Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

American Justin Brayton captured a second-consecutive 2016 Australian Supercross Championship victory at a windy Toowoomba Showgrounds on Friday night, in another commanding performance from the Honda Genuine Racing rider.

Brayton worked his way to the front of the field in the mid-stages of the race and took control from there, crossing the finish at the end of 20 laps with a 2.073s buffer over countryman Wil Hahn (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team).

It was another spectacular showing from MX Nationals champion Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha) as top Australian in third, getting the better of another US rider in Kyle Peters (KTM Motocross Racing Team, who led the race briefly at one stage.

Out of retirement, Jay Marmont ride his privateer MXR&D-supported Husqvarna to a fine fifth-place finish, from Kade Mosig (National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team), Adam Enticknap (Honda Genuine Racing), Jay Wilson (Crankt Protein Honda Racing), Luke Wilson (Wilsons Coolair Motul Suzuki) and Lawson Bopping (DPH Motorsport Yamaha).

Defending champion Dan Reardon’s (CDR Yamaha) title chances took a hit when he crashed while circulating inside the top five during the closing laps, bumping him back to P11 in a frustrating finish to his round.

The early stages of the final were led by Todd Waters (Wilsons Coolair Motul Suzuki), who won his heat race earlier in the night, however he crashed out of the lead and then again, unfortunately putting him out of the race altogether.

Two wins in a row sees Brayton increase his points lead to eight over Ferris, who has been on the podium at both rounds to date, with Hahn climbing to third, a further four points in arrears. Reardon has been demoted to fourth and tied with Mosig, a full 20 points back from the red plate.

Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Serco Yamaha’s new recruit Jackson Richardson took out the SX2 main event, maintaining his advantage over runner-up Hayden Mellross (DPH Motorsport Yamaha) for a 4.234s victory at the end of 15 laps.

Richardson took charge when early leader Gavin Faith (Penrite Honda) crashed out of contention heavily on lap one and was never headed, keeping the in-form fellow US-based Mellross at bay, while Honda-mounted local privateer Geran Stapleton completed the podium.

It was almost a YZ250F sweep of the rostrum as Wade Hunter (Serco Yamaha) recovered from a fall of his own for fourth, followed by Joel Wightman (CRF Honda Racing), who was initially registered further down the order in timing and scoring.

Nathan Crawford (Husqvarna) made a positive return to racing in sixth, the top 10 completed by Dylan Wills (Raceline Pirelli KTM), Wilson Todd (Serco Yamaha) in his first ride of the year, Jordan Hill (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) and Lewis Woods (KTM).

With Faith finishing five laps down in 20th and defending champion Jimmy Decotis (Honda Genuine Racing) bowing out of his heat, the championship’s blown wide-open after just two rounds of the season – Mellross the new red plate holder in the series by a single point over Richardson.

The 2016 Australian Supercross Championship will now take a weekend off before resuming for round three on Saturday, 29 October, at Adelaide Showgrounds in South Australia, which will mark the halfway point of the season.

SX1 main event results:

SX1 championship standings:

SX2 main event results:

SX2 championship standings: