Using his 2016 KTM 250 SX-F and KTM 450 SX-F machines to good effect, Brook made off with the Australian Pro 250, Under 19, and MX Open categories – the first senior Australian dirt track titles of his career for the apprentice carpenter from Gympie, Queensland.
The achievement comes hot on the boot heels of the three American Motorcyclist Association Grand Championships and the prestigious AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award which the exciting 18-year-old won while touring the United States last month.
At Barleigh Ranch, Brook ran away with the Under 19s championship on his Danny Apro (KTM Racing Team Engineer)-tuned KTM 450 SX-F, winning comfortably ahead of Hayden Spinks and Ty Lynch.
Switching to his KTM 250 SX-F he again forged a small breathing space to win the Pro 250 class, this time from Lynch and Lachlan Ellis.
While those two victories were relatively comfortable however, the closeness of the Queenslander’s victory over national champion Luke Richards in the MX Open category prompted the young but highly experienced Brook to describe the battle as “the best race I have ever had.”
Recovering from an uncharacteristically average start, Brook threaded from fourth place through to second before making the pass for the lead on the penultimate lap, only to have Richards attempt a re-pass on the very last corner of the race, falling 0.092 of a second short.
Jarred Brook “It was good to be back after my trip to the States; it was very challenging. I haven’t ridden at Barleigh Ranch since 2013, and all of the good guys were there – it was the biggest field I’ve raced against and being an Australian title everyone was racing for sheep stations!
I’m stoked. These are my first senior Australian title wins – I’ve got plenty of seconds and thirds over the last year, so I’m over the moon to get up on the top step of the podium. That MX Open was the best race that I have ever had. I beat him by .092 of a second. It was close!
I have a lot more knowledge and experience now when it comes to racing against older riders. They ride a lot different to how the juniors do – much more aggressive – so you get used to that and make sure you cover your lines a lot better and ride a lot smarter. I’m definitely a lot fitter now and that sure helps a lot.
It also helps that my 450 and 250 are both working an absolute treat. Danny Apro built them and did the suspension and they are two of the fastest bikes out there.I’m considering doing the FIM Supermotard in Newcastle next, but my next dirt track is the Queensland titles up in Townsville at the end of September.”
