NATHAN CRAWFORD OPENS 2024 PROMX SEASON INSIDE MX1 TOP-FIVE AT WONTHAGGI

KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford charged to an impressive top-five finish in his return to the MX1 class in today’s 2024 Australian ProMX Championship season-opener at Wonthaggi, as teammate Kayden Minear ended round one positioned sixth in MX2.

After qualifying fifth-fastest in the Top 10 Pole Shootout onboard the 2024 KTM 450 SX-F, Crawford was full of confidence heading into the opening race of the year this afternoon.

The Queenslander found himself in seventh place off the start, but an early incident saw him forced to take a swift pit-stop, and he re-entered the race at the rear of the pack. Undeterred, Crawford put on one of his signature charges, quickly slicing his way through to field to cross the line in a hard-earned seventh position.

A quick start in the second moto saw Crawford round the first turn inside the top three. After dropping two positions in the frenzied opening laps, he was able to work his way back forwards, making a decisive pass midway through the race to finish the race in P4 and weekend in fifth overall.

In the MX2 class, Minear and his 2024 KTM 250 SX-F qualified sixth-fastest around the dark, loamy Wonthaggi circuit, but he started the opening moto in the mid-pack and had to fight forward from there. Despite his best efforts, the 16-year-old ended the race in P11.

It was an improved showing for the Western Australian in the second MX2 encounter as he steadily moved forwards from a top 10 starting position into the top five, before ultimately settling for sixth, both in the race and the round overall, which will form a strong foundation for his campaign ahead.

In addition, KTM Racing Team-supported MX3 entry Jet Alsop raced to fourth overall in a convincing start to his season. The talented Queenslander was third in the first race of the series, before backing that up with seventh in the final encounter to finish just outside the podium overall.

The 2024 Australian ProMX Championship now heads to Horsham, Victoria, for the second round on Sunday, April 7.

Nathan Crawford: “It was my first showing back in the MX1 class and I’m pretty stoked that it went really well. Everything I did was very solid. We had a little hiccup in the first moto when I had a crash and had to make a stop in pit-lane, so I was back in 35th on the first lap. I then put on a huge charge to get back to seventh, and that saved the day for me. I ended up P4 in the second moto, including a good battle with the defending champion at the end. It was a strong opening round and I couldn’t be happier with how it went.”

Kayden Minear: “It wasn’t a bad day today and we’re walking away from here safe and healthy. I got a bad start in the first moto and struggled to move my way through the pack, but other than that I rode okay and the bike felt good. In the second moto, I got a half-decent start and pushed my way through to sixth – I would’ve liked to have caught up to fourth place, but I’m happy to come away with good points and with something to build on for Horsham.”

2024 Australian ProMX Championship – Wonthaggi, VIC

MX1 round one results:
1. Kyle Webster (Honda)
2. Jed Beaton (Yamaha)
3. Dean Ferris (Yamaha)
4. Wilson Todd (Honda)
5. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team)

MX1 championship standings:
1. Kyle Webster (Honda) 50
2. Jed Beaton (Yamaha) 44
3. Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 38
4. Wilson Todd (Honda) 36
5. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) 32

MX2 round one results:
1. Brodie Connolly (Honda)
2. Noah Ferguson (Honda)
3. Ryder Kingsford (Yamaha)
4. Jayce Cosford (Yamaha)
5. Rhys Budd (Husqvarna)
6. Kayden Minear (KTM Racing Team)

MX2 championship standings:
1. Brodie Connolly (Honda) 47
2. Noah Ferguson (Honda) 47
3. Ryder Kingsford (Yamaha) 40
4. Jayce Cosford (Yamaha) 33
5. Rhys Budd (Husqvarna) 28
6. Kayden Minear (KTM Racing Team) 25