Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Current Australian supercross SX2 points leader Hayden Mellross has downplayed any speculation on a developing rivalry between himself and US import Jimmy Decotis following Toowoomba’s second round of the championship.

The pair engaged in a thrilling and heated battle throughout their heat race at last week’s round in Queensland, seeing both riders make desperate passes while being in a transfer position.

Decotis made a costly mistake while in the midst of the battle, ruling him out of the night’s racing. The encounter marked their first on Australian soil, although Mellross declared to MotoOnline.com.au that a rivalry doesn’t exist, he simply doesn’t want to allow any American the opportunity to take an Australian title.

“There is no rivalry with Jimmy,” said Mellross. “We’ve always talked and we’re pretty good friends, but the bottom line is he is an American, I’m an Australian and he’s over here in Australia.”

“I’m not going to ride around and let the American’s come over and take our championships. I was just having some fun, I think we were pretty clean with our racing – I don’t think we touched at all, but it was a really good and intense battle in the heat race that I enjoyed.”

The DPH Motorsport rider has spent the greater part of the past two years contesting the prestigious US supercross and motocross championships and is no stranger to racing amongst the highly spirited American riders.

Consistency has granted Mellross a one-point advantage in the standings, although he is yet to capture a main event victory over the opening two rounds. The 2016 Australian Supercross Championship will resume next week in Adelaide for round three of the series.