Image: AUS-X Open.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson is the 2017 Monster Energy AUS-X Open champion after soaring to a commanding victory by the end of Sunday’s SX1 main event in Sydney.

Earlier, headline American Anderson was untouched in a relatively uneventful opening SX1 heat, jumping out of the gates to lead and crossing the line with a sizeable 7.3s advantage following eight laps.

Anderson dominated from Dan Reardon (Mega Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki) – also going into the main event – a couple of seconds up on Geico Honda’s RJ Hampshire, who in turn edged out Nick Schmidt (Wilson Coolair Motul Suzuki) for position.

Opening night winner Dean Wilson rode his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna to another win in the second 450 heat of Sunday, leading the duration for a 1.8s victory over current AUS Supercross number one plate-holder Justin Brayton (Penrite Honda Racing), who posted the quickest lap of the round so far at 31.246s.

Brayton capitalised on an error of Kade Mosig (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) in the whoops, however the latter recovered to cross the line in P3 but unable to match the outright lap pace of the imports.

CDR Yamaha talent Dylan Long impressed by taking out the first of the SX1 semis, starting out from and staying there for the entire six laps. He finished 1.9s ahead of Hampshire, while fellow American Schmidt trailed him again – all three going through to the final.

Current two-time MX Nationals champion, CDR Yamaha rider Dean Ferris, mirrored his team-mate’s result by winning his semi-final, 1.7s ahead of Nathan Crawford (Mega Fuels Monster Energy Kawasaki) – who led five laps of last night’s main – and Mosig as all three went into the final.

The SX1 last-chance qualifier produced a few surprises, as FMX ace Robbie Marshall rode his privateer Honda to victory from Daniel Herrlein (KSF Racing Suzuki). Crankt Protein Honda Racing factory rider Todd Waters was out due to a crash, as was opening night standout Joel Wightman (Penrite CRF Honda Racing).

Pre-race favourite Anderson dominated the 20-lap SX1 main event to become this year’s AUS-X Open champion in what was another hard-fought affair for position in the 12-rider pack.

It was Ferris who led out of the first turn and the opening lap, however Anderson took full advantage of the Shannons Shortcut to seize the lead on lap two. Behind them, Wilson moved into P3 and then bypassed the whoops himself to close in on Ferris, who slid out before the whoop section – and went down again soon afterwards – and that put him out of contention.

Out front it was all Anderson though, slicing his way through lapped traffic to maintain an advantage over team-mate Wilson, again delivering a 1-2 for Husqvarna by 7.245s at race’s end.

Behind them it was eventually current AUS Supercross points leader Brayton who rounded out the all-international podium in P3, albeit over 30 seconds from Anderson at the front. Reardon was once again top of the Australians in fourth this time, edging ahead of rookie team-mate Crawford in another strong ride – the final rider on the lead lap.

Mosig went down in the first turn and could only recover to 10th, one place ahead of Ferris, which now sees Brayton hold an 18-point lead in the series from Reardon, who is a further two markers ahead of Ferris entering Jimboomba, Queensland’s final round next Saturday night.