Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

There was no stopping Penrite Honda Racing’s defending Australian Supercross champion Justin Brayton tonight in Virginia, South Australia, has he stormed to a third-straight SX1 win.

Brayton has been the class of the field throughout the 2017 season yet again, placing his CRF450R in perfect track position and then doing what’s required in the 20-lap finals.

The first of the SX1 heat races at round three was won by MX Nationals champion Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha), who overcame the challenge of Todd Waters (Crankt Protein Honda Racing), as Nathan Crawford (Mega Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki) was third. The top five was rounded out by Jesse Dobson (Penrite Honda Racing) and FMX regular Robbie Marshall (Honda).

While pole-setter Brayton sprinted away to an 8.617s victory at the front in heat two from Luke Clout (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) and an impressively-quick Dylan Long (CDR Yamaha), the big news in SX1 heat two was Dan Reardon (Mega Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki) going down in the same place as qualifying, while Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) went down in the sand section.

Come the main, SX1 red plate-holder Brayton got out front early and was never headed, putting near five seconds between he and Long before ultimately taking the chequered flag with a 4.552s advantage. It was another commanding performance from the American, making it three from three for the 2017 season and taking one step closer toward a second-consecutive crown as the series reaches its halfway point.

Behind him, Long was exceptional for the runner-up, effectively riding in the wheel tracks of Brayton and almost a full 10 seconds ahead of Mosig, who took a well-deserved podium in third. Fourth was a remarkable effort from Ferris after he was involved in an early multi-rider incident, with former champion Reardon able to salvage fifth following one of his more difficult days at the office.

He was directly ahead of teammate and 450 newcomer Crawford, while Waters, Dobson, leading Suzuki Daniel Herrlein (KSF Racing) and Schmidt were the top 10 at race’s end. All the way down in 13th was Clout, who’s race was ruined by the opening lap pile-up that caught up a number of riders when he went down at the head of the pack.

Rounds four and five of the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship will be contested at the prestigious Monster Energy AUS-X Open in Sydney on 11-12 November.