SX Finale this weekend at Sunshine
After five sensational rounds of high-flying dirt bike action, the sixth and final round of the 2015 Penrite Australian Supercross Championship presented by Ryco Filters roars into life this Saturday, December 5, inside Knight’s Stadium at Sunshine in Melbourne, Victoria.
The new-look national Supercross Championship chase, which has already played out across three states in the previous five rounds and boasts $120,000 series prizemoney, will reach its conclusion when the best dirt bike racers from Australia and the USA line up on a spectacular man-made dirt circuit specially constructed on the huge green infield of Knight’s Stadium.
The Melbourne event will see the crowning of a new line-up of 2015 Australian Supercross Championship winners, in which national titles will be awarded for the premier SX1 (450cc) and SX2 (250cc) classes, as well as SXD (Development), Junior and Womens categories.
With all Championships still up for grabs, this weekend’s finale is sure to see a repeat of the close and exciting racing that has been the hallmark of previous rounds at Bathurst, NSW, Jimboomba, Qld (two rounds), Adelaide, SA, and last weekend’s barnstorming indoor AUS-X Open at Sydney’s Allphones Arena.
In the SX1 class, Gold Coast rider Dan Reardon (CDR Yamaha) leads the Championship after winning rounds two, three and four, in what rates as the ultimate comeback to competition after he previously retired from racing at the end of 2012.
Reardon finished third at last weekend’s Sydney round, behind US-based Australian Supercross superstar, Chad Reed, and American ace Gavin Faith, who is a two-time winner of the SX2 Australian Supercross Championship in the past four seasons, and this year has stepped up to the SX1 class with the local Penrite Honda Racing team.
“The racing at Sydney last weekend was pretty hectic in the opening laps of the Final,” explains Reardon, who has battled long and hard with reigning two-time SX1 Australian Supercross Champion Matt Moss (Motul Suzuki) during the series.
But after suffering two crashes in the opening laps of the Sydney Final, Moss was helped from the track by the Racesafe medical crew, his DNF result giving Reardon a clear run to open a sizeable Championship points advantage.
“It wasn’t until I saw Matt had crashed and not re-entering the race that I knew what had happened,” says Reardon, who shadowed Reed and Faith to the end of the 20 lap race.
“Third’s not great, but it’s just what I needed for the Championship, so my goal is to keep doing what I’m doing and finish the final round of the Championship strongly in Melbourne this weekend.”
Reardon’s CDR Yamaha team mate Kade Mosig now holds second place in the Championship chase, and as a Melbourne local, is intent on winding out his 2015 season with a big performance.
“I have nine points on Matt (Moss) in the Championship, so I still need to ensure I race well this weekend,” says Mosig.
“Being in Melbourne and being a home town race, I would love nothing more than to get a win in front of family and friends.”
Behind Reardon, Mosig and Moss, the SX1 Championship standings see Lawson Bopping (DPH Motorsport Peter Stevens Yamaha) and leading privateer Daniel McCoy (SFC Racing Yamaha) round out the top five placings.
American star Faith is sixth in the SX1 standings, but suffered a bruising encounter with the track in yesterday’s non-Championship event at the AUS-X Open and continues to undergo medical tests to confirm the extent of his injuries.
Fellow American and SX2 Championship leader Jimmy Decotis is Faith’s team mate on the local Penrite Honda Racing squad, and was upset to see his close friend and riding partner injured at last weekend’s event.
“I was totally bummed for Gavin,” says Decotis, who is supported by Honda Genuine Parts & Accessories.
“I’m just glad Gavin is going to be okay, as it certainly could have been a lot worse.”
After winning the first three rounds of the SX2 Championship, and then finishing second to Victorian privateer Lewis Woods (Davey Motorsport KTM) at round four in Jimboomba, Queensland, Decotis was back to his best form last weekend by taking a copybook victory in the Sydney round to extend his lead in the Championship.
Decotis now leads a freight-train of Honda riders at the top of the SX2 standings, with Penrite Honda Wilson MX team mates Jackson Richardson and Geran Stapleton in second and third respectively, after former series runner-up Luke Arbon (SD3 Husqvarna) went out of the Sydney event early with an ankle injury.
Richardson finished the Sydney round last weekend in third, behind Decotis and Wade Hunter (DPH Motorsport Peter Stevens Yamaha), the Cairns rider feeling at home on the indoor circuit given his extensive American Supercross racing experience.
“I felt comfortable out there, it felt like I was back in America” says Richardson of the tight and technical Sydney track.
“My speed was good all weekend and I was stoked I could finish on the podium both days.
“Hopefully we can back it up this weekend at the final round in Melbourne.”
Behind Decotis, Richardson and Stapleton, Bacchus Marsh-based Woods holds down fourth in the Championship after his big victory over Decotis at round four, while SX2 class debutante and last year’s SXD Championship winner, Dylan Wills (Newcastle KTM) completes the top five standings.
In the SXD Championship for riders under 19 years of age, the young guns will line up in Melbourne for their fourth and final Championship round, with NSW rider Brock McLeary (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) leading the standings ahead of Mitch Evans (GYTR Yamaha) and Toby Stevens (PSC Yamaha).
Meanwhile in the Junior Lites Championship, after four previous rounds, Cooper Pozniak (Newcastle KTM) heads the points chase over Jake McGlashan (Dubbo City Motorcycles KTM) and Joel Cigliano (CRF Honda Racing).
In the 85cc Championship for riders 12 to under 16 years of age, Jy Roberts (AXO Ipone Husqvarna) has the title well within his sights and makes the front running ahead of Tyler Darby (MCD KTM) and Samuel Noonan (Maitland Motorcycles KTM).
Finally, defending two-time Australian Women’s Supercross Champion Meghan Rutledge (Hitachi Kawasaki Mad Meg Racing) heads the charge of female racers to enter this year’s Women’s Championship, which will be determined at Knight’s Stadium this Saturday.
With the Melbourne event sure to deliver a thrilling conclusion to the 2015 Penrite Oils Australian Supercross Championships presented by Ryco Filters, tickets are selling fast.
Tickets to the December 5 event at Knights Stadium at Sunshine are available by going to the www.ticketebo.com.au/supercrossmelbourne web site.
Ticket prices start at $40 and along with seeing Australia’s best Supercross racers banging bars for the prestigious national Championship crowns, fans will also be treated to the high-flying action of freestyle MX displays and the high-horsepower antics of a Monster truck demo.
2015 Penrite Australian Supercross Championships presented by Ryco Filters
SX1 Championship: 5/6 rounds
1. Daniel Reardon – Yamaha. 167
2. Kade Mosig – Yamaha. 136
3. Matt Moss – Suzuki. 127
4. Lawson Bopping – Yamaha. 124
5. Daniel McCoy – Yamaha. 118
6. Gavin Faith – Honda. 109
7. Adam Monea – Kawasaki. 107
8. Luke Styke – KTM. 93
9. Danny Ham – Suzuki. 78
10. Kirk Gibbs – KTM. 54
SX2 Championship: 5/6 rounds
1. Jimmy Decotis – Honda. 172
2. Jackson Richardson – Honda. 141
3. Geran Stapleton – Honda. 132
4. Lewis Woods – KTM. 130
5. Dylan Wills – KTM. 122
6. Luke Clout – Yamaha. 113
7. Luke Arbon – Husqvarna. 111
8. Wade Hunter – Yamaha. 109
9. Joel Wightman – Honda. 105
10. Jack Simpson – KTM. 97
SXD Championship: 3/4 rounds
1. Brock Mcleary – Suzuki. 175
2. Micth Evans – Yamaha. 165
3. Toby Stevens – Yamaha. 158
Junior Lites Championship: 4/5 rounds
1. Cooper Pozniak – KTM. 366
2. Jake McGlashan – KTM. 353
3. Joel Cigliano – Honda. 316
85cc 12-U16 Championship: 4/5 rounds
1. Jy Roberts – Husqvarna. 406
2. Tyler Darby – KTM. 356
3. Samuel Noonan – KTM. 335.
