MX Nats: The Season That Was

Reflect upon what 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals champions, Matt Moss (MX1), Luke Clout (MX2) and Egan Mastin (MXD) had to go through to claim their coveted crowns at Coolum’s season finale over the weekend…

Matt Moss

Round 1, Broadford: (2nd, 1st, 3rd) 1st Overall – 97 points (Red plate holder)

When the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals kicked off at Broadford, the reigning MX1 champ, Team Motul Suzuki’s Matt Moss meant business. With a ‘you can’t beat me’, attitude Moss entered the round with most of his competitors seriously intimidated. Moss took his attitude into racing, and within one moto had already come to blows with his brother Jake, riding straight over him when Jake lost the front end on one of the hills. Moss (Matt) earning second, first, and third to claim his first overall for the year, and start his season with the red plate.

Round 2, Appin: (1st, 1st) 1st Overall – 70 points (Red plate holder)

When the series headed to Appin for round two, Moss confirmed why he would be the man to beat in 2014. With the round reverting back to the traditional two 30-minute motos, Moss took a clean sweep with two firsts, and absolutely dominating the MX1 class – finishing a huge eight seconds ahead of second place in moto two. Moss claiming his second overall for the year, would now progress to round three retaining the red plate.

Round 3, Wonthaggi: (2nd, 4th) 2nd Overall – 60 points (Red plate holder)

The third installment of the MX Nationals would again showcase why Matt Moss is the current reigning MX1 champion. Wonthaggi sticking to the two 30-minute motos, Moss took second place in the opening moto ahead of his closest rival Kirk Gibbs. A fourth in the second race left Gibbs, Moss and Mackenzie on a tie for the round overall, Moss eventually settling for second after a countback. But second overall was all that was required from the round, to increase his championship lead, and continue to chip away at the hunt for back-to-back championship titles.

Round 4, Murray Bridge: (5th, 6th) 5th Overall – 51 points (Red plate holder)

Round four, and the red sand of Murray Bridge. An outing that Moss would prefer to forget. After taking a commanding lead in moto one, and fading to fifth, Moss’s form came under fire. Not helping the situation was a disappointing sixth in moto two, which allowed title threat Kirk Gibbs to take the overall for the round – leaving Moss in fifth overall and narrowing his championship lead to a mere 13 points.

Round 5, Wanneroo: (2nd, 4th, 2nd) 2nd Overall – 92 points (Red plate holder)

When the series crossed over to Western Australia and hit the halfway mark, big things were expected from Moss, who was tipped to finish out the first half of the series with a bang. His form in question after round four, Moss heading to the loam in W.A determined to prove a point. Despite not taking an overall win, and being struck down with food poisoning, Moss’s two seconds and a fourth were enough to serve up second overall and further increase his championship lead on Gibbs before the five-week break.

Round 6, Swan Hill: (2nd, 5th) 3rd Overall – 58 points (Red plate holder)

When the MX Nationals resumed at Swan Hill for the second half of the season, Moss appeared determined to put up a serious fight for the 2014 MX1 Championship. With Gibbs hot on his heels, and continued speculation over Moss’s form, Moss did what was required, claiming second in moto one despite hurting his wrist. However the minor injury came into play in moto two – Moss settling for 5th to claim third spot on the podium behind Kade Mosig and Kirk Gibbs. At rounds end Moss still walked away with the red plate and a lead of 19 points.

Round 7, Conondale: (1st, 3rd, 2nd) 2nd Overall – 99 points (Red plate holder)

Sunny Queensland turned up the weather when the series headed to Conondale, and the talk of the pits was not only the championship battle between Moss and Gibbs, but the internal family battle between Matt, and brother Jake. With a relatively comfortable championship lead, Moss headed out in moto one, determined to keep it. However the talk of race one was Matt’s take out on Jake, which launched him to a race win, rather than the positioning of Gibbs. Despite Moss’s impressive form in both moto two and three, Gibbs was just too strong on the day claiming the overall ahead of Moss, and narrowing Moss’s championship lead back to only 18 points.

Round 8, Raymond Terrace: (1st, 1st, 2nd) 1st Overall – 102 points (Red plate holder)

With Kirk Gibbs showing some serious form at round seven, Moss entered Raymond Terrace with defending his championship on the mind. With Moss being labeled as a man who thrives under pressure, many were wondering how he would handle the round – especially with word on the street that Gibbs was set to make his move. Thankfully Moss lived up to his name, absolutely dominating the MX1 class in a fashion that had not been seen since round two at Appin. To top off an exceptional outing, Gibbs suffered a disappointing round finishing fourth overall and handing Moss a 40-point lead heading into Gladstone.

Round 9, Gladstone: (3rd, 4th) 5th Overall – 58 points (Red plate holder)

With the red plate firmly stuck to the front of his Suzuki, Moss headed to Gladstone knowing an MX1 championship was only two rounds away. At one of the toughest circuits on the 2014 calendar, Moss had a mediocre outing claiming a third and a fourth to claim fifth overall for the round. Despite the round nine honors going to KTM rival Kirk Gibbs, Moss managed to only drop three points in the championship and enter the grand finale at Coolum with a comfortable 37 point lead.

Round 10, Coolum: (6th, 5th, 8th) 6th Overall – 2014 Monster MX1 Championship Winner

With a 37-point lead, Moss headed to the final round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals in a comfortable position to take a consecutive MX1 championship. The nerves evident, Moss went out in moto one with all eyes on him. However minor mistakes cost him, crossing the line in sixth, and Gibbs narrowing Moss’s lead to less the 30 points with a race one win. When the gates dropped in moto two, Moss was out for redemption and determined not to drop any further points to closest rival Gibbs. With Gibbs suffering a bad start, Moss was able to roll around the notorious Coolum track, eventually finishing the race in fifth. The final moto of the day showcased Moss’s winning attitude. Doing exactly what he needed to, in order to wrap up a consecutive title, Moss kept in clean and took the chequered flag in eighth position – more than enough to collect yet another Monster MX1 title.

Luke Clout

Round 1, Broadford: (2nd, 12th, 3rd) 4th Overall – 81 points

After showing his capabilities early in the 2013 season before suffering a practice crash and breaking his femur, most anticipated that in 2014, Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout would be a force to be reckoned with. When the season kicked off at Broadford, the battle for number one position was confirmed – Kayne Lamont and Clout. The round delivered mechanical issues and a mid race crash that hurt Clout’s overall for the day. With Lamont claiming the round honors, Clout was left to take fourth overall, and kick start his 2014 championship hunt without the red plate.

Round 2, Appin: (1st, 3rd) 1st Overall – 65 points (Red plate holder)

When the series headed to New South Wales for round two, the MX Nationals entered Clout territory, his home track – Appin. Having more than likely rode more laps around Appin than the entire MX2 Class combined, Clout was tipped as the round favorite and deliver he did. Taking a first and a third, Clout ended the round on the top step, and with the Motul MX2 red plate, slapped on the front of his Serco Yamaha.

Round 3, Wonthaggi: (1st, 5th) 2nd Overall – 61 points (Red plate holder)

As the series progressed to Victoria, Clout showed his skill in the sand and that he has what it takes to control a championship. Again the battle was between Clout and Lamont – Clout taking the first race win, grabbing the lead on the last lap in heart racing fashion. However in moto two, a poor start forced Clout to settle for fifth, cementing a second overall behind Lamont, but still retaining the red plate for the round.

Round 4, Murray Bridge: (4th, 5th) 4th Overall – 54 points (Red plate holder)

Round four at Murray Bridge was a tough outing for Clout. Thankfully it wasn’t closest rival Lamont’s best round either. Clout only managed to take a fourth and fifth on a circuit that was typically better suited to the two stroke machines. With privateer Luke Arbon claiming the overall, Clout was able to retain valuable championship points and continue on to the next round at Wanneroo with the red plate in hand.

Round 5, Wanneroo: (2nd, 18th, 11th) 8th Overall – 65 points (Red plate holder)

As the series progressed to Western Australia, Clout suffered the toughest round of his 2014 campaign. After taking second in moto one behind Kiwi Hamish Harwood, Clout took a nasty fall in moto two, that saw him go down – only finding his way to 18th at the end of the 20-minute moto. Thankfully the bad luck also fell on the shoulders of Kayne Lamont who suffered a nasty crash, which meant his overall was also less than desirable. When the round concluded, an 8th overall was all Clout was able to manage, and although retaining the red plate, his championship lead on Harwood dwindled to only 10 points.

Round 6, Swan Hill: (4th, 3rd) 3rd Overall – 58 points (Red plate holder)

Fresh off a five-week break and a stint in the U.S, Clout returned to the MX Nationals searching for redemption after his less than satisfying last round at Wanneroo. When Clout launched off the gate at Swan Hill, he meant business. Leading the first race at the halfway mark – Clout looked to be back to his old self. However a mistake mid moto saw him go down and relinquish the lead, eventually settling for fourth. The result in the final race of the day handed Clout third spot on the podium, and with MXD wildcard entry Nathan Crawford claiming the round overall, Clout was able to increase his championship lead on Harwood to a more comfortable 14 points.

Round 7, Conondale: (4th, 8th, 4th) 3rd Overall – 79 points (Red plate holder)

With round seven at Conondale consisting of three 20-minute motos, Clout made the most of the serious championship points up for grabs. Despite running off the track in in moto one and being handed a ten second penalty for re-entering too early, Clout put on the charge of the series to finish the moto in fourth respectively. Thankfully his eighth in moto two and fourth in the third was enough to hand him third overall for the round, and increase his lead on Harwood to 16 points championship points.

Round 8, Raymond Terrace: (3rd, 11th, 1st) 4th Overall – 85 points

With the pointy end of the championship rapidly approaching, Clout was in desperate need of a moto win at Raymond Terrace to say the least. After taking a satisfying third in moto one, mechanical issues struck in the second race of the day forcing Clout to nurse his bike to the chequered flag, eventually crossing the line in 11th. The third moto of the day delivered Clout with the result he needed, claiming the final race win and retaining the red plate for yet another round, with a fourth overall.

Round 9, Gladstone: (5th, 2nd) 4th Overall – 58 points (Red plate holder)

As the MX Nationals continued and the series headed north for the final two rounds, Clout again did all that was required to hold onto the red plate and his MX2 championship lead. After a disappointing start in moto one, Clout was able to claw his way back to fifth, while his closest competition Harwood fell by the wayside claiming ……The threat to Clout at round nine came from Luke Arbon, who’s recent form saw him take the final race win and move into second in the championship standings. Thankfully for Clout, his fourth overall for round nine was enough to extend his championship lead to 32 points, and paved the way to collect an MX2 title at Coolum.

Round 10, Coolum: (3rd, 3rd, 9th) 3rd Overall – 2014 Motul MX2 Championship Winner

Carrying a 32 point lead on closest rival Luke Arbon, Clout entered round 10 of the MX Nationals at Coolum, knowing all too well that the fight for a title was not yet over. When his Yamaha hit the track for the very first moto, Clout roared into action. However Arbon was determined to go down swinging. Taking third for the race behind Arbon in second, the gap between the two was only narrowed marginally – setting Clout up for a big final two races. In the second moto, Clout had the opportunity to wrap up the title early, but the form of Arbon continued to be too strong, again crossing the line ahead of Clout, and taking the title down to the final moto. It was race three of the day when everything changed. Arbon going down hard on lap one, and being carted off by Racesafe, left Clout the chance to take a leisurely ride, finishing ninth, and collecting honors to the 2014 MX2 Championship.

Egan Mastin

Round 1, Broadford: (2nd, 2nd, 3rd) 2nd Overall – 94 points

Berry Sweet Husqvarna’s Egan Mastin headed to the opening round at Broadford with one of the greatest mentors in the business, Craig Anderson behind him. With the talent in the MXD class deeper than anything we had seen in years Jed Beaton, Nathan Crawford, Jack Simpson and Mastin kicked off the 2014 season proving the MXD battle would be the talk of the series. Mastin claiming two seconds and a third at his first hit out, behind his brand new rival Jed Beaton.

Round 2, Appin: (1st, 5th) 2nd Overall – 61 points

With an absolutely stacked MXD class, the second round of the MX Nationals at Appin would once again deliver tight, action packed racing. Mastin taking the opening moto win, and proving to his competitors that he had the speed to run at the front. However a fifth in moto two meant Mastin had to settle for consistency on the day – finishing at Appin with a second overall, and closing the championship gap, to only one point behind red plate holder Beaton.

Round 3, Wonthaggi: (2nd, 4th) 3rd Overall – 60 points

As the series headed south for round three, Mastin once again delivered consistent results. Moto one saw an epic battle between Mastin and Simpson, Simpson eventually taking top spot while Mastin settled for second after running off the track in a momentary lapse in concentration. A tough fought fourth in moto two was enough to place Mastin on the podium at the end of the round – taking third overall for the day. Unfortunately it was the solid form of Jack Simpson the dropped Mastin to third in championship standings – only four points behind Simpson, and a single point behind Beaton.

Round 4, Murray Bridge: (2nd, 5th) 3rd Overall – 58 points (Red plate holder)

The red sand of Murray Bridge added further intrigue to the already action packed MXD class. Mastin managed to fight for the lead in the opening moto, only to be passed by rookie Nathan Crawford on the line, forcing Mastin into second place. While the second race was also claimed by Crawford – at the end of the day Mastin took third step on the podium and claimed the red plate for the first time in 2014.

Round 7, Conondale: (4th, 8th , 9th) 6th Overall – 73 points

When the MXD class resumed racing at Conondale, Mastin recorded results that were less than desirable to say the least. With a fourth his best result of the day, Mastin took a further eighth and ninth on an incredibly tough track, to take sixth overall for the day. To top off a nightmare round, Mastin was forced to hand over the red plate to GYTR rider Jed Beaton and left Queensland third in the championship standings, trailing Beaton by 20 points.

Round 8, Raymond Terrace: (1st, 1st, 1st) 1st Overall – 105 points

Looking to redeem himself after a disappointing outing at Conondale, Mastin arrived at Raymond Terrace determined to reclaim the red plate from rival Jed Beaton, and redeem himself he did. In a fairytale round, Mastin took three from three moto’s relatively unchallenged, finishing the round happily on the top step of the podium. Despite Mastin’s breathtaking form, the clean sweep was not enough to snatch back the red plate, instead narrowing Beaton’s championship lead to only eight points.

Round 9, Gladstone: (2nd, 3rd) 2nd Overall – 62 points (Red plate holder)

With news breaking the week prior to round nine, that MXD championship leader Jed Beaton was sidelined with a broken leg, Mastin headed to Gladstone in a perfect position to take control of the 2014 championship. With closest rival Nathan Crawford trailing by 15 points both boys headed into moto one looking fill to fill the gap left by Beaton. However when the gates dropped it was Mastin who had luck fall his way. Crawford suffering a mechanical issue forcing him to DNF, and rocketing Mastin to the MXD championship lead just one race into the round. After taking a third in moto two, and claiming second overall, Mastin headed into then final round at Coolum with a commanding 30 point lead on Jack Simpson.

Round 10, Coolum: (2nd, 2nd 5th) 2nd Overall – 2014 Pirelli MXD Championship Winner

Entering the round with a 30-point lead on Jack Simpson, Mastin was well placed to wrap up his first ever pro motocross title. After going second in the first moto and Simpson finishing fourth in the same race, Mastin entered the second moto knowing a 2014 championship was well within reach. Lauching off the gate and settling into the race in second, Mastin crossed the line the 2014 MXD championship winner with still one race remaining. By the time the Husqvarna machine hit the track in the third race, Mastin was a picture of glory. Cruising around to finish comfortably in fifth, with a big number one plate strapped to the front of his bike.