Image: Foremost Media.

An increasingly confident Shane McElrath led a Honda Racing sweep of the SX2 podium at the third round of the 2024 Fox Australian Supercross Championship at Wollongong.

The Polyflor Honda Racing rider won all three finals at WIN Stadium, and was flanked by Brodie Connolly (Polyflor Honda Racing) and Cole Thompson (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) on the night’s podium.

The drama unfolded before the three finals even began, when a huge crash in the second heat race claimed fastest qualifier Ryder Kingsford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), and podium contenders Alex Larwood (Froth Honda Racing) and Rhys Budd (Raceline Husqvarna T-Dub Racing).

As a result, all three racers missed qualifying for the finals and the valuable points that were up for grabs.

McElrath stormed to the front of the first SX2 final with the holeshot, and was never challenged on his way to a 2.6s win.

McElrath led a Honda Racing trio, as his team-mates Thompson and Connolly finished second and third.

Empire Kawasaki’s Reid Taylor crossed the line in P4 after a good jump off the starting gate, ahead of a fast-finishing Kaleb Barham (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), who recovered well from a start outside the top 10.

Positions 6-10 were filled by Jayce Cosford (Yamalube Yamaha Racing), Thynan Keen (KTM), Sam Larsen (Yamaha), Liam Atkinson (Triumph) and Bailey Malkiewicz (WBR Yamaha).

After a red-flagged start to the second final, McElrath again took the win, although he had to work harder for it.

Thompson scored the holeshot and led the early laps, but McElrath quickly dispatched of Cosford, Connolly and Thompson to guide the field to the chequered flag with an 8.5s margin.

A late mistake from Thompson saw him give away some valuable positions, as Cosford and Connolly finished the race second and third respectively.

Barham again recovered well to place fourth, ahead of Kayden Minear (KTM Racing Team), as Thompson logged a frustrating P6 result.

The remaining top 10 placings went to Taylor, Cambell Williams (Husqvarna), Byron Dennis (GasGas Racing Team) and Ben Novak (Honda).

McElrath completed a clean sweep of the night’s finals with a comfortable wire-to-wire win.

Thompson made a late pass on Connolly to steal P2 in an otherwise relatively quiet race, as Taylor and Barham finished fourth and fifth.

Minear, Williams, Dennis, Novak and Keane wrapped up their nights inside the top 10.

In the points standings, McElrath (63 points) has extended his lead to seven points over both Thompson and Connolly, who are tied on 56 points.

Round four of the AUSX championship will be held at Adelaide on 15-17 November.

Detailed results