Alex Larwood delivered back-to-back MX2 wins as Honda banks key lessons ahead of Canberra
Round 1 of the Australian Motocross Championship, held alongside the Oceania Championship in Wonthaggi, Victoria, delivered a weekend of highs, setbacks, and valuable lessons for the Factory Honda Team.
Arriving as reigning champions across all four classes, expectations were high. Backed by National Finance and Loans, the team showed flashes of strong performance, but ultimately fell short of its own standards.
Team Director Yarrive Konsky acknowledged the mixed results and the need for continued progression.
“We’ve invested heavily in our motorcycles, engines, suspension, and overall package and we saw progress, particularly with our starts. However, it didn’t translate into the results we expect of ourselves. Following detailed debriefs, we’ll continue testing and place equal focus on rider development,” said Konsky.
MX1
Kyle Webster showed incredible determination across the weekend. After a heavy crash on Saturday that saw him hospitalised with rib and abdominal injuries, Webster was cleared to race and went on to set the fastest time in Superpole.
“I couldn’t believe it, two years in a row I’ve had big crashes here, and this one really hurt. I’ve got a lot of swelling and bruising, and I definitely wasn’t at my best,” said Webster.
In Moto 1, Webster grabbed the holeshot before crashing in Turn 1. Remounting from last place, he charged through the field in one of the rides of the day to finish third. In Moto 2, he again secured the holeshot and settled into second before another heavy crash. Showing resilience, he remounted to finish second, securing second overall.
“It’s disappointing. I’ve said it before, the rider who makes the fewest mistakes will win, and this weekend I made too many. The positive is we’re in a better position leaving Round 1 than we were last year,” he added.
Wilson Todd endured a challenging start to the season, finishing 6th overall (7-6). Battling physical limitations, Todd was open about the need to improve.
“It’s not good enough from me. I need to be better, and I will be. The team has worked hard, and I haven’t delivered what I expect of myself,” said Todd.
MX2
Alex Larwood was the standout performer of the weekend, carrying his Supercross form into motocross with a dominant display. He qualified fastest and delivered convincing wins in both motos.
“There’s not much more to say, it was a really strong weekend for me. Testing and training have gone well, and I’m happy with where we’re at,” said Larwood.
Kayd Kingsford showed strong speed, finishing 4th overall (2-7). A last-lap crash in Moto 2 cost him a podium finish.
“I’m really happy with my speed and the bike, just frustrated with the mistake. We’re in a good position and I’m looking forward to Canberra,” said Kingsford.
Ryder Kingsford took a measured approach in his return to full fitness, finishing 6th overall. The team opted for a conservative strategy to build momentum for the season ahead.
“It’s not where I want to be, but it’s where I’m at right now. We’re taking a smart approach and building toward being in podium contention soon,” he said.
MX3
Heath Fisher delivered a steady opening round, finishing 5th overall (6-4). After taking the holeshot in Moto 1, he crashed early but fought back to sixth. In Moto 2, he ran inside the top three before fading slightly late in the race.
“It’s not exactly where we wanted to be, but we’re still in a solid position. We’re 14 points off the lead and only five off third. The focus now is getting into the top three in the championship by Round 3,” said Fisher.
MXW / Oceania Championship
Charli Cannon’s return to Australian competition came with both promise and frustration. After qualifying second, she was battling for the win in Moto 1 before a team-related error led to a mechanical issue. She responded strongly in Moto 2 with a convincing win, before finishing second in Moto 3.
“It’s a weekend I can learn a lot from. I haven’t faced many setbacks in my career, so this is part of the process. The team owned the mistake, and now we move forward and improve,” said Cannon.
With Round 1 complete, the team now shifts focus to Canberra, fully aware of the work required to return to the top.
“Even when we’re winning, I operate with the mindset that we’re second, it keeps us hungry and focused. This year the competition is strong, and we need to improve in several areas if we want to stay at the front,” Konsky concluded.
