Once again its such a buzz to get these pro riders in the west. Well done to all involved.
Fullnoise Motocross News
Motorex KTM's Todd Waters and Kirk Gibbs dominate Manjiump 1500
Posted: Monday, 10th June, 2013 : 11:22 AM - - 71 Reads
Motorex KTM riders Todd Waters and Kirk Gibbs ensured their respective Manjimup debuts would be memorable ones with a spectacular 1-2 in the 2013 Manjimup 15,000 yesterday at the Cosy Creek circuit, three hours south of Perth.
Waters, who leads this year’s MX Nationals championship at the half-way mark, earned himself a coveted place on the clubhouse honour roll with a second place and three wins on the famous track - the site of the 1992 Motocross of Nations in Australia.
“Manjimup was a really good experience." Waters stated. "The biggest thing is the clubhouse; the memorabilia there is something special! It’s this Heritage Listed clubhouse that’s been there for years and years and you walk in and there are a heap of photos of all the life members and the Des Nations.
"Leisky’s on the wall there and guys like Ando (Craig Anderson) and Andrew McFarlane. It was a real inspiration to win it. I wanted to be one of those guys on that list.
"The track was great; really fast straights into hard pack hills then into rough, soft sand on the flats. It combined two different terrains and riding styles which was tricky," the Queenslander explained.
"It started off pretty one-lined, and I tend to go better when you’ve got to use your imagination a little, which was why I came into my own more at the end. It was good to win here and a win over international riders always looks good on paper as well.
"Kirk stepping it up was good and very exciting for KTM. I love competition and having a team mate like Kirk who I get along with but am also able to race closely with is great.” Waters concluded.
Kirk Gibbs nearly stole the spotlight from his more fancied team mate in W.A on the weekend - Credit: Innesphotografix
Kirk Gibbs nearly eclipsed his more established team mate, winning the first moto off the back of a blindingly fast start, then taking three second places to finish just 6 points behind Waters.
Both riders mastered the demands of the iconic circuit, which blends deep, energy-sapping sand whoops with famous WA pea-gravel over hard pack, in the process fighting off high-quality local riders, former national champion Jay Marmont and AMA motocross top-ten rider Weston Peick, who crashed out of the event.
“The track was really awesome to race on." Gibbs enthused at the end of the days racing. "I got some good starts today and I’m happy with my result.
"With the shorter races and my starts being really good today I kept Toddy on his toes. My start in that first one was unbelievable - I couldn’t see anyone there!
"By the end of the lap I had a two second lead and I could see that Todd was catching me slightly here and there, then he put in a really hard last lap but I managed to hold him off. It’s good to get a win too, it gives me more confidence for nationals," the South Australian continued.
"It was great to ride close with him today too and see the little things I need to do better. I’m doing it better each time I get on the bike lately and having my starts dialled in obviously helps a lot.
"Racing this close with him is something we both enjoy and there’s no tension. Close, clean racing is what you want and there’s nothing better or more fun than that." Gibbs added.
Final Results - Manjimup 15,000, Cosy Creek, WA:
1. Todd Waters 97
2. Kirk Gibbs 91
3. Jamie Law 72
4. Jay Marmont 67
5. Josh Adams 53
6. Louis Calvin 51
7. Kyle Webster 51
8. Charlie Creech 38
9. Paul Humberston 37
10. Travis Freistat 37
