CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris has kept his Thor MX1 championship hopes alive after claiming two hard fought races at Round 9 of the Motul MX Nationals at Toowoomba, Queensland.
Ferris, NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kyle Peters, points leader Kirk Gibbs, Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Todd Waters, and Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Dylan Long put down their quickest individual laps to get through to Superpole.
American Peters who shook things up, taking the GoPro Superpole victory, and collecting his first championship points of the season, with a flying lap of 1:46.174, followed by Gibbs (1:46.730) and Long (1:47.227).
When the gates dropped for Race 1 Peters carried his undeniable speed in to race one, taking the first MXStore holeshot and moving in to the lead ahead of Ferris, Gibbs, Mosig and Waters.
By the halfway mark in moto one, American Peters continued to lead from CDR Yamaha’s Ferris in second, Waters had inherited third place thanks to Gibbs’ crash, while Gibbs was back in fourth position. Kawasaki’s Mosig continued to maintain fifth, followed by Long, DPH Motorsport’s Jacob Wright and Jesse Dobson (KTM).
As moto one reached its final stages, Gibbs managing to get by Suzuki’s Waters to snatch up third and when the chequered flag flew is was Peters who took his first Thor MX1 race victory, from Ferris and Gibbs who crossed the finish line in second and third.
When race two kicked off for the Thor MX1 class, it was KTM’s Gibbs who edged out Honda mounted Long to take the second MXStore holeshot of the day, but after only a few turns CDR Yamaha’s Ferris took control of moto two.
With Peters on a charge, Gibbs came under fire, and as riders headed in to lap 11, Peters had snatched up second position, relegating Gibbs to third.
But it was on the final lap for the Thor MX1 class, that all of the action played out. With a championship on his mind, Gibbs was not going down without a fight, and in the closing stages made the move on Peters for second position, in a last ditch effort for additional points.
And it was in those positions that riders stayed – CDR Yamaha’s Ferris collecting his first race win for the weekend, ahead of Gibbs in second and Peters in third.
With a win in the final moto, Ferris was awarded with the round victory at Toowoomba, followed by Peters who took second at his debut MX Nationals appearance, while red plate holder Gibbs concluded round nine in third.
Gibbs now holds a six-point lead as the Motul MX Nationals heads to Coolum for the final round next weekend.
Dean Ferris – CDR Yamaha – Round 9 Overall Winner
“It’s been a good day, 2,1 for the overall gives me solid points. I messed up qualifying a bit which I don’t often do, but I made up some points and I’m in striking distance of this championship,” Ferris said.
“It’s good that Kyle Peters is here, because obviously it puts some of those points between myself and Kirk Gibbs. We know he’s here, so I’ve just got to be the best that I can be.
“I’ve won a lot more motos than the other guys, so hopefully that points towards me being able to win the championship. Either way, I’m going to put down two solid motos at Coolum and hopefully that’s enough.”
Thor MX1 round nine results
1) Dean Ferris – 67 points
2) Kyle Peters – 65 points
3) Kirk Gibbs – 62 points
4) Todd Waters – 56 points
5) Dylan Long – 51 points
6) Kade Mosig – 49 points
7) Jay Wilson – 48 points
8) Jacob Wright – 48 points
9) Kurt Gow – 44 points
10) Brendan Duck – 39 points
Thor MX1 Championship Standings
1) Kirk Gibbs – 602 points
2) Dean Ferris – 596 points
3) Todd Waters – 578 points
4) Kade Mosig – 486 points
5) Dylan Long – 411 points
6) Jacob Wright – 388 points
7) Matt Moss – 381 points
8) Jay Wilson – 368 points
9) Michael Menchi– 338 points
10) Daniel Banks – 335 points