2019 Australian Supercross Championship
Round Five – Melborne
Report and Images by AM
Summary
Penrite Honda Factory Racing emerged Victorious at the conclusion of what was the biggest Supercross event held on Australian soil at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The annual SX-Open Supercross moved from its original home in Sydney down to Melbourne for 2019. Over 35,000 spectators made the trek from around the country to witness the final round of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship.
In what turned out to be a night to be remembered for more than just the on-track racing. The large crowd soaked up the atmosphere and watched the changing of the guard as long-time Australian SX hero Chad Reed announced that this would be his last race as a professional on home soil, while on the same night, upcoming talent Jett Lawrence made his professional SX debut. The youngster dsiplayed the talent to run with some of the best in the world at just 16 years of age.
The gates to Marvel Stadium opened early for VIP ticket holders, who had the opportunity to watch the entire event, starting with the afternoon qualifying session. With only a single point separating the series leaders coming into the round. Australia’s Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Luke Clout, and American Penrite Honda’s Justin Brayton the main title contenders.
SX1 Qualifying
One big-name rider had already been ruled out of the nights’ action before qualifying even got underway after newly signed JGR Suzuki racer Joey Savatgy suffered a big crash in the practice session. The highly respected American injuring his ankle after coming up short on a big rhythm section after hitting neutral off the face of a jump.
When the qualifying session got underway; Clout, sporting the red plate to signify his championship leader status, got straight down to business. The 25-year-old topped the qualifying session as the only rider to break the 44-second lap barrier on his way to out-qualify championship rival Brayton by less than two-tenths of a second.
2018 American Supercross champion, Jason Anderson was just over four-tenths of a second further back with the third-fastest time aboard his Rockstar Husqvarna, with Monster Energy CDR Yamaha duo Daniel Reardon and Josh Hill rounding out the top five.
Chad Reed, who was still dealing with damaged ribs sustained in a crash three weeks prior in Paris, had to settle for the 11th fasted time aboard his Penrite Honda backed Honda CRF450R.
With the Pit Party over and the 35,000 plus supercross fans inside Marvel Stadium, the lights dimmed as the top riders were introduced ahead of the action that lay ahead.
While many were on hand to watch some tremendous international talent, the star of the show was once again Australia’s Chad Reed. CR22 was introduced with an emotion filled highlights package of his career, followed by an announcement from Reed himself that this event would be the last time he raced in Australia as a full-time supercross athlete, announcing his plans to hang up the boots from full time racing in 2020.
With the crowd on a high and wanting nothing more than to see Reed in action, the stadium once again lit up as riders hit the start gates for the first time in a full-sized indoor AFL stadium.
SX1 HEAT 1
In the opening SX1 heat race it was Penrite Honda Factory Racing’s Brett Metcalfe who stole the early race limelight, claiming the holeshot and leading the opening lap from team-mate Brayton.
While things were going well for the Honda duo up front, Yamaha’s Reardon ran into trouble early in the race with a crash leaving his bike bent up. Though able to continue in the race, the early season championship contender was forced to head to the last chance qualifier for his shot at making it into the main event.
Up front, Brayton took control of the race on lap two and was never headed, cruising to victory ahead of Metcalfe and Rockstar Honda’s Jackson Richardson.
Empire Motorsport Kawasaki’s Lawson Bopping finished fourth, earning a direct spot in the nights three final format, along with KSF Racing’s Gradie Featherstone, Honda privateer Joel Wightman, SB Motorsports ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jayden Rykers and veteran racer Justin Carafa.
SX1 HEAT 2
In the second heat, Anderson kicked his intensity up a gear, grabbing the Knobby Holeshot and leading the field through the first lap.
Much to the crowd’s pleasure, Reed sat in second position followed by Yamaha Yamalube’s Richie Evans, with a fast charging Clout hot on his heels.
By lap two Clout had moved his way into third, then quickly reeled in Reed and moved into second position before setting his sights on race leader Anderson.
Despite his efforts, Clout had to settle for second, with Anderson finishing just two-seconds ahead of the New South Welshman. Reed held on to fourth just ahead of a fast-finishing Josh Hill.
Joining the four lead riders with a direct path to the nights final was Evans who held on for 5th ahead of Empire Motorsports Kawasaki’s Dylan Long, Husqvarna backed Todd Waters and SB Motorsports Suzuki Ecstar racer Cody Dyce with his 8th place finish.
SX1 LCQ
With little time between the heats and the LCQ, Reardon and his team went to work to straighten out his YZ450F. To no one’s surprise Reardon then dominated the LCQ to take his spot in the nights final and keep his bid for a final championship podium result alive.
Oil Piping systems backed Jesse Madden finished second ahead of Dylan Wood, while Jono Krusic was gifted the final transfer spot into the night’s big show after Chirs Camilleri crashed in the second to last straight while in position to qualify.
SX1 MAIN ONE
With all the festivities over, including Jayo Archer claiming the nights big trick gold medal with a massive double backflip, and the KTM Junior 50 racers back in the stands after taking their shot of replicating their hero’s on a full-size supercross track, the nights entertainment kicked into overdrive as the SX1 field lined up for their three back to back to back main event races.
Like the SX-Open event in Auckland, the riders would also have to contend with the Joker land, which they could use just once in one of the three main event racers, meaning a little strategy would once again be in play. However, unlike the Auckland short cut lane that gave riders close to a ten-second advantage, the short cut lane in Melbourne was worth one to two-seconds at the very most.
When the gates dropped in the first final, it was Anderson who raced to the holeshot and subsequent race lead with all in the stadium expecting him to run away for an easy race win, but that was not to be the case.
Brayton followed Anderson through the first two corners in second place but was quickly relegated to third position after Reed snuck up the inside of him after the triple.
At the end of the next straight Clout also tried to make a move up the inside of Brayton, but instead of gaining a position, tucked the front wheel, crashing into the turn and relegating himself to near last, and in the process putting a big dent in his championship aspirations.
If the first lap was not exciting enough the roof was lifted off the stadium early in the second lap as the crowd roared into life when Reed put a block pass on Anderson for the lead in a move that not only left Anderson on the ground, but also caught Clout out once again as he crashed for a second time trying to manoeuvre between other downed riders.
Reed, with a clear track ahead of him, tried to distance himself from the field further, opting to use the Joker lane when it first opened at the start of lap two.
At the end of lap four Brayton all but cruised past Reed for the race lead as Reed swung wide, with Brayton running on to win the opening race comfortably.
Reed held on to finish second less than half-a-second ahead of Hill, with Metcalfe in 4th and Reardon in 5th.
Anderson was able to recover to finish 7th while Clout had to settle for a 10th place finish.
SX1 MAIN TWO
In another exciting start, Anderson grabbed the holeshot and early race lead ahead of Brayton; however, it was Clout who was on the charge, passing both riders in quick succession to take control of the race lead by the end of lap one.
The lead was short-lived, as Anderson blasted down the whoop section at the start of lap two to reclaim the lead. On the following lap, Brayton took full advantage of the Repco Short Cut Lane to rocket himself from third position all the way into the lead, further enhancing his position to take his fourth straight title.
On lap six, Anderson who had been stalking Brayton for four laps made his move for the lead, making the pass stick on the slick track then going on to take the race win.
Brayton held on for second, ahead of the trio of CDR Yamaha’s with Clout in third, Hill fourth and Reardon 5th.
SX1 MAIN THREE
In a chaotic first turn, it looked as though leading privateer Joel Wightman was going to grab the knobby holeshot until he was pushed wide and went down, while a handful of riders burst straight through the blocks at the tight first corner.
Emerging first after everything had settled down was Brett Metcalfe leading the way head of Anderson, Brayton, Evans and Hill, while Clout was left deep down in the pack.
Hill used the Repco short cut lane to his advantage to move into third position ahead of Brayton, while at the same time, Anderson blitzed through the whoops to pass Metcalfe for the lead.
Both Hill and Brayton then made their move around Metcalfe to sit in second and third spots.
Out front Anderson was unstoppable, taking his second straight win for the night. Hill held on to second position. Still, all attention was on the man behind him with Brayton crossing the line in third position, which was enough to see him win his first SX-Open event and more importantly his fourth straight Australian Supercross Championship.
Justin Brayton
“I’m stoked I got the win – the last few weeks have been so tough, so to get this championship means a lot. I love this country, thank you so much for welcoming me, and I hope that I’ve done your country proud coming over here and winning four straight.”
Anderson’s 1-1-7 result was enough to finish second overall for the night and also clinch the 2019 Australasian Supercross Championship which was contested over the course of the two SX-Open events held in Auckland and Melbourne.
Jason Anderson
“This title is sweet; it’s rad I was able to get it done. The track was slick, racing was tight, but my Rockstar Husky was locked in. Thanks to all the AME boys for putting this on. I love coming down under, and really plan on doing it for some time to come.”
Hill on the back of his second-place finish in the final race rounded out the nights SX1 podium, with Metcalfe and Reed tied for 4th position on 14 points each.
In the final points standings, Clout despite finishing 7th on the night, held on to second position ahead of team-mate Daniel Reardon, with Metcalfe in 4th and Dylan Long holding on to 5th on the championship charts.
Richie Evans held on to finish 6th in his first year in the SX1 class, while Joel Wightman’s 10th place finish at the final round was enough to see him finish the season as the leading privateer with a fantastic 7th place championship result.
SX1 Results/Standings
Source: MCNews.com.au