MEGHAN Rutledge and Luke Clout lived up to their reputations as some the best riders in the country with victories at Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club on Monday.
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Rutledge claimed the Queen of MX crown when she chased down Madi Brown on the fourth lap before Clout got the job done in the King of MX feature race.
Both events were 10-minute sprint races and had prizemoney of $10,000 each to the winner which made them both the richest MX races in the country.
Motorcycle NSW chief executive Dave Cooke said the ladies race went down to the wire.
“Meghan had a good start, but Madi Brown got a better start and Madi is the current national champ so for her to lead the first three or four laps wasn’t a surprise,” he said.
“Meg had her in her sights all the way and the tension was whether Meg could hold on, or was she going to make a mistake.
“In these conditions it’s so easy for something to go wrong.”
The meeting had to be moved to the Hastings after the drought in western New South Wales ensured the original venue and track at Coonabarabran couldn’t be used.
“The guys at Hastings Valley were good to stick their hands up at late notice and really put on a show for us,” Cooke said.
“It’s been a massive effort by the club and there was a dozen people working around the clock to get this place ready.”
Rutledge and Clout managed to navigate their way around one of the most challenging tracks in the country to secure their pay packets.
It does get a bit of a reputation for being a rainy place and for some reason whenever we bring events here it rains, but that’s part of motocross.
- Dave Cooke
“The track is full of ruts and holes and it only takes one wheel in the wrong spot and you’re on your arse so it can all happen pretty quick,” Cooke said.
“But this is one of the best tracks in the country.
“It does get a reputation for being a rainy place and for some reason whenever we bring events here it rains, but that’s part of motocross.
“We race in the rain, we race in the dust, whatever Mother Nature serves up, that’s what we race in.”
Cooke said overall, organisers were extremely pleased with how the weekend was run.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend, the crowds have been great, everyone’s enjoyed themselves and it’s been a challenging weekend for the riders.
It’s been a massive effort by the club and there was a dozen people working around the clock to get this place ready.
- Motorcycle NSW chief executive Dave Cooke
“In developing this race meeting, we wanted to create something epic.
“I think the riders have gone out and battled the elements, the track, each other and they’ve put on a fantastic show.
“It’s been brilliant.”
