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Yokoyama scores consistently for Empire Kawasaki at Toowoomba
Empire Kawasaki’s Haruki Yokoyama wrapped up the sixth round of the 2023 Australian ProMX Championship with consistent 8-8 results for eighth overall around a technical, hard-pack Toowoomba circuit on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cambell Williams finished his day in the competitive MX3 class with a fifth-place result.
A seventh-fastest qualifying time around the hilly Toowoomba circuit set the tone for the rest of the day for Yokoyama. In the opening MX2 race, the former Japanese national champion started on the cusp of the top-ten, and after engaging in some intense battles, ultimately guided his 2023 Kawasaki KX250 home in P8.
By the time he lined up for the second moto, the track had baked hard in the afternoon sun, but Yokoyama again found himself in eighth place early on. Despite a last-gasp pass attempt in the final corner, he again finished with a P8 result for eighth overall.
Yokoyama is now just three points off a top-ten position in the championship with two rounds remaining.
“It was a pretty good day. I had a good qualifying and decent motos, and I’m happy with my progress and to score another top 10 finish," reflected Yokoyama. "The conditions were totally different between the two motos – I struggled to pass people in the second race when it became very hard-pack, one-lined, and really technical, especially with the ruts down the hills.”
In the MX3 class, Cambell Williams and his 2023 Kawasaki KX250 made an early statement with a second-fastest qualifying time. A good jump off the gate in the opening moto had him placed in the top five, and after initially losing a position, was able to regroup and push his way up to fourth.
A mistake early in the second race found Williams fighting to stay inside the top 20 on the opening lap, but he refused to give up, and steadily worked his way forward to finish the race with a hard-earned P8 result.
The talented teenager finished the day in fifth overall, and remains fourth in the championship fight, just seven points off a spot on the series podium with two rounds remaining.
“The day was an interesting one. I started well with a good qualifying time, but as the track became more hard-packed throughout the day my results didn’t improve," Williams said. "Finishing fifth overall wasn’t bad and we’re still in the hunt for a series podium, so we’ll work hard over the next six weeks and come out strong for the final two rounds of the championship.”
The seventh round of the 2023 Australian ProMX Championship will be held at Queensland Moto Park on the 13th of August.
2023 ProMX Rd6 Toowoomba QLD
MX2 results:
1. Nathan Crawford 2. Wilson Todd 3. Noah Ferguson 8. Haruki Yokoyama (Empire Kawasaki)
MX3 results:
1. Byron Dennis 2. Jack Mather 3. Liam Owens 5. Cambell Williams (Empire Kawasaki)