The 2022 Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) provided plenty of top-level action, with the SX1 title-fight going right down to the wire and the SX2 class producing a mix of memorable moments across the four-round duration. In this latest Rated feature, MotoOnline takes a closer look at some of the top performers throughout this year’s series.

Image: Foremost Media.

Rider: Justin Brayton
Rating: A
Rundown: When it came down to it, Brayton (Honda Racing) did all that he needed to score a record fifth-consecutive Australian Supercross Championship for himself and Honda Racing. Opening the season in fine form, Brayton bided his time behind Aaron Tanti (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) at Marvel Stadium before striking to take a convincing victory to start the season. A P2 finish a week later in Adelaide saw him enter Newcastle equal on points with Tanti, where he was looking set to take the win in the Triple Crown when a bike problem in the third final denied him any chance of the overall. Further disaster struck the CRF450R rider in the opening main event at Wagga Wagga, running second to Matt Moss (BBR 102 Motorsports Yamaha) for the majority of the race before suffering a flat tyre. Brayton maintained his composure and limped home to a distant fourth, before a measured P4 in the second final at round four was enough for the seasoned champion to notch title number five by a single point. The question is now, do we see him back to battle for another one next year?

Rider: Matt Moss
Rating: A
Rundown: Supercross saw the resurgence of former multiple national champion Moss, achieving a 50 percent strike rate in AUSX to win more rounds than any other rider in this year’s SX1 series. Moss’ 2022 campaign started with a P5 finish at Marvel Stadium, before going one better a week later in Adelaide to finish fourth. Fresh off a breakout SX2 victory with Bud Racing in France to be crowned the ‘Prince of Paris’, an ever-motivated Moss returned to Australia on his usual privateer YZ450F and continued his winning ways at Newcastle, victorious in two of the three finals to take out the Triple Crown. Another overall victory at Wagga Wagga brought him within just one point of capturing the title, but nonetheless, the number 102 convincingly showed that he still has what it takes to compete at the very front of the pack and is sure to be a formidable force next season. He’s already confirmed that he intends to be on a supercross-only program in 2023, both here and internationally.

Rider: Aaron Tanti
Rating: A-
Rundown: New ProMX champion Tanti continued his breakout 450 season in AUSX, leading throughout the opening main event at Marvel Stadium and holding out a late charge from Dean Wilson (Honda Racing) to commence his campaign with a P2 in Melbourne. A commanding victory a week later at Adelaide Showground confirmed his title challenge, entering Newcastle’s Triple Crown level on points with Brayton. Unfortunately, he would fall and knock his head during the finals at round three, ruling himself out of contention at the penultimate stop. The number nine bounced back to finish second overall at the final round, winning the second final at Wagga Wagga to close the year a fine third in the SX1 standings. While the mistake at Newcastle proved costly and ultimately placed Tanti out of reach from championship contention, the Queensland-based rider showed plenty of promise throughout the series and will again be exciting to follow next season, having re-signed with CDR.

Image: Foremost Media.

Rider: Max Anstie
Rating: A
Rundown: Charismatic international Anstie set the standard in national SX2 this season, winning three of the four rounds to take the title in a dominant fashion. Making his Australian Supercross debut with Honda Racing at Marvel Stadium, Anstie – who also finished second in the SX2 World Championship this year with Yarrive Konsky’s outfit – led each lap in Melbourne on his way to a 10.282s victory. One week later in Adelaide, Anstie was again victorious, overcoming teammate Wilson Todd (Honda Racing) before the number 99 made it three round wins in a row as he stood tall in Newcastle’s Triple Crown. Entering Wagga Wagga’s finals with a 21-point advantage, Anstie secured the crown with a 1-4 scorecard in challenging conditions, capping off what was a successful stint down under as he prepares for 250SX West in the US next year.

Rider: Cole Thompson
Rating: B+
Rundown: Serco Yamaha import Thompson was a bit of an unknown package in terms of how he would fair against the top Australian SX2 talent, but the Canadian didn’t disappoint. A solid P2 opened his account in Melbourne before an early crash in Adelaide meant P7 was the best he could manage. The number six just missed the podium at Newcastle’s Triple Crown, finishing equal on points with Rhys Budd (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), before ending his season on a high, taking the Wagga Wagga overall with a 3-2 scorecard to secure second in the standings. Having signed with Team Solitaire for 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Thompson will be one to keep an eye on after his time spent in Australia.

Rider: Nathan Crawford
Rating: B
Rundown: Bouncing back from injury to complete ProMX with winning form, KTM Racing Team’s Crawford delivered a relatively consistent domestic AUSX season to land third in the SX2 championship. Crawford voiced in the build-up to the series that he aimed to adopt a methodical approach to the indoors and stayed true to that in Melbourne with a measured performance to finish third – the first SX2 podium of his career. Recovering from ninth at the start of the main event at Wayville, the 250 SX-F rider reached fourth at round two, before a crash in the first final of Newcastle’s Triple Crown meant eighth overall was the best he could salvage at the penultimate event. Crawford concluded his season with his strongest result at Wagga Wagga, a 2-3 scorecard seeing him finish equal on points with round winner Thompson, but resulting in second overall on count-back.