A selection of riders detail their night from rounds five and six of the 2016 Australian Supercross Championship in Sydney. Team and privateer competitors can submit comments to [email protected] prior to the Wednesday after events for inclusion in the post-event Quotebook feature.

SX1

Image: AUS-X Open.

Wil Hahn (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 10th/seventh:
It was an up and down weekend for sure! I lost a lot of points last night unfortunately, but tonight I rode good and made some points back. The main event was pretty chaotic, but to have the opportunity to come over here and end my career in Australia is really cool. I didn’t feel like I was aggressive enough this weekend, I probably should have laid into some people when I didn’t, although it was still good racing and it was the best round of the year, for sure. It was tough for passing, you had to get good starts, but I enjoyed it a lot and have to say a huge thank you to National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team.

Kade Mosig (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki) – fifth/DNQ:
It’s been a little bit of a struggle this supercross season, so it was good on Saturday to turn it around and finish fifth in the final. That was my best of the season, but today I didn’t get a clean run through the heat or semi, then in the last chance I gave it everything and wasn’t good enough – that’s the sport we’re in and it can be tough. I’m happy with sixth in the championship though, even if it wasn’t what I set out to do, but at the end of the day I was there until the end and finished another season. Thanks to all of my supporters, National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team and everybody behind us.

Chris Alldredge (Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team) – 11th/ninth:
I had a lot of fun at the AUS-X Open, with such a talented field of riders it really brought out the fans, and as a rider I always enjoy competing in front of big crowds like that. Being such a tight stadium there was a lot of bar to bar racing which really makes the atmosphere of the event, and I’m stoked to have been a part of that. I’d like to thank Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team for giving me the opportunity to come over and race, I’ve had a blast, and I’m definitely a big fan of Australian supercross.

Jay Wilson (Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team) – DNQ/DNQ:
It feels great to wrap up the supercross championship with a seventh in my rookie year. It wasn’t exactly what I pictured for myself going in to the season, but I probably picked the most difficult year to step up to the MX1 and SX1 class – I’ve proud of what I’ve managed to achieve. I had never raced an indoor before AUS-X Open on the weekend, but I’ve only just turned 22, so it feels good to know that I have my whole career in front of me, and to be able to carry the lessons from this year into 2017 and beyond. I’d like to thank Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team for having me on board this season – I’ve been lucky enough to have a few key people in my corner, and I’m excited to continue those relationships in the future.

Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha) – eighth/fifth:
I have really enjoyed this years’ championship and to be the best placed Australian and take second in the series is a great result for me and something I’m proud of. Supercross doesn’t come naturally to me as I didn’t do any of it as a kid growing up so I have had to work hard at it and put in some long hours but it was well worth it and I have really had some fun at the track this year. This weekend was special as we were able to work along-side Chad and Cooper and its amazing to get a closer look at how they work and the way they do things. Thank you to the CDR Yamaha team, Aiden my mechanic, and all of our sponsors who have put in such a huge effort this year. Coming back to Australia and working with the CDR Yamaha crew has been a great move in my career and I’m really happy with how this year has gone and they have played a huge part in that.

Daniel Reardon (CDR Yamaha) – seventh/eighth:
I have been playing catch up for the last half of the year, when I injured my knee at the MX Nationals, it was a race against time to be ready for this championship and unfortunately, you can’t rush your own body. Injuries take time to heal but I really wanted to win this thing again so I did the best I could with what I thought was the best option at the time. Despite the setbacks, to finish third is pretty good and it’s awesome to be racing supercross again. The Aus-X Open is an amazing event and to have so many people come out and support us is awesome. Thank you to the team at CDR Yamaha and I now look forward to a little break and heal up a bit.

Kyle Peters (KTM Motocross Racing Team) – 12th/sixth:
The first night I had an awesome heat race and went straight to the main. It was a really cool thing with the whole Aussie/American feature race and Superpole, it gave us a lot more track time and mixed it up for the fans. In the main I was running fourth or fifth on the first lap and ended up getting hit hard and knocked off the track pretty hard. I hit a few medical guys and the wall. It took me a couple of minutes to rejoin the track so I couldn’t really catch back up and I ended up 12th. Night two was really good, I won the semi and in the main I got on okay start and came through the pack a little bit and ended up sixth. Overall a lot of positives from the weekend and a few negatives, but from my standpoint we learned a lot and made a lot of progress. I was stoked. It’s always good to come back to Australia, I’m planning on coming back more and more each year, the people are amazing. I’ve made a lot of friends over here so I’m happy to have had this opportunity, I can’t wait to be back. The whole KTM team has been amazing, from helping me with suspension, motors, anything they can possibly help me with, they’ve been amazing to work with and helped me so much with my riding and I am blessed to have those guys as the team I was on, and hopefully I will be able to work with them again in the future.

Jesse Dobson (KTM Motocross Racing Team) – DNQ/DNF:
The first night in Sydney was kind of a disaster; I put myself in bad track positions from the start and found it really hard to pass. It was the kind of track where you had to force the issue, so I had to go to a pretty stacked LCQ. There was Hahn, Ferris, me, Boppo and a couple of others. I felt that I rode good, but thirds don’t get you through the LCQ. The second night I qualified fourth, and I felt good. But I had a crash in my heat, and ended up in the wall which hurt my leg pretty bad so from then on I was just kind of nursing that. I went out in the next semi and ended up making it into the main with a third. I think I was sitting in not a bad track position but the track went so dry and slippery that I literally just touched the front brake and I went down. I aggravated my leg, and through the whoops I couldn’t hang on because of my leg injury and I ended up getting a bit whiskey and dropped the front. After that it was time to call it a night. I bent the bike and hurt my hands and leg again so it was no good circulating because you’d just get in someone’s way because the track was so tight. My Supercross experience this year had plenty of ups and downs but also some good progress, so I look forward to next year so from .

Jay Marmont (MXR&D Husqvarna) – fifth:
The last time I experienced a high like last night was back in 2012. My last championship. It was very special. It’s always the goal to be on the podium, but to do it in that kind of field was awesome. In the Saturday final I lined up on the outside of Chad, and just snuck around the middle of the field. I overtook Villopoto on the first lap, found myself in third, and after that it seemed like it was a race between me and Cooper. I calmed down a little and put a few good laps together and just put a nice little buffer of a bike length or so on him, then, two laps to go I made a couple of small mistakes in the whoops and he got back on me. I came across the line and got it by a half a bike length, and the crowd really responded and roared – it was awesome! Tonight was very similar – I progressed me straight through to the final. I turned maybe eighth, passed Jesse Dobson and Will Hahn through the whoops on the first laps and just started ticking off the laps. I just made a silly mistake in the whoops – went sideways and the back wheel got traction and speared me off left into the tuff blocks and I got stuck under the bike. I lost three laps and bent the bike, but overall I think it was a great weekend. It was great to be able to secure fifth place in the championship. It was a great year for myself and my team and all the sponsors including Husqvarna and my brother’s shop MX R&D, to get those results against the factory boys was a credit to us. I basically spent my own money to back myself so I’ll weigh it up and see where it puts me for next year. I’ve got no idea as yet. I’ve had a great year and I definitely feel as though my home is racing so hopefully we can make something happen next year.

Justin Brayton (Honda Genuine Racing) – second/third:
I am thankful for the opportunity to come and race, Australia is a beautiful country with many beautiful places and people. The team and I had a goal and we stuck to it throughout the championship. This has been an unbelievable experience, I couldn’t be happier. This weekend was tough, I qualified first both nights. On Saturday I made a mistake and handed the lead to Chad with a few laps to go. On Sunday I was taken down in the first turn and had to come from way behind. It was a rewarding ride, coming from last and finishing third.

Adam Enticknap (Honda Genuine Racing) – DNQ/10th:
The indoor was tough and intense. I am happy I made the main event in the final round. I pushed to the very end. Everyone in Australia has been amazing, it’s truly been an awesome experience.

SX2

Image: AUS-X Open/

Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) – second/second:
I couldn’t believe it when they said I had won it – I saw that Hayden was on the side of the track on that last lap but I thought he maybe just crashed and that he would get going and would get the championship but obviously something major happened and he was unable to get his bike going. I’m devastated for him and it can be a cruel sport sometimes. He is a great guy and an awesome rival and I know he will win championships in the future. We came into the last two rounds nine points behind. I made a couple up on Saturday Night and all I wanted to do is just keep fighting and not give up on it. We had some luck in the end but it’s awesome to win this championship. I can’t thank the Serco Yamaha team and everyone at Yamaha enough for giving me this opportunity. It was a last minute deal but the team has been great and riding the YZ250F is amazing. My family at home for all the years of support and we have worked hard for this so it feels unreal. I still can’t believe I won.

Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha) – fifth/eighth:
It was an awesome weekend of racing and it was cool to see so many people come out and support supercross over the weekend. The track is a lot smaller than anything I have raced on before but I loved racing it and I learned a lot about how to ride these tighter tracks. I finished up sixth in the championship which isn’t too bad considering I missed a round and it’s good to get through the series with no other major injuries. Thank you to the Serco Yamaha team for their support this year.

Jordan Hill (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) – DNQ/fifth:

I feel like the last couple of rounds I have been riding ok but just not getting a good result. Last week in Avalon I was inside the top five for the first six laps before I made a mistake and stalled the bike and then my speed was pretty good on Saturday but my starts were terrible. I got a good gate for the semi and I just wanted to get a good start so bad. I came out of the first turn in front and was able to stay in front the whole race and it was good to know that I can do it. The main event was hectic in the opening laps. There are 12 riders on that small track and there are bikes and bodies going everywhere. I stayed out of trouble, got a few guys as the race went on and then nearly got Cachia right at the end. I had no idea where I was but I wanted to just keep riding. It’s a great way to finish the year and the team was pretty happy. With Mitch being out with injury, they kept everything going for me and I thank Cory and Mike for their dedication.

Dylan Wills (Raceline Pirelli KTM) – 11th/DNS:
Saturday in Sydney was really good. I felt strong from the get go. I finished third in my heat, and set one of the fastest laps of the night and I managed to win my semi final too, so I feel that I showed good speed. It was a bit of a shame for my night to end the way it did in the main, but I showed good speed, I was going for it and I had a little crash, so I’m proud that I proved what I was capable of. It’s been an awesome year being a part of the Raceline Pirelli KTM team, they work hard every weekend but still know how to have a good time which is what racing is about. We’ve shown this year that we have a very competitive bike, and when I’m on, I can win, so we’ll keep working and next year look for even more.

Jesse Madden (Raceline Pirelli KTM) – 12th/DNQ:
Saturday at AUS-X Open I felt that I was riding well – I managed to win my LCQ, but about halfway through the main event I took a huge spill, and I ended up with a bit of a concussion. I was still feeling the effects of my crash on Sunday and unfortunately I missed out on the main by two spots, but I’m happy with what I’ve managed to achieve. At the start of the season I was going racing on my own and it was tough, but after round one, Chris Woods called me and offered me this opportunity, and I really couldn’t have done this season without them. The bike is unbelievable, and the team is the best out there so I can’t thank Raceline Pirelli KTM enough.

Kaleb Barham (SD3 Husqvarna) – DNQ/DNQ:
It was all a good experience, the reason we came down was to see where I was at, because the first two rounds I wasn’t at 100 percent. So it was nice to come out of is not feeling good and see what I could do. My starts were on point at the weekend, I’m pretty sure I walked away with two holeshots and the other two I was second, so I wasn’t starting any worse than top-two most of the time. The first night I was leading the semi for well over half the moto and then tucked the front end and went down pretty hard on my shoulder, then the second night I put a hole in the fuel line, and we bodgied it up just before qualifying, but it wasn’t the same, so I didn’t end up qualifying.

Callum Norton (Husqvarna) – DNQ/DNQ:
It was a bit nerve racking, but it was awesome, being in with the big boys. It was a really good experience to see how it’s all done. They’re really aggressive and especially on the first turn you’ve really just got to go in with your elbows up and go in hard, otherwise, they don’t care, they’ll just push you straight out the way. It is so important to get the start because the times are so close, so if you don’t get it, it’s just too hard to pass and the top guys are gone. Saturday night I missed out by point one of a second or something ridiculous, it was really close. Yesterday, I qualified fifth in my heat and 15th outright. It got me into the night show, which was good. My first big race of the night yesterday I got a great start and had a pretty comfortable race with some big names, Jackson Richardson and Hayden Mellross, Nathan Crawford and a lot of others and I got a third behind Hayden and Richardson. The semi and the LCQ didn’t go to plan and I couldn’t make up ground to get into the main, but still it was a decent night. I really enjoyed it.

Gavin Faith (Penrite Honda) – first/first:
The weekend has been unbelievable, I did all I could do and went out and won both nights. I am happy with how I rode and raced this year. I made the mistake in round two which cost the team and I the championship. I won four rounds and finished second in other. The one DNF has taught me a valuable lesson.

Josh Cachia (Penrite Honda) – 10th/fourth:
I won’t say that the championship went the way I wanted, because it didn’t. I started strong and finished stronger. I had several unforced errors that set me back. I am just thankful for the opportunity and I am glad I was able to finish with a fourth.

Ford Dale (Honda Genuine Racing) – DNQ/11th:
That was tough, not racing for 16 months and coming out to race in the toughest competition known to Australia. I am happy with my overall speed, however my fitness and race craft needs a lot of work.

Joel Wightman (CRF Honda Racing) – seventh/sixth:
The AUS-X Open was an unreal event as the crowds poured in and the track was so much fun. On Saturday night I felt good, but just didn’t get the start in the final, which is everything on an indoor race track, so I just rode consistent to finish seventh for the night. Then on Sunday I started out with an awesome heat race and lead a few laps ahead of Gavin Faith, before he made a move on me for the lead. But from there I just tucked in behind him and rode strong and finished second, which put me straight through to the final. In the final I managed a mid-pack start, which is not ideal, and with the track changing a fair bit since the Heat race and really drying out, it actually caught me out a little. I just didn’t feel unreal but rode okay and managed to finish sixth in the race, which gave me enough points for fourth overall in the championship. My goal for the series was to improve on my championship placing from last year, which was sixth, so I’m pumped I managed to do that and get fourth overall, especially when you consider the three riders in front of me in the standings – Faith, Richardson and Hayden Mellross – all have AMA supercross experience.

Kyle Webster (CRF Honda Racing) – DNQ/third:
It was just such a huge weekend at the AUS-X Open and to wrap it all up with a third place finish in the final on Sunday, after being near last off the start, well, wow – what great way to finish the weekend. This whole year has been really good, and I just want to say thanks to everyone who has helped to make it possible, from everyone in the CRF Honda Racing team and all the sponsors and supporters, through my family, friends and my mechanic Mick – I just can’t wait to see what the next stage brings.