A selection of riders detail round one of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship at Brisbane in Queensland. Team and privateer competitors can submit comments to [email protected] by Monday afternoon after events for inclusion in the post-event Quotebook feature.

SX1

Image: Foremost Media.

Dan Reardon (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) – Second overall:
It’s good to be back and racing again and this was just what I needed to blow the cobwebs out and get the blood pumping again. There is only so much practice and training you can do and sometimes you just need to get out on the race track and see what happens. I didn’t ride great as I was a bit stiff and tight from being sidelined for so long, but I will be better for the experience and will improve from here. It was awesome to be back under the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team awning again and surrounded by great people and look forward to getting after it in the coming rounds.

Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) – Third overall:
You go into the opening round of the championship looking for a positive and safe start and that’s exactly what we did. We are in the hunt and things are looking good. But I also believe I can be better and now we are out of the tight nature of indoors, the real racing can begin. Racing indoors can throw up lots of things but we were able to handle them and now we have full-sized tracks at the remaining four rounds where we have time and space to make the racing better and I can’t wait to get to Adelaide this weekend.

Jesse Dobson (Husqvarna) – 14th overall:
Last night was tough for me, I qualified well with fourth fastest and rode well during the day, but it didn’t come together for me in the night program. The track was tight, slick and made it difficult to find opportunities to pass, so when I made a mistake in my heat looking for ways forward, I ended up crashing and twisting my bike up. My team were awesome and worked hard to get the bike ready for the B main. I had last gate pick on the very outside and managed to move through to sixth, setting the second fastest lap. The bike was great, I’m happy overall with how I rode, and how everyone involved in my program worked together, so I’m even more motivated to get to a bigger venue and show everyone what I’m capable of.

Richie Evans (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) – Ninth/ninth overall:
Considering my preparation and the injury I had, I’m happy with eighth and look forward to getting stringer and back to good health in the coming weeks. I have never raced on a track as tight and small as this so the whole night was a real learning experience for me. I had a good time and the team were great in passing on advice and helping me through. Riding a 450 in there is a lot to handle and it’s a big bike for a small track but the bike was awesome and as my shoulder gets better, hopefully the results can continue to improve.

Justin Brayton (Penrite Honda Racing) – First overall:
I couldn’t have scripted this any better, what a dream start. The whole team worked well and I just enjoyed being back down under in front of the crowd. Also I can’t explain how cool it was to see all of the Brayton Fly jerseys out there – it’s something I will remember for a long time. I really gelled with the track quickly, my bike felt awesome and I was enjoying it out there.

Brett Metcalfe (Penrite Honda Racing) – Fourth overall:
I am bummed with the overall result but I blame myself, I was pushed so wide in the final turn that there was no track left. The first final was good but I need to be better, so I will be for round two – I’ll work to make that happen.

Lawson Bopping (Empire Kawasaki) – Seventh overall:
It was a fun night, but I haven’t been riding much since Coolum – I’ve been seeing doctors and still trying to get healthy and get over this illness. It was a very tight track and a struggle for everyone, but my bike set-up felt great considering I haven’t done much testing. I ripped a good start in the first one and followed [Justin] Brayton in second for a couple of laps, then dropped back to fifth. I had a terrible start in the last one and came back through, although halfway through they got back around me. It was good to get through it.

Dylan Long (Empire Kawasaki) – Fifth overall:
Round one wasn’t the best, I was searching to find comfort and we got a little better for the main events. My first start was terrible and I came back from last, but my second start was better until I got pushed wide. I banged bars with a few people, as you do at an indoor, but race two was an improvement and we got better as the night went on. We’re only going to get better from here, so now we’re definitely looking forward to the next round coming up.

Todd Waters (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna) – Sixth overall:
The lead-up wasn’t ideal, and my hands still aren’t quite there yet, but I’m pretty happy to walk away from round one with some decent points, and even take a solid second in my heat. The guys at DPH did a great job to prep my FC 450 and I had a fun night racing, so I’m excited to build from here as the season moves on.

Jayden Rykers (SB Motorsports Suzuki) – Ninth overall:
Overall I have to be happy with tonight’s result, my goal was to make it through the opening round ready to move onto round two and we more than achieved that. My start was not to bad in my heat race, and I spent the whole race looking for a way around Evans for the final transfer spot, with two turns left I was able to make the pass. It was a relief just to get through to the main straight from the heat, with only ten gates for the nights final I did not want to be in the LCQ fighting for one of two spots. The first final I was doing well but just left the door open a little and was forced off track and leaving me at the rear of the field. The second final was going really, then on the final lap Brayton came by with a couple of corners to go and I did not realise Waters was just behind me, he snuck up the inside of me in the last turn putting me back to seventh. Tonight was the first time I have finished a round of supercross, it’s good to get that monkey off my back and head to Adelaide next weekend with a top ten round result in the bag.

Cody Dyce (SB Motorsports Suzuki) – 16th overall:
I am not super happy with my final result, but at the same time happy to make it through round one and be heading to round two. My speed was good all night and I was able to make a lot of passes in my heat, but with only 10 gates, fifth was one position short. Things did not go my way in the LCQ, with only two riders going through it was always going to be a battle. I am looking forward to heading to a bigger track next week in South Australia.

SX2

Image: Foremost Media.

Jacob Hayes (Serco Yamaha) – First overall:
I was so pumped to finally get a race and round win here in Australia. Last year here I was close but never able to get it done so its good to get it done here in Brisbane and in front of a lot of the Serco Yamaha fans and supporters. Racing in a venue like this is what I’m accustomed to in the US and I felt at home pretty quickly. The Serco Yamaha team did a great job and with both Aaron and I on the podium it shows the team has done the work and we got a good reward with tonight’s results. We are off to Adelaide next week and hope to get the ball rolling at round two.

Aaron Tanti (Serco Yamaha) – Second overall:
It feels good to get back up on the podium again. In the MX Nationals I finished fourth more times than I can remember so it was good to reset for supercross and then come out strong at the opening round and get on the box. My day was pretty smooth all round as I was able to qualify in third, was in the top three for my heat race and then finished 2-3 in the main events so it was a really consistent night for me and my starts allowed me to be up the front every time. Anything can happen on a tight track like this but I’m happy to finish second tonight and look forward to getting on the bigger circuits in the coming rounds.

Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) – Fifth overall:
Fifth isn’t ideal but I’m in the mix and left round one healthy but determined to do better. I didn’t get the middle rhythm section as good as I would have liked all night and it proved a little costly. It was the one section of the track where I let myself down but I will be better next weekend. My bike is good and the team were great again so we will take the positives from the weekend, work on a few things and come out swinging in Adelaide where we are back to a more traditional format of racing with a 15 lap main event.

Kyle Webster (Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing) – 10th overall:
The whole MXoN experience was amazing, but it did mean my build up for the supercross championship was limited and I only had a few days of SX training before we lined up in Brisbane. I really struggled with how small and tight track the track was at Brisbane, so now we’ll just move on and I’m excited to put in a solid week of riding and cannot wait for the next round at Adelaide.

Rhys Budd (Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing) – DNQ:
It was a tough pill to swallow, but we had a freak bike problem that was no fault of anyone, that meant I wasn’t able to get out for qualifying. We tried to get into the next group, but unfortunately, we weren’t allowed into it. At least we’re healthy and will be working hard for the next round in Adelaide. Thanks to the team for doing everything they could, especially Mick Lillis and Mitch Budd. I am where I am because of those guys, and my family, and the team, and we will achieve all we are capable of thanks to all their support.

Wilson Todd (DPH Motorsport Husqvarna) – Seventh overall:
Even though I was still sore, I was confident I could race against these guys and do well, and I still feel that way. The results on paper don’t look that strong, but I dropped the bike in practice and re-cracked my rib and I raced through the pain. With only a few days until we head to Adelaide for round two, it’s not ideal, but if anything, I’m even more confident that I have what it takes, and I’ll be doing everything I can to be ready for next Saturday.

Bradley Taft (Empire Kawasaki) – Sixth overall:
It wasn’t the best night and I haven’t raced since May, so I was pretty nervous to start with. My heat race was alright and my first main started out well when I was battling for third, before he rider I was battling with made a mistake and came into me before the finish line. I hit him super-hard and ended up going down. I bent my front-end up pretty bad and broke my front brake lever, so it was survival after that. I did what I could in race two and I was sixth overall. With everything that happened, it went as good as it could have been.

Regan Duffy (Raceline KTM Thor) – 20th overall:
Obviously tonight didn’t go to plan as far as the end result is concerned, however I showed good speed and was competitive in my first supercross event. I learned every lap I was out there and had I have made it to fourth in the heat race I think my night would have been very different. I’m excited to see what we can do in Adelaide next weekend.

Josh Osby (Raceline KTM Thor) – Fourth overall:
Obviously I’m a little frustrated after winning final one and then not being able to match that in the second final. But I’m happy with where the team and I are at after round one and I proved to everyone including myself that I have the speed to win. We have solid points and a great base for the season ahead.

Josh Brewster (SB Motorsports Suzuki) – DNQ:
I am pretty disappointed with the result tonight, I washed out the front end early in qualifying and ran the session with bent bars. I tried everything once the session restarted but with only 20 riders going through to the night show, I was just a little short in 22nd spot. I am excited to get to Adelaide next week and really show what I am capable of.

Chris Blose (Penrite Honda Racing) – Third overall:
I couldn’t believe it – a rider ran in way too hot and caused a pile-up – I was along for the ride. I got up as quickly as I could and charged back to fourth. This is not what I came here to do. It’s a short championship so every point is valuable – I want to win! I will take away the positives – the bike was strong and we are fast so I’ll use that more to my advantage in Adelaide this coming weekend.

Mitchell Oldenburg – Penrite Honda Racing) – Eighth overall:
I didn’t race as well as I’d hoped, the competition is fierce and being my first night racing here in Australia I didn’t quite know what to expect. I want better for me and the team so I have taken a lot away from this and am focused on round two.