CRAWFORD BOUNCES BACK AT PROMX RD2

KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford started his 2023 Penrite ProMX campaign started in controversial fashion. Following protests lodged, the number-199 MX2 rider was disqualified and stripped of all points. Although the reason for the penalty was never fully disclosed, and despite heavy contact with Wilson Todd, it has been widely speculated that the disqualification was a result of returning to the pits under a red-flag condition.

Entering the second round of the series, the 25-year-old entered the Appin venue focused redemption. After qualifying in third position, Crawford and his KTM machinery dominated proceedings.

Crawford led every lap on his way to a commanding 11.466s winning margin in the first encounter, before charging from a fifth place start to claim victory by almost 8 seconds in race two. The KTM rider sits third in the championship standings.

Crawford’s KTM Racing Team teammate Kayden Minear was also in fine form at Appin, the MX2 class rookie delivering 5-8 results for sixth position overall. The 15-year-old talent is currently fifth in the championship three races into the season.

MX1 racer Kirk Gibbs impressed on his KTM 450 SX-F. He was fourth in qualifying, improved to third in the Top 10 Shootout, and then made further progress by powering to second in moto one. Gibbs would finish seventh in the opening stint of the afternoon’s two-part second moto, and sixth in the second. Gibbs ended the second round in fourth overall.

Next on the 2023 Australian ProMX Championship calendar will be Wodonga, Victoria, on Sunday, April 16.

Nathan Crawford: “The track formed up really well today, it was super-technical and I gelled with the ruts quite well. I’ve got quite a good track record going here at Appin, so I like it here a lot and the results have been strong here. I feel like I let my riding do the talking today, put my head down, worked hard and now we’re here. We’re third in points now, which is really good at the moment, and now we look ahead to the next one!”

Kayden Minear: “Round two at Appin today, it was definitely a good day. The track was very tricky in the morning, which I really enjoyed. The team had the bikes dialled in and my mechanic did an absolutely amazing job keeping my bike light and not holding lots of mud, so going 5-8 for equal fifth overall. I’m very happy!”

Kirk Gibbs: “Today was up-and-down because it started quite well in the Shootout with third, then I got into second quite quickly in moto one and pretty much rode my own race. I rode solid to come away with second, which I was happy with, but in the final moto I made an error in where I started, so that cost me two bad starts. On a track like that, with so many fast guys, it makes things tough. I felt like I rode well, I’m right there in the hunt and am super-keen for the next round. I want to come out and nail these starts, give them something to chase around.”

2023 Australian ProMX Championship – Appin, NSW

MX1 round two results:
1. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) 45
2. Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 45
3. Jed Beaton (Honda) 40
4. Kirk Gibbs (KTM Racing Team) 37
5. Luke Clout (Yamaha) 30

MX1 championship standings:
1. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) 45
2. Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 45
3. Jed Beaton (Honda) 40
4. Kirk Gibbs (KTM Racing Team) 37
5. Luke Clout (Yamaha) 30

MX2 round two results:
1. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) 50
2. Wilson Todd (Honda) 44
3. Brodie Connolly (Honda) 36
4. Rhys Budd (Yamaha) 31
5. Kaleb Barham (Husqvarna) 29

MX2 championship standings:
1. Wilson Todd (Honda) 69
2. Brodie Connolly (Honda) 52
3. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) 50
4. Jesse Dobson (Yamaha) 47