Image: AUS-X Open.

Reigning Australian Supercross champion Justin Brayton is the latest international to be confirmed for the 2018 Monster Energy AUS-X Open, to be held within Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on 10 November.

Fresh from his most successful American campaign yet in which he finished fifth in the standings, Brayton has been a consistent threat for AUS-X Open honours during the past two years and has his sights firmly set on the top step.

“The AUS-X Open is one of the greatest events outside of the US and having been so close to winning it before, I’m determined to come back faster and ready to win in November,” said 34-year-old Brayton.

“My success so far this year has really given me confidence that I’ve got what it takes to win in Australia and with the AUS-X Open being the biggest and last round of the Australian Championship, I really want to get the win that I’ve been so close to before.”

Event director Adam Bailey believes that adding the current world number five to the 2018 line-up was a no-brainer and that his success so far this year in the US, as well as the previous two years in Australia, was a testament to the standard of rider Brayton is.

“Having Justin apart of this year’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney is really exciting, especially off the back of such an outstanding year so far,” Bailey said. “Justin is such a hard working and fierce competitor.

“His domination of the last two Australian Supercross Championships is proof of what he is capable of and winning this year’s Daytona Supercross and finishing fifth in the world championship proves he’s in the best form of his career. I believe he’ll come out faster and stronger than ever before at this year’s AUS-X Open and be a serious challenger for the win.”

With Brayton’s countryman Justin Barcia already announced, further announcements regarding the athlete line-up and much more are expected to follow in the coming days. The official pre-sale began today for fans who subscribed, with the official on-sale date scheduled for Wednesday, 6 June. Visit www.ausxopen.com.au for further details.

Penrite Honda Racing is yet to confirm whether Brayton will compete in the entire Australian Supercross Championship, in which he has captured the SX1 championship during the 2016 and 2017 series.