Image: Supplied.

The opening timed practice sessions of the 2022 World Supercross Championship (WSX) are complete in Cardiff, with wildcard Eli Tomac and MDK Motorsports’ Derek Drake quickest on Friday afternoon.

Warm-up and practice was held at Principality Stadium in Wales to commence the all-new WSX Championship under SX Global management, setting the stage for tomorrow’s opening round of the pilot season.

As he was in the initial 15-minute session, Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha rider Tomac set the benchmark at 46.985s, which was 0.265s up on first of the WSX regulars, Red Bull-backed Ken Roczen (Honda Genuine Honda Racing). Also in group one, Joey Savatgy (Rick Ware Racing Kawasaki) was P3 overall.

Top of the group two riders in fourth on combined times was Vince Friese (MotoConcepts Honda), with Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha) completing the top five. Positions six through 10 included Dean Wilson (Honda Genuine Honda Racing), Justin Brayton (MotoConcepts Honda), Josh Hill (CDR Yamaha), Cedric Soubeyras (Bud Racing Kawasaki) and Josh Grant (MDK Motorsport Honda).

Image: Supplied.

In the SX2 category it was KTM-mounted Drake who topped the charts with a 48.152s lap-time, leading Australian ProMX champion Aaron Tanti (CDR Yamaha) by 0.121s – the pair split in separate groups today.

Like Tanti, Shane McElrath (Rick Ware Racing Yamaha) has stepped back to a 250 for the WSX series and was third, followed by Mitchell Oldenburg (MotoConcepts Honda) and Justin Bogle (MDK Motorsports KTM), who was within half a second of teammate Drake.

Sixth position came Carson Brown (GSM Yamaha), ahead of British international Max Anstie (Honda Genuine Honda Racing), Jace Owen (FXR ClubMX Yamaha), the returning Cole Seely (MotoConcepts Honda) and Chris Blose (Bud Racing Kawasaki). Factor in Maxime Desprey (GSM Yamaha) and the top 11 were all in the 48s bracket.

Of the other Australians in the field, Chad Reed (MDK Motorsports KTM) was 20th in the WSX class, while in SX2, Matt Moss (Bud Racing Kawasaki) was 12th, directly ahead of national MX2 champion Wilson Todd (Honda Genuine Honda Racing).

Detailed results