Photos courtesy of Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship.
The Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship kicked off a couple of weeks ago with a double header in Moreton Bay, Australia, where Quad Lock Honda’s Dean Wilson took a popular, and emotional, weekend sweep after his mom passed away the morning of Sunday’s race.
Round three went off Saturday night inside Sharks Stadium in Cronulla, New South Wales, just outside of Sydney. Wilson continued his perfect season, but not without a bit of drama.
In the first SX1 heat Wilson came into a bowl turn on lap one way too hot on race leader Dylan Walsh. Wilson ended up tipping over while trying to avoid contact and was forced to make a charge from last, eventually getting up to third by the end of the short heat race. Meanwhile, it was his teammate, Frenchman Cedric Soubeyras, taking off with the heat win. In heat two it was fastest qualifier, Luke Clout, taking his Empire Kawasaki to the heat win.
Main event one saw Wilson take an early lead and check out with the win. Clout shadowed Wilson in second but could not quite match the pace. Behind them was CDR Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti, who ran third for much of the race. Nicoletti battled his teammate, Aaron Tanti, for the final podium spot early on until the two got together after the finish line, taking Tanti out of the race! Nicoletti would fade to fifth after being caught and passed by his other CDR Yamaha teammate, Mitchell Harrison, as well as Quad Lock Honda’s Cedric Soubeyras late in the race. Soubeyras ended up fourth, just behind Harrison.
In main event two, it was much of the same up front. Walsh got the holeshot, but Wilson found his way to the lead by the end of lap one. Clout would also get Walsh to get into second quickly. Clout again shadowed Wilson but was never much of a threat for the lead. After the race, Wilson was penalized five positions for jumping under yellow. Clout was awarded the win on the podium, but Wilson and the Quad Lock Honda team appealed, saying the flag had not come out yet. Wilson and crew won their appeal, and the win was rewarded back to him. It was a dramatic end to what was a dominant night by Wilson!
Behind them, CDR Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti rebounded from his DNF in race one by takin third. Mitchell Harrison and Cedric Soubeyras battled for fourth in the race and the final spot on the overall podium. Harrison seemed to have it on lock, until a last-lap mistake put him back to seventh. Soubeyras capitalized, and his 4-4 scores were good enough for third overall on the night.
In the SX2 class, it was a battle between CDR Yamaha teammates Ryder Kingsford and series points leader, Lux Turner. Caleb Barham took the holeshot in main event one with Quad Lock Honda’s Alex Larwood in tow. Larwood was fast in his heat and looked poised to get into the lead, but got into the back of Barham at the end of lap one and went down. Kingsford would work his way around Barham on lap three, followed by a spectacular crash by Barham which allowed Turner to inherit second. The CDR duo ran 1-2 for the rest of the main. Kingsford was able to hold a comfortable gap and go on with the main event win.
Oh and if you missed it, check out Larwood's wild crash in qualifying!
In main event two, Kingsford took the holeshot over Empire Kawasaki’s new recruit, Cole Thompson. Turner made a quick move on Thompson and began to chase down his teammate for the main event and overall win. Kingsford held strong for most of the race but began to make some mistakes and Turner was able to get by with two to go. Turner took off with the win and overall, making it three-for-three to start the season.
In the SX3 Class, it was all about Kayd Kingsford and Ryder Malinoski. The two got into an altercation in the heat race, which carried into the main event. Kingsford pulled an impressive holeshot from the outside and led briefly but Malinoski took the lead and had momentum early on. The two exchanged mistakes back and forth while separating themselves from the field. Kingsford found his flow as the race progressed and closed to the back of Malinoski. Kingsford made a pass for the lead, but lost it almost immediately due to what could be described as a cat-and-mouse game, or just a defensive move. Either way, Malinoski inherited the lead back and held on to take the win. The two exchanged words after the race, and no doubt a new rivalry was born in Cronulla.
The series continues in Melbourne on November 22. The races are aired live in America on MAVTV. Check out the points standings below.
SX1 Points
SX2 Points
SX3 Points
