Former national champion Matt Moss is vowing to put it all on the line come round two of the 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship after a short-lived outing at Wonthaggi, but managing to escape major injury.

In his first appearance since 2016, the BBR 102 Motorsports privateer battled clutch issues during qualifying on his way to posting the seventh-fastest time.

Those same clutch issues saw him crash out on the opening lap of the first Thor MX1 moto, reaggravating a shoulder injury from a pre-season crash.

“Frustration got the better of me and I high-sided just before the finish line,” Moss told MotoOnline. “I thought my shoulder might’ve been displaced, but the good news is the scans came back clear. There’s a bit of fluid behind the shoulder blade, but we have three weeks to get ready for Canberra, where I plan to put it all on the line. I’ve got nothing to lose now, so I’ll try and win everything.”

It was a disappointing outcome for Moss’s much-anticipated return, but he says there were a lot of lessons learnt as he comes to terms with running his own team alongside twin brother – and former Australian MX2 champion – Jake Moss, who is also on the comeback trail.

“Overseeing everything and not keeping my mind solely on the job hindered me a lot,” Matt reflected. “Being privateers, we were one of the last in line to get parts, so we only finished building the race bike the night before race day.

“But yesterday nothing went to plan. I rode too conservatively as I wanted to preserve my bike in the sand, but I’ve got to let go of that now. I’m never going to win races thinking like that – my mindset on the weekend was completely not me and it definitely showed.”

While he says the new-look ProMX Championship and associated broadcast package are big steps forward for the sport, privateers with limited time and resources are put on the back foot by the rejigged qualifying format.

“The new format definitely benefits the factory teams who have mechanics and resources,” he added. “I think privateers are disadvantaged, as we have one qualifying session, then a limited time to wash and prep the bikes, put in a new clutch, then flog the shit out of the bike again in the shootout. We then have to do that all again before we line up for the first race an hour later.”

Meanwhile, the return to racing of Jake Moss, who is also Yamaha-mounted at BBR 102 Motorsports saw him finish the day in 20th overall. He impressed by transferring through the Top 10 Shootout, then went 16-DNF in the afternoon’s motos.

News 12 Apr 2021

Clout DNF put down to uncharacteristic ‘human error’ at CDR

Image: Foremost Media.

A case of an uncharacteristic ‘human error’ at CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha cost Luke Clout any chance of challenging to win the Penrite ProMX opener after encountering troubles in both MX1 motos at Wonthaggi.

CDR owner Craig Dack has confirmed that it was an internal error on the team’s behalf that caused Clout to exit moto two altogether with a rare shock failure.

“We put our hand up, it was our mistake – human error – and we’re very disappointed with ourselves,” Dack told MotoOnline. “We’re sincerely sorry and upset that it happened – both Luke and Hayden [Mellross] rode exceptionally well. We have a strong track record of reliability over more than 25 years, so it was really, really disappointing.”

Clout led much of the opening 25-minute encounter until curiously fading in the mid-stages and coming under attack from eventual race winner Brett Metcalfe (Mongrel Boots Honda Racing), crossing the line in second position and it’s understood that he may have also experienced problems in that outing.

Later, Clout was circulating in P2 on his way to securing an overall podium when he had to pull out of the second moto altogether, costing him valuable championship points in the process. He was credited 10th overall, now 23 points behind debut winner Regan Duffy (KTM Racing Team).

“Obviously it wasn’t the end result that we wanted, but looking back on the day, there were a lot of positives to take out of it,” Clout reflected this morning. “The sand and the way the track formed up, it’s not my strongest point, so to be where I was and have the speed that I did have, I’m really confident now.

“We ran into some issues, so with me leading the first race, being so close to everyone and faster than the majority of the guys even with the problems we ran into, just gives me more confidence. With the hard-pack tracks coming up, it’s really driven me to get some wins and get back myself back into the championship.

“We’re trying to diagnose the problems we had yesterday and there was some confusion between me and the team in the final 10 minutes of the first race. When I came in, I wasn’t tired, there wasn’t any arm-pump or nothing at all, so we were confused.

“There was then the issue in the second race and we kind of think that it could have translated into the end of the first moto, which caused me to eventually lose the lead. No excuses though, Metty rode great and I was happy to take second, but I really do think that was my race – things happen and we’ve got to put it behind us.”

News 11 Apr 2021

Rookie Duffy wins ProMX opener

Image: Foremost Media

In a breakout ride, KTM Racing Team’s MX1 rookie Regan Duffy drew first blood at the opening round of the 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship at Wonthaggi.

As the gate dropped on the 2021 championship, CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Luke Clout grabbed the holeshot and proceeded to pull out a 10-second lead over Mongrel Boots Honda’s Brett Metcalfe and defending champion Todd Waters (Husqvarna Racing Team).

Fastest qualifier Duffy started the moto outside the top 10, but fought his way forward, passing Waters for third at the halfway point.

Up front, Metcalfe put on a hard charge as Clout began to tire, and made a decisive pass for the lead with four laps to go.

The South Australian went on to win the race from Clout and a fast-finishing Duffy, while Waters and Kirk Gibbs (Terrafirma Equipment Sales Honda) rounded out the top five.

Hayden Mellross (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Racing), Jayden Rykers (Kawasaki), Maximus Purvis (WBR Yamaha Bulk Nutrients Racing), Jai Walker (Honda) and Connor Tierney (SB Motorsports) completed the top 10.

Kirk Gibbs snatched the holeshot of the second Thor MX1 moto and led the pack through the first turn, followed by a host of championship front-runners.

Clout and Mellross both enjoyed time at the front of the pack early on, before Duffy, who’d started towards the rear of the top 10, tore his way through into the lead and began checking out.

Clout worked his way back past his team-mate Mellross for second, but experienced a mechanical failure and DNFed the race.

Up front, Duffy continued to build his lead over Waters and Gibbs, stretching his buffer out to 17 seconds at one stage, as he lapped up to ninth place.

Waters held off a late charge from Gibbs to secure second place, while moto 1 winner Metcalfe rounded out the top five.

Tierney finished sixth, ahead of Purvis, Joben Baldwin (Honda), Jay Lamb (Yamaha) and Rykers.

Detailed results