19/01/2024
Press Release : Coffs Harbour Stadium MX Coffs Harbour Motorcycle Club 13 January 2024 wrap up.
Looking back on the 2024 MXstore Leatt Moto Australia Coffs KTM Rhino Co. Coffs Harbour Nursery event, the correct riders were crowned in both MX1 & MX2 divisions. Close eyes on the Pro Level races brought the cheers and the crowd to their feet, there was no stopping the current ‘Australian MX Champ’ CDR Monster Energy Yamaha’s Dean Ferris took the honours in MX1 outright. It was great to see the return of Hayden Mellross to racing where he also showed early signs of speed from a hard road return from major injury, and time out from the sport.
The only threat was the orange-coloured freight train, and credit owed to his outstanding performance on the night, was KTM Australia’s 450 mounted Nathan Crawford, beating Ferris in Race 1. Ferris took Race 2 easily but not without an early fight from Crawford. Ferris won the final moto to claim the $5,000.00 1st place and muchly prized event on points, winning with a large gap between second place Crawford in moto 2 and Rhys Budd who rode solid in 3rd place in his first ever 450 outing.
Where the MX1 crew raced with incredible pace in the 15 x lap races, never looking like any pro had stopped training from the 2023 season, it was a spectacular showing and early preview for the upcoming 2024 MX pre-season coming soon, the Australian Pro MX Nationals.
Dean Ferris on the SMX Super Track layout for 2024 – “Track was awesome, such a good introduction to SX for the kids’’
MX2 was a hit, could hometown hero and Empire Kawasaki’s Reid Taylor stop Husqvarna Australia’s Rhys Budd, the main contender and favourite to take out the class but did not succeed this time. Straying from the older shorter track style to the new and lengthened, SMX ‘Super Track’ layout where 50 plus second pro level lap times displayed, racing of maturity and crafty talent.
MX2 Race 1 did not disappoint where Taylor & Budd traded blows in an incredible show of skill and determination, Budd took out the win in Race 1, not without being hunted closely the whole way by Taylor. Race 2, Taylor put the pace down early with a hole shot only to let Budd past by going wide in the corner first lap. MX2 Racing was epic between Budd and Taylor, where Budd took the second race win cleanly, not to discount young Ben Novak who took out 3rd place in the end.
To say this new layout was a success, absolutely, and running the event at the Coffs Harbour Motorcycle Club was also a perfect fit is an understatement. Hey, it is better than not running the event at all, with the new venue bringing uncertainty to the few that did not attend, we hope to see you all back again as this event was brilliant.
We look forward to a bright future where Australia’s best Junior talent and rising stars were on total display with every rider that attended the event. Including the Juniors, the top riders also encountered a different track, more refined, more technical, longer and fast paced that suited the discipline flawlessly. Every single rider and spectator enjoyed the day/night event and didn’t we see some awesome Junior talent in each race.
We now know what is needed for the future and entry into Australian Supercross events, and SMX proves once again that it is the true pathway from the Motocross ranks into the desired Supercross ranks. Day time, then under lights junior talent shined, we can say that we gave them all a taste of their potential future..
Best wishes for 2024
BB
Full Race Results Below
Motorcycling NSW
