Reigning MX1 class number-1 plate holder Matt Moss (Team Motul Suzuki) was a model of consistency at Broadford on Sunday to claim the overall win at the opening round of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals.
Moss finished second, first and third in his three races to finish just ahead of NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Adam Monea (first, fourth and second) and Motorex KTM’s Kirk Gibbs (third, third and fifth) on the podium.
DPH Motorsport Yamaha Racing pilot Kade Mosig (fifth, fifth and seventh) and UK-born CDR Yamaha rider Billy Mackenzie (fourth, 12th and fourth) rounded out the top five overall placings.
After rain fell steadily during practice and qualifying in the morning, the opening MX1 moto was greeted by sunshine, beautiful sunshine. A huge crowd gathered around the circuit to witness some enthralling early action when Jake Moss (NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki) got one up on his brother by taking the holeshot and getting to an early lead. Matt was hot on his trail though, and the early laps saw a tough battle for family – and MX1 racing supremecy.
However the family script was torn apart four laps into the opening race, when Jake dropped his bike coming down one of Broadford’s steep hills, leaving Matt nowhere to go but straight into him. Fortunately both riders got to their feet and while Jake was out of the race, Matt re-entered in third spot over all. Monea and Mosig shot into first and second respectively – a position that Monea held for the rest of the race. Two laps after the incident, Matt Moss managed to pass Mosig, and finished the race in second place, while Mosig finished the race in fifth behind Gibbs and Mackenzie.
In the second race in the MX1 class, the racing intensified as both Gibbs and Jake Moss laid equal claims to the holeshot around the first corner. It was short-lived however as Matt Moss stormed into the lead with a cunning passing move of both rivals on the second turn, leading the way ahead of Jake Moss, Gibbs, Monea, Mckenzie and Mosig. At the end of the opening lap, a mechanical issue saw Mackenzie head to the pit area before returning to the track and finishing in 12th for the race. The rest of the race remained status quo with Matt Moss claiming the win from his brother Jake, with Gibbs, Monea and Mosig rounding out the top-five.
The third moto of the day in the MX1 class looked to be heading in a familiar direction when Matt Moss stormed into the lead and took the holeshot. However, half-way through the opening lap a slight mishap allowed Jake Moss and Monea to slide pass and he was unable to catch up to them in the next 20 minutes of racing. Jake Moss went on to take the race win, and with his second and first in the final two races, was left to rue the opening race mishap – leaving him in seventh position overall for the round. Monea’s second place in the final moto was enough to give him second overall on the day, while Moss finished in third to take the outright honours. Mackenzie, Gibbs, Rhys Carter (Team Motul Suzuki) and Mosig rounded out the top-seven riders in the final race of the class.
MX1 Superpole:
1) Billy Mackenzie 1:49.984 (5 points)
2) Jake Moss 1:50.100 (4 points)
3) Matt Moss 1:51.435 (3 points)
4) Kirk Gibbs 1:52.183 (2 points)
5) Adam Monea 1:53.165 (1 points)
Overall Results:
1) Matt Moss 100
2) Adam Monea 96
3) Kirk Gibbs 88
4) Kade Mosig 76
5) Billy Mackenzie 80
6) Rhys Carter 74
7) Jake Moss 71
8) Brad Groombridge 67
9) Jay Marmont 66
10) Hayden Mellross 65
Overall Results (Including Superpole):
1) Matt Moss 100
2) Adam Monea 96
3) Kirk Gibbs 88
4) Kade Mosig 76
5) Billy Mackenzie 80
6) Rhys Carter 74
7) Jake Moss 71
8) Brad Groombridge 67
9) Jay Marmont 66
10) Hayden Mellross 65
