Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Popular SX1 contender Dylan Long feels his seventh place result wasn’t a reflection of his performance at last Saturday’s opening round of the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship in Jimboomba, Queensland.

Long, who has essentially been sidelined for the past two seasons of supercross, qualified ninth before charging to third in his heat race.

In the main event, the CDR Yamaha rider shot out to the lead and controlled the field for much of the opening lap until a costly mistake saw him relegated down the field. He was able to remount, bouncing back to finish the 20-lap race inside the top 10 aboard the all-new 2018 YZ450F.

“While the result wasn’t great, I felt like I rode pretty well and the new 2018 YZ450F was awesome,” Long commented. “Apart from the one fall at the start of the main event, my laps were good and fitness has been the best it’s been all year.

“Next round the aim is to improve on tonight and if I get another start like that, capitalise on it and get myself onto the podium in a mistake free race. Thank you to the CDR Yamaha team and the promoters for a great night in front of a big crowd.”

The Australian Supercross Championship is now set to visit Bacchus Marsh in Victoria for the second stop of the series on 14 October.