Beaton on top at Victorian Senior MX Championships

Ross Beaton surpassed Victorian rival Cameron Taylor in the A Grade Open class by nine points in the third round of the 2011 Victorian Senior Motocross Championships at Swan Hill over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

The Yamaha-mounted rider put on a royal display at the Swan Hill Motorcycle Club winning the first moto, clocking up some impressive lap times in the process, and placing two well-earned seconds in the following motos. Beaton now sits in first place in the overall standings on 198 points, just nine points clear of former two-time Australian champion Cameron Taylor.

“It’s always handy to have a little buffer and be ahead on points, but obviously I can’t afford to come second in every race, so I do need to continue to ride with the same amount of aggression and determination as I have been to come away with the win,” commented Beaton after Round 3.

Beaton constantly battled it out with fellow Victorian Cheyne Boyd, who currently sits fourth in the overall standings in the Pro Open class of the 2011 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals on 69 points. Boyd continued his fine national form at the state championships by picking up two moto wins out of three.

“It’s always good racing against Boyd, he’s quite a good competitor, and he’s obviously now within the top five best riders in the country too. To be able to race against someone like him, and be competitive against him is definitely a big confidence booster for someone like myself who hardly gets to ride.

“I have also never been to Swan Hill before,” continued Ross. “I definitely enjoyed the track, it was a good base, and from there on out it provided a very good days’ worth of racing.

“It’s been one of my goals to win the Victorian Titles, and also the Gippsland Centre Regions, of which I’m leading at as well, so from Yamaha’s point-of-view, and also from my point-of-view, I think we couldn’t be in a much better position at the moment.

Another stand-out performance over the weekend came from Victoria’s queen of motocross, Kristy Gillespie. She picked up two motos out of three in the Ladies class over a weekend that was blessed by perfect racing conditions.

“Swan Hill was the best I’ve ever seen it,” remarked Gillespie after the weekend. Gillespie has swept rounds one and two, picking up all six motos, and adding another two to her list on Saturday. “It’s a matter now of doing what needs to be done. Going into the last round we’ll probably focus more on the championship more than winning races, I guess.”

Gillespie will be eyeing her sixth state championship when the series culminates at Blue Rock Motorcycle Club at Newborough on July 9-10. “This year has been the best racing we’ve had in a long time in the Ladies class, so it would definitely be the toughest (championship win).

“There’s been pretty close battles all the way through the field,” added Gillespie. 16-year-old Maddy Brown has been close in on Gillespie’s heels throughout the championship this year, picking up eight impressive second placings and a third. Charlotte Bolding, from Wonthaggi, pipped Brown to the line in the final Ladies moto by 0.344 seconds.

“That’s what the sport needs to go forwards. So hopefully, with those girls that are in juniors now keep coming through and it builds this year.”

Round 4 of the 2011 Victorian Senior Motocross Championships culminates at Blue Rock Motorcycle Club at Newborough on July 9-10.

2011 Victorian Senior Motocross Championships – Championship Standings (after Round 3)

Ladies

1. Kristy Gillespie – 215
2. Maddy Brown – 196
3. Charlotte Bolding – 165
4. Tamika Edwards – 164
5. Courtney Whyte-Dennis – 152

A Grade Open

1. Ross Beaton – 198
2. Cameron Taylor – 189
3. Lewis Woods – 157
4. Thomas Alexander – 157
5. Brenton Keep – 154

A Lites

1. Jake Emanuelli – 213
2. Thomas Alexander – 157
3. Alex Morris – 148
4. Tyson Hauser – 139
5. Kyle McKeddie – 139

Click here for results: Round 3=4797&tx_ttnews[backPid]=19&cHash=9e75c9e6cc]

Pics: John Smith and Simone Sandwith