After lap four, the running order changed dramatically, with Reardon sliding all the way back to fourth position, allowing KTM mounted Gibbs and Suzuki mounted Waters to fly past and snatch up second and third places behind Ferris.

When the Thor MX1 class reached the half way point in moto one, Ferris’s speed was unmatchable, leading from Gibbs and Wilson’s Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki’s Waters in second and third. Following closely behind in fourth was Moss who had made his way around Reardon in fifth.

As racing progressed there was an exciting battle for the race lead, with KTM’s Gibbs showing that his offseason injury was clearly no longer an issue – putting the pressure on CDR Yamaha’s Ferris and proving that race one was not yet over.

However, no one was able to catch the lightening fast CDR machine of Ferris, who eventually took the race one win ahead of Gibbs (KTM) in second, and Moss who put on an outstanding performance to finish in third.

CDR Yamaha’s Reardon wrapped up his first race for 2016 in fourth, while Metcalfe managed to hold on to fifth position despite an in race penalty. In what was a shock finish outside the top five, Suzuki’s Waters suffered a flat tyre which meant he eventually crossed the line in ninth, behind Mosig in sixth, and the Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team duo Dylan Long and Wilson who concluded race one in seventh and eighth places respectively.

When race two kicked off for the Thor MX1 class, National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Mosig was out for redemption, and managed to snatch up the second hole shot of the day, ahead of Gibbs and Moss who slotted in to second and third.

After one lap, spectators were hanging over the fence cheering, with the top four of Mosig, Moss, Ferris, and Gibbs were all within a bike’s length of each other, treating the thousands of fans to an epic final Thor MX1 battle.

After only three laps there was a change to the lead, with Moss managing to get by his teammate Mosig – relegating Mosig to second position, ahead of Ferris and Waters. Closely following the lead pack was Gibbs, DPH Motorsport’s Lawson Bopping, and Husqvarna mounted Metcalfe.

Unfortunately for Ferris, a small mistake in the whoop section of the track, saw the CDR Yamaha rider go down, forcing him to drop back to seventh place and on a time limit to make up valuable positions.

By the time the race had reached the half way point, riders had settled in to their respective positions, with Moss continuing to lead the way from Mosig, Waters, Gibbs, and Metcalfe who had found his way into an impressive fifth position.

By lap eight, Mosig had dropped back to third position, after Wilson’s Coolair Motul Suzuki rider Waters made his way in to second. Mosig then came under fire from a hard charging Gibbs, who also managed to make his way around Mosig and move in to third.

As the race reached it’s closing stages, fans were once again treated to an exciting battle for second position, with Gibbs putting in a charge to find the rear wheel of Waters – the pair then banged bars for half a lap, before the defending MX1 champ made the move on Waters and moved in to second position.

By the time the last lap board was shown, Moss had a commanding lead on Gibbs, and was awarded the race win accordingly when the chequered flag flew. Second in moto two was taken by Gibbs, while Suzuki’s Waters rounded out the moto two podium in third.

With a third place in race one, and the win in race two, National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Moss was awarded the Thor MX1 Round one win, ahead KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Gibbs in second, while CDR Yamaha’s Ferris wrapped up round one of the Motul MX Nationals in third.

Matt Moss – National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team– Thor MX1 Round One Winner

“I didn’t expect to come here and do this, I really just wanted to run my own race, but it proves that I’ve been training and working hard, and also that what we’re doing as a team is working,” he said. 

“There’s been a lot of people who have doubted me after last year, and a lot of people really wrote me off, this is proof that they’re all wrong – I want to win another championship, and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I really can’t thank the people who have stuck by me enough. A lot of people don’t understand this sport, or don’t realise what we have to do, but to the people who have stuck by me, I’m really happy I could do this for them.

“My team manager Troy Carroll understands how I work, and he’s worked me out as a person pretty quickly. I’m really happy that I got to battle with Gibbsy (Kirk Gibbs) and that after everyone talking, that we are the two guys standing here on the podium at round one.”

Thor MX1 round one results and championship standings:
1) Matt Moss – 65 points
2) Kirk Gibbs – 64 points
3) Dean Ferris – 60 points
4) Kade Mosig – 56 points
5) Todd Waters – 54 points
6) Brett Metcalfe – 52 points
7) Daniel Reardon – 50 points
8) Dylan Long – 48 points
9) Jesse Dobson – 44 points
10) Jay Wilson – 43 points

MX2

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Caleb Ward showcased his undeniable talent in the Motul MX2 class today, taking the Motul MX Nationals round one win at Horsham, in front of thousands of spectators.

The Motul MX2 class were the first bikes to hit the track in Horsham this morning for their 25-minute practice and qualifying sessions, and when the green flag waived, signalling the commencement of qualifying, the front runners for the 2016 season were quickly determined.

At the conclusion of the 15-minute qualifying session DPH Motorsport’s Jed Beaton was awarded first gate pick in the Motul MX2 class, with a quick lap time of 1:56.773, ahead of Factory KTM’s newest recruit Ward, followed by National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jake Moss who was handed third pick of the grid this morning. 

When race one for the Motul MX2 class kicked off, SD3 Husqvarna’s Luke Arbon took the first holeshot of 2016, and after one lap it was no surprise to see Davey Motorsport’s Jayden Rykers and KTM’s Ward following Arbon closely behind in second and third places.

With 30 minutes to get the job done, Arbon began to separate himself from the group, while Rykers and Ward kept the fans guessing, going head to head for second position.

However, it wasn’t long before the race lead changed, with Ward shortly snatching away the race lead from Arbon, followed by Rykers in third, and Moss who found his way in to fourth.

By the half way mark, the running order saw Factory KTM’s Ward maintaining a healthy lead, followed by Rykers, Arbon, Moss, and Husqvarna mounted Nathan Crawford who rounded out the top five. Kyle Webster (CRF Honda Racing) managed to hold down sixth position, ahead of DPH Motorsport’s Beaton in seventh, whilst Raceline Pirelli KTM’s Dylan Wills maintained eighth place.

It was on lap nine that Moss proved that he’s back in business for 2016, making the pass on Arbon and slotting in to third position, relegating Arbon to fourth.

As the first race for the Motul MX2 class reached it’s closing stages, the battle for fourth between Arbon and Crawford kept fans on the edge of their seats – the pair going head to head for more than five laps.

But when the chequered flag flew it was Ward who crossed the line with the first Motul MX Nationals victory for 2016, taking a comfortable win ahead of National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Moss who put on an outstanding comeback performance to finish in second, while Crawford managed to get around both Arbon and Rykers to take the final Motul MX2 podium position (third).

When the Motul MX2 class lined up again after lunch, thousands had streamed through the gates at the Horsham venue, setting the scene for what was an epic final race.

It was Arbon’s SD3 Husqvarna machine was once again the bike into turn one first, and after one lap, the South Australian led from fellow Husqvarna rider Crawford, followed by Aaron Tanti.

However, it took no time for Moss to make his way to the front of the pack – by lap three the Kawasaki rider had slotted in to third position, forcing Tanti to drop positions.