With postcard weather conditions round 1 of the Pro MX series kicked off at Wonthaggi over the weekend with a double header setting the stage for the remainder of the series!
The atmosphere was electric as teams, riders and spectators alike were anticipating the long awaited season opener.
The BCP Factory Honda Junior Development Team made their way to Wonthaggi after all three riders having an impressive off season while also being fit and healthy!
Saturday saw the highs and lows for the team with Makayla Rimbas on board her Honda CRF250R finishing an impressive 13th in Moto 1 of the WMX class while being first junior across the line against a stacked international field in conjunction with the FIM Oceania Women’s MX cup.
The boys Jack Burton and Nate Ebbeck had a mixed bag of results in Saturday’s MX3 qualifying with Jack qualifying well into Sunday’s race day, while Nate had some struggles! Missing out by the slimmest of margins to qualify for Sunday’s races, but bouncing back for third place in the non qualifiers!
More sunshine and terrific spectator numbers for Sunday’s big day saw both Burton and Rimbas dig deep with both riders finishing at the very pointy end of the field against their junior competition in amongst the senior MX3 and MXW classes.
In moto 2 of the EziLift MXW class Makayla Rimbas was right in the mix with the international girls in 6th place when she was kicked sideways over the finish line jump causing a huge chain reaction of crashes that was caught on the TV broadcast. After remounting at the back of the pack Rimbas climbed from 36th up to 20th place, giving her 18th place overall for the weekend and the highest placed Australian Junior rider in the field.
“It was just incredible to race against not only Charli Cannon but so many fast international riders from around the world,” said Rimbas.
“The track was brutal and I took a pretty big hit in that second Moto, but I’m ok and there’s plenty to work on heading into round 2.”
Jack Burton found the going tough in Moto 1 of the MX3 class, riding tight and struggling with line choice and in doing so managed to prematurely fry a clutch, limping the bike across the line outside the top 20.
Moto 2 of the MX3 was much better for Burton who was right in the mix, battling with some of the biggest names in the MX3 class eventually finishing up inside the top 20 in 18th place.
“That second Moto I rode a lot better and didn’t let the nerves get to me quite so much,” said Burton.
“It’s a long season and we’re fit and healthy heading into Appin for Round 2.”
Round 2 of the Pro MX heads to Appin, NSW in just under 3 weeks time!