In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out in the fourth round of the 2022 Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) at Wagga Speedway Arena.

SX1

Image: Foremost Media.

Matt Moss (BBR 102 Motorsports Yamaha) – First:
It feels great to get some wins. You put so much work into it, the team behind me, for them to go racing it’s just a big effort from everyone’s family really, to sacrifice going away from their family to get to the race. To consolidate that with two wins, and to end up being in the hunt for the championship, one point off, it just feels good you know. It’s good to give back to the sponsors that believed in me. It’s been great, I’m looking forward to what next year holds because of that, and supercross is what I want to do for the rest of my career.

Aaron Tanti (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) – Second:
As I said during the week, I felt ok and was confident I would be able to ride despite what the rumours were. I was a little rusty in practice but I feel that was just me trying to get the track down as it was more difficult than the other rounds we have raced. Once I got that sorted, I was then able to push the speed up and racing just felt like normal. It was important to finish the night and the season well. 2022 has been a great year for me and I want to keep that rolling into 2023 so it was important I didn’t let that small hiccup last week slow my momentum. Thanks to the CDR Yamaha team for a sensational year as well as all my family and friends that support me. It’s time to take a few weeks off before getting started on preparations for 2023.

Josh Hill (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) – Third:
My relationship with Craig and the entire CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team is tight and I would drop everything to come ride for these guys anytime. They are truly a world-class team and I always love my time in Australia and with the team. Third was good again tonight and it was a nice way to finish the season on the podium. Thank you to the Australian fans and promoters who have looked after me so well and to the CDR Yamaha team for again taking me under the wing. I hope that I get the opportunity again.

Dylan Wills (Husqvarna Racing Team) – Fifth:
Tonight was good, even though the track was breaking down quite a lot in the conditions. It was super-dusty out there, so fighting in the pack was really hard and I was trying to be patient. The heat race was good, but then I did twist my ankle a little bit in a crash during the first final – still salvaging sixth in that one. After that, we rode solid for P5 in the second final for fifth overall and also finished fourth in the championship. I feel like the FC 450 really suits my style, it was a good season and the Husqvarna Racing Team was unbelievable all year.

Justin Brayton (Honda Racing) – Fourth (champion):
It feels great to get the job done on my Honda Genuine CRF450R! To think back on all of the success that we have had in our title-winning seasons is just incredible. It was not an easy night, but we got the job done as a team and that is what matters!

Kyle Webster (Honda Racing) – Sixth:
It was a consistent night in Wagga Wagga and that sums up the last couple of weeks, really. I am happy with my season as a whole, but it would have been nice to get a podium! The highlight was qualifying first in the final round. Congrats to my teammates on a great season.

SX2

Image: Foremost Media.

Jai Constantinou (Empire Kawasaki) – Ninth:
They were super-tough conditions tonight. I felt like the heat race was promising, but then in the finals was happy to get through them safely. It was hard out there with the track breaking down and the dust. I’m happy, we learned a lot this season, and it was good to keep progressing in supercross.

Haruki Yokoyama (Empire Kawasaki) – 12th:
Tonight didn’t go as I wanted it. My suspension was closer to a motocross setting, and it didn’t suit this track tonight. I struggled through the whoops a lot. I still have to learn a lot, but it wasn’t too bad, and I hope to be back for next year in the supercross series again.

Noah Ferguson (GasGas Racing Team) – Sixth:
The track was brutal tonight with the sun setting and the dust, so although the result is okay, I wasn’t really happy with how things went in the end. Still, it was a good first season of supercross for me, my first ever time attempting it and we were able to make all four rounds. It was a good experience, I’m still healthy at the end of it all and now I can set my sights on next year. It definitely fuels the fire!

Max Anstie (Honda Racing) – Third (champion):
What a season with Team HRC Australia! I have said it a lot, but I have enjoyed my time here. To win the championship makes it all so much sweeter and I hope that we can carry this form into 2023. Everything is clicking at the moment!

Cole Thompson (Serco Yamaha) – First:
It was awesome to finish my time in Australia with a round win and reward the Serco Yamaha team for their faith and efforts in me. Getting international riders is never an easy option for a team but the Serco guys have been great, and I really wanted to get a win for them and finish on a positive note. I have really enjoyed my time in Australia. Everyone has been good to me, and I hope at some point I get to come back and race again as I was just finding my feet with the tracks and the way things go down under.Thank you to Gavin, Ben, Paul and Jonni for working with me and Yamaha Australia for their support. It’s been an honour to represent them and would love to come back and do it again.

Wilson Todd (Terrafirma Honda Racing) – Fourth:
It was nice to end my season with a win in the final race, but missing the podium was a bit of a blow. I am happy with the steps that we have made though and know that there is more to come!

Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) – Second:
The track broke down quite a lot, but was still racey and I put my best foot forward tonight, finishing second on the night and third in the championship! To end the season off with my best round of supercross this year is really, really good, so I’m really happy and now I can look forward to getting even stronger for next year.