A compelling performance by Kawasaki’s Mitch Hoad in round three of the 2006 Nokia MX Nationals at Wonthaggi (Vic) on April 30 has produced a rarity in the hotbed of Pro Lite competition – a clean sweep.

While New Zealander Daryl Hurley (Shift Motul Suzuki RM-Z450) again claimed the Pro Open honours, Hoad (Team Kawasaki KX250F) steamrolled both 30-minute (plus a lap) Pro Lite motos in cool and showery conditions to record the class’ first double victory in 13 rounds.

The last rider to score maximum points was Cody Cooper in round six of the 2004 championship.

“I got two clean starts today, and put in the hard work early,” said Hoad. “Then it was just a matter of monitoring the gap and doing what I had to do to get the win.

“Before today, I wasn’t thinking about the championship, but now I’m in fourth position overall and not that far away from first.

“However, it won’t change my riding. I won’t rider conservatively to save points – I don’t know how to do it.”

Hoad has spent the past five weeks training down in Victoria with Pro Open rider Cheyne Boyd (CDR Nokia Yamaha YZ450F), and all the hard yakka was evident from the outset on the extensively remodelled – and praised – Wonthaggi circuit.

After some early resistance from round one winner Michael Addison (Belmont KTM 250SXF), Hoad then did as he pleased, and completed the 16-lapper 8.488sec clear of championship leader Ryan Marmont (Motorex KTM250SXF), who was then followed home in quick sequence by Troy Dorron (No Fear Honda CRF250R), Jake Moss (Serco Yamaha YZ250F) and Bronte Holland (KTM Electric 250SXF).

Holland set the fastest lap in race one – a 1:55.793 which no-one would get close to in the second moto.

Dorron’s effort was also meritorious, after he received a penalty in qualifying for ‘cutting’ the track, which left him with the last pick of the gate for race one. Still, that didn’t stop the perennial Pro Lite contender from moving into second place on lap seven, before Marmont edged past on the final circuit.

In race two, the field was a little more spread on the demanding track, with just 11 riders finishing within one minute of Hoad, vis-à-vis 15 in the opener. Hoad scythed through this one, while polesitter and defending champion Cameron Taylor (Serco Yamaha YZ250F) made solid progress through the field after a much better start (his opening hitout was corrupted by an eye-watering knock to the groin from some flying rock, which left him in the twilight zone for a few laps).

Taylor finally moved into second on lap 12, at the expense of Marmont, but he was just too far behind Hoad to make an impression.

For Marmont, it was the first time he had finished on the podium in both races for the first time in three years. It also helped him extend his championship lead over Dorron from eight to 12pts (116 to 104), followed by Taylor (97), Hoad (94) and Holland and Kade Mosig (Fox Full Throttle Honda CRF250R) equal on 82. Hoad was the biggest mover in that pack – up from ninth position after Gillman’s round two.

“The track was demanding today, and I had to try and fine good lines, which was hard to do,” said Marmont. “Winning a moto this year is definitely something I’d like to achieve – it is more points and the psychological advantage which it provides s fantastic.”

Four riders have won Pro Lite races so far in 2006: Hoad (three), and singles for Moss, Taylor and Addison.

Meanwhile, Dorron emerged a lonely fourth in race two, while the joust between Holland, Mosig and New Zealander Justin McDonald (Mid City Motorcycles CRF250R) for fifth position was a beauty.

Only 27 riders completed race two as attrition started to bite.

In Pro Open, Cooper (No Fear Honda CRF450R) and Hurley won the two 16-lappers, although the latter’s consistency again got him over the line for the overall win – but only just.

The defending champion’s third and first places helped him bank another 45pts, while No Fear Honda’s Craig Anderson slotted into second place both times for a 44pt haul.

“The first race didn’t go to plan,” said Hurley. “We had the wrong bike set-up for the conditions, but we made some changes for race two and the RM-Z450 was working brilliantly.

“Conondale (next Sunday’s round four venue) is my favourite track, so I’m really looking forward to the next round, but I don’t want to get too confident yet.”

Hurley is now on 137pts after three of 10 rounds, 26 clear of Anderson (111), then it’s a fierce battle for third between Cooper (95), Daniel Reardon (Team Kawasaki KX450F, 92), Darryll King (CDR Nokia Yamaha YZ450F, 92 ), Shayne King (Team Kawasaki KX450F, 91) and Boyd (88).

Reardon was the star of Wonthaggi qualifying, but he was unable to translate that into a great start in race one, as Anderson, Cooper, Hurley, Daniel McCoy (Motorex KTM 450SX), Matt Moss (CDR Nokia Yamaha YZ250) and Luke Burkhart (Shift Motul Suzuki RM-Z450) led away the cavalry.

As the pressure inevitably started to increase, Cooper showed some deft touch and was in front two laps later. He then re-confirmed just how supreme he is with clear air in front of him, and ended the contest with 8.932sec up his sleeve over Anderson. Hurley’s third was untroubled, with fourth-placed Reardon - pushed all the way by Darryll King - a further 29 seconds behind.

“The first moto went perfectly,” said Cooper. “I got away cleanly… and pushed to get ahead of Ando as much as possible. He was putting the pressure on me for a while but I managed to break away.”

In race two, Cooper didn’t get a great start, and he also ‘lost’ his goggles, which made passing a nightmare.

Anderson looked like making it three wins from four Wonthaggi starts in the second one before Hurley glided past for the second and final time on lap 12.

“I did tire a bit towards the end of the second race,” said Anderson “and Hurley got past. I’ll keep working on my fitness to ensure that doesn’t happen at the next round.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to close the points gap at Conondale.”

While the Hurley-Anderson personal duel was being sorted out, the Kings were producing pyrotechnics of their own, with the reward a podium position for the first time this year.

That fell the way of Shayne, who was only 10th in the opener – five spots behind his sibling.

Cooper was fifth in race two, from Boyd, Reardon and Craig Carmichael (Seven M2 Racing CRF450R).

In the rookie support class, Honda’s Joel Passlow (47pts) outlasted Suzuki’s Kieren Hall (40) and Yamaha’s Matt Ryan (36). KTM’s Tye Simmonds and Passlow shared the wins.

The 2006 Nokia MX Nationals continues at Conondale (Qld) on May 7, where Hurley, Anderson and the Kings have all won Pro Open races in the past, while Cooper, Burkhart, Taylor and Dorron have all scored Pro Lite chequered flags.