead. Barham hung tough, then snatched the lead from the red plate-holder and the pair distanced themselves from the rest of the pack as they fought through to the final lap.

Behind Connolly, Jayce Cosford rode a lonely race to third, ahead of Taylor and Cambell Williams (MotoGo Yamaha). A difficult motos for title hopefuls Noah Ferguson (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) and Kingsford saw them finish P8 and 14th, respectively.

Connolly bounced back to take an emphatic start-to-finish win in the second moto, claiming the round win and extending his points lead. The Kiwi scored the holeshot and led Taylor for the duration of the race, finishing 10 seconds up the track from the Kawasaki rider.

Queenslander Cosford put in a solid ride to place third and take his first-career round podium, as Alex Larwood (Froth Honda Racing) recovered from a bad start to take P4, ahead of Kingsford. Moto one winner Barham crashed early and recovered to finish P8.

250 RESULTS

Top 10 Overall: