Team Motul Suzuki rider Matt Moss remains positive in his 2014 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship title bid after taking third place overall at Swan Hill in Victoria on Sunday.
Moss posted the fastest time in qualifying on board his RM-Z450, but ended up fifth in Super Pole on a quickly-deteriorating track surface, before racing to second in the opening 30-minute MX1 moto. Fifth in moto two netted him third overall and he is now 19 points ahead of his closest rival in the title chase.
Said Moss: "I qualified first and felt really good, but having to go fifth in the Super Pole order was a disadvantage. The track blew out and the lines were a lot different by the time I had to do my Super Pole lap.
"In race one I didn't feel the best, but I maintained what I had to do after hurting my wrist mid-way through the moto. Suzuki RACESAFE helped me, but it was aching in moto two and that was a shame. Overall though it wasn't too bad and I'm really happy to head to Conondale now."
For team-mate Rhys Carter, the round marked an opportunity to remember fallen countryman Trent Haywood. Carter dedicated his weekend to Suzuki-supported New Zealand teenage racer Trent Haywood, who tragically lost his life earlier in June. Carter traded his customary number 12 for Haywood's number 323 in his memory at Swan Hill as family and friends of the 14-year-old watched on after traveling from New Zealand.
His day started strongly, as fifth in the opening moto came following one of his best performances of the season. Moto two didn't fare so well as he recorded a DNF due to a rare chain derailment during the moto, resulting in 17th overall for the round. That dropped him to 11th in the standings following six of 10 rounds, although just 22 points separates seventh through to 11th.
"Qualifying didn't go that good for me, so to come away with fifth in the first moto was really good and my best result I've had," Carter said. "I came from around 14th back up to fifth, so I felt really strong.
"In the second one I worked my way through again and was about to make the pass for fifth again, but I hit the wall jump on the circuit and the chain derailed. It was a freak thing, not something that has happened to me before, but it was a promising weekend overall.
"Trent's family and a few of his close friends came over to the race, which was really nice to have them there. It was special for me and it meant a lot to race with his number during the round."
The MX Nationals will continue at Conondale in Queensland on July 13th.
MX1 overall round results: 1. Kade Mosig 65, 2. Kirk Gibbs 62, 3. Matt Moss (Team Motul Suzuki) 58, 4. Jake Moss 55, 5. Adam Monea 52, 6. Billy Mackenzie 50, 7. Jacob Wright 46, 8. Brock Winston 45, 9. Lewis Woods 43, 10. Sam Martin 43. 17. Rhys Carter (Team Motul Suzuki) 26.
MX1 Championship Standings: 1. Matt Moss (Team Motul Suzuki) 448, 2. Kirk Gibbs 429, 3. Jake Moss 403, 4. Adam Monea 396, 5. Billy Mackenzie 390, 6. Kade Mosig 330, 7. Jacob Wright 304, 8. Hayden Mellross 294, 9. Jay Marmont 290, 10. Sam Martin 287, 11. Rhys Carter (Team Motul Suzuki) 282.
