Image: Foremost Media.

Five-time Australian SX1 number one Justin Brayton will line-up at Marvel Stadium tonight and Saturday after opting out of the Paris Supercross last weekend, revealing a fractured shoulder-blade that has proven troublesome in recent weeks.

Brayton, 39, ventured to France as one of many marquee riders to participate in the 40th edition of the coveted event, but ultimately did not take to the gate through the finals.

The American cracked his shoulder-blade in a multi-bike start incident during Newcastle’s third main event, and after aggravating the injury further during practice in Paris, the decision was made to withdraw from the famed French event altogether.

Brayton’s crash in the second round of the 2023 Fox Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) ruled him out of title contention altogether, but he’s motivated to race this weekend to complete his 2023 campaign.

“It’s something that I can look back on and know that I gave it my all,” Brayton explained at Thursday evening’s Honda Champion’s Dinner in Melbourne. “From Newcastle, I knew I needed to show in that first main event that I wanted to tie the points lead up. I did everything in my power to do that, I had a decent lead, Dean [Wilson] got me late in that one.

“And then in the third main event I had a crash and got an injury that I’m dealing with now – I got a cracked shoulder-blade. We are going to try to do the best we can this weekend with what I have, but I would love to at least win one of these and then go onto World Supercross on Saturday night with some momentum and cap-off a the year with some results.”

While Brayton is mathematically out of reach to reduce the gap to red plate-holder and teammate Dean Wilson, he is currently third in the Australian SX1 standings and just five points back from Josh Hill (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) in P2.

Following the conclusion of the AUSX season on Friday night, Brayton is set to line-up for the World Supercross Championship (WSX) finals tomorrow night in Melbourne.