HONDA Sunshine State MX Series – Day 1 Race Report

For Immediate Release

The opening Round of the 2024 Honda Sunshine State MX Series kicked off at Hervey Bay Motocross Club with 600 plus riders competing across two days of on track action. The South East Queensland based Series demonstrated a very strong rider base from the Sunshine State that was joined by over 100 interstate entries from all over the Nation, along with the entire Honda HRC Factory racing team and many other top Professional teams and riders.

Saturday presented the Junior, Veterans and Women’s classes with incredibly hot and humid conditions which would test everyone’s fitness and composure in the deep sands of Hervey Bay.

 

RHINO Women’s 

In the Rhino Women’s class it was HRC Honda Racing’s Charli Cannon who would win all three races by a considerable margin en route to the overall Victory. Taylor Thompson, Mia Tongue and Moto1 Motorcycles KTM rider Darci Whalley would all challenge Cannon at various times throughout the day, with great racing across the Women’s class at Hervey Bay.

1st – Charli Cannon 

2nd – Mia Tongue 

3rd – Taylor Thompson   

 

HyperLife Veterans Clubman 

In the HyperLife Veterans Clubman class it was Shane Groves who would maximise his points on the day taking three wins, with Brandon Gruening and Rawiri Mahuika repeating moto finishes in 2nd and 3rd positions for motos and the overall respectively. 

1st – Shane Groves

2nd – Brandon Gruening 

3rd  Rawiri Mahuika 

Motorex Mini Lites 85cc 9-U12  

Ethan Wolfe rode to a consistent overall win in the Motorex Mini Lites 9-U12 85cc class, as others would win motos throughout the day but not factor into the overall win. Sidney Stephenson and Nico Verhoeven from New Zealand would complete the overall podium for Round 1.

1st – Ethan Wolfe

2nd – Sidney Stephenson

3rd – Nico Verhoeven 

 

FORTH 50cc 7-U9 

The Forth 50cc riders showed incredible speed and determination in the deep sands of Hervey Bay, with many whoops and rollers on the sand track being as tall as the riders themselves. Nate Forwood would maximise moto wins on the day taking all 3 wins, with John Wodetzki and Malachi Van Mannenburg rounding out the overall podium. 

1st – Nate Forwood

2nd – John Wodetzki 

3rd – Malachi Van Mannenburg

 

SHOT RACEWEAR Mini Lites 85cc 12-U16 

The Big Wheel 85cc rippers of the Mini Lites 12-U16 class were on the gas all day in the deep sands of Hervey Bay. Kyle Harvey would be rewarded with consistency by taking the overall win, as Nate Perrett and Seth Thomas would share a;ll the moto wins but fall short on points, ending up 2nd and 3rd overall respectively. 

1st – Kyle Harvey

2nd – Nate Perret

3rd – Seth Thomas 

 

FIST HANDWEAR Veterans Pro

David Mellish won two out of three moto’s en route to the FIST Veterans Pro class overall win, with Less Voss and Steven Groves rounding out the overall podium positions.

1st – David Mellish

2nd – Nate Perrett

3rd – Seth Thomas

 

DRITIMES Veterans Expert 

Dale Schmitke would concede the opening moto win to close out the remaining two motos on top to take overall victory in the DRITIMES Veterans Expert Class.Ty Ghilchrist and Benson Dunpon rounded out the overall podium for Round 1. 

1st – Dale Schmitke 

2nd – Ty Ghilchrist 

3rd – Benson Dunpon 

 

LUCAS CIVIL 65cc 7-U10 

The youngsters of the LUCAS CIVIL were challenged by the hot weather and deep sands of Hervey Bay, persisting to showcase incredible racing action on track. Nate Lee would take one moto win and ride consistently within the top 3 all day to take the overall win. Nate Forwood would fall short of double victories after his 50cc win in 2nd overall with Hudson Francis rounding out the overall podium.

1st – Nate Lee

2nd – Nate Forwood

3rd – Hudson Francis 

 

MAXXIS 65cc 10-U12 

The older riders on the 65cc machines took to the track in the MAXXIS 10-U12 class in an all star line up that would see Victorian Mason Ezegarlis emerge with the overall win, from New Zealand’s Nico Verhoeven in 2nd and Victorian Lewis Jay Carafa rounding out the overall podium. 

1st – Mason Ezegarlis

2nd – Nico Verhoeven 

3rd – Lewis Jay Carafa

 

PIRELLI Junior Lites 2 Stroke 

In the PIRELLI Junior Lites 2 stroke class it was Lachlan Allen taking the overall win, with Hayden Downie and Kyle Harvey rounding out the overall podium on the day, as Moto 1 and 3 winner Jackson Fuller’s DNF in Moto 2 would relegate him to 5th overall. 

1st – Lachlan Allen 

2nd – Hayden Downie

3rd – Jackson Fuller 

 

To view the full results from all classes click HERE

 

The HONDA Sunshine State MX Series heads to Gympie and the MX FARM circuit for Round 2 on the weekend of March 23rd and 24th.