Direct updates from round two of the championship in Australia.
Follow the 2022 World Supercross Championship (WSX) with direct WSX and SX2 updates from round two of the season at Marvel Stadium through Racefeed.
SX2 qualifying:
Justin Bogle laid down the gauntlet with a 46.524s, edging Cole Seely (MotoConcepts Honda) and Max Anstie (Honda Genuine Fire Power Honda Racing) – the leading trio all in the 46s bracket. GSM Yamaha’s Carson Brown was P4, in front of red plate-holder Shane McElrath (Rick Ware Racing) in fifth with a 47.357s. Stepping back onto a 250, Matt Moss (Bud Racing) notched the sixth quickest time, as Mitchell Oldenburg (MotoConcepts Honda), Chris Blose (Bud Racing), Jace Owen (Club MX FXR Yamaha) and Wilson Todd (Honda Genuine Fire Power Honda Racing) completed the top 10. Australian Aaron Tanti (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) was P11, as domestic wildcards Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) and Rhys Budd (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) were 19th and 20th respectively.
WSX qualifying:
Joey Savatgy (Rick Ware Racing) set a blistering 45.776s to best Ken Roczen (Honda Genuine Fire Power Honda Racing) and qualify fastest ahead of the night show. The leading duo were over one second clear of Cedric Soubeyras (Bud Racing) in P3, as last night’s AUSX winner Justin Brayton (MotoConcepts Honda) was fourth, ahead of Anthony Bourdon (GSM Yamaha) in fifth. P6 was Dean Wilson, however, the Honda Genuine Fire Power Honda Racing rider crashed heavily in the closing stages of the session. A 47.213s saw Vince Friese (MotoConcepts Honda) qualify seventh, as Josh Hill (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy), Cade Clason (Club MX FXR Yamaha) and Australian wildcard Kyle Webster (Honda Genuine Fire Power Honda Racing) completed the top 10. Hayden Mellross (GasGas Racing Team) posted the 14th quickest time as Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) notably is not competing after sustaining a cracked thumb last night in AUSX.
SX2 heat one:
Todd withstood the hard-charging Blose to take the opening heat race victory. The number 20 shot out of the gate to grab the holeshot and swiftly responded to a pass made by the Bud Racing rider to start his night show in the best possible way. Blose fell in the closing stages, dropping to fourth behind Kyle Chisholm (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) and Moss. Phil Nicoletti (Club MX FXR Yamaha) was fifth, as Brown, Seely, Henry Miller (Rick Ware Racing), Budd – who started strong – and Derek Kelly (Pipes Motorsport Group) completed the top 10.
SX2 heat two:
A commanding ride by Oldenburg saw him overcome Jace Owen (Club MX FXR Yamaha) on the first lap to ultimately take a 1.168s victory. Tanti charged to third, ahead of fastest-qualifier Bogle and points leader McElrath. Last night’s AUSX SX2 winner Anstie took the chequered flag P6, as seventh to 10th were Lorenzo Camporese (Honda Nils Racing), Crawford, Maxime Desprey (GSM Yamaha) and Dilan Schwartz (Pipes Motorsport Group).
WSX heat one:
It was a wire-to-wire victory for Roczen, the German stretching out his lead to claim a 4.620s win. Wilson rebounded from his heavy qualifying fall to finish second, pursued by Brayton in P3. Hill was a distant fourth, ahead of Jordi Tixier (Honda Nils Racing) who narrowly beat Mellross for fifth. Grant Harlan (Club MX FXR Yamaha), Angelo Pellegrini (Honda Nils Racing), Webster and Alex Ray (Pipes Motorsport Group) rounded out the top 10.
WSX heat two:
Savatgy confirmed he means business in Melbourne, showing he is not afraid to get his elbows out on his way to victory. Friese squeezed his way into the early lead, but at half-race distance the number 17 forced his way through, bumping the MotoConcepts rider wide in the turn after the whoops. Savatgy ultimately crossed the line 2.0s ahead of Friese, with Soubeyras completing the top three, 5.026s from the front. Clason finished the bout fourth, leading Bourdon, Adrien Escoffier (Bud Racing), Thomas Ramette (GSM Yamaha), Ryan Breece (Rick Ware Racing), Freddie Noren (Pipes Motorsport Group) and Jackson Richardson (MDK Motorsports).
WSX super pole:
A thrilling super pole belonged to Roczen, who produced a smooth yet fast 46.080s to secure first gate pick for the finals at Marvel Stadium. Brayton delivered to land P2, four-tenths adrift of the number 94 as Friese completed the top three – just 0.103s shy of his teammate. Savatgy salvaged fourth, despite having a massive moment out of the turn before the whoops. A 47.319s was enough for Soubeyras to finish fifth, ahead of Clason, Hill, Tixier, Bourbon and Wilson who notably was on course for a top three time before he ran off the track at the dragon’s back.
SX2 final one:
Leading from start to finish, Anstie took a convincing win to open the finals in Melbourne. Championship leader McElrath played it smart and didn’t put a foot wrong to land second, withstanding Owen who finished a close P3. Title-contender Blose took the chequered flag fourth, ahead of Nicoletti and home-hero Todd. Oldenburg recovered from an off-track excursion on lap one after the triple to finish seventh, as Brown, Camporese and Desprey completed the top 10. Notably, fastest qualifier Bogle washed the front, bringing Tanti down – the pair finishing 11th and 12th respectively. Chisholm and Seely collided on the opening lap, both having to pit after the incident.
SX2 final two:
Tanti took a popular home victory in the second final, besting the ever-consistent McElrath who constantly applied the pressure. Anstie overcame Oldenburg for P3, with the number 48 taking the chequered flag fourth, Blose fifth. P6 was Moss, ahead of Brown, Crawford, Schwartz and Miller. Chisholm, Seely and Todd were involved in an opening corner crash, with the CDR rider remounting to finish P11, as Todd was 13th and Seely P18. Bogle also fell at the first turn but was unable to complete the outing, and Owen was ruled out with a mechanical problem.
SX2 super final:
McElrath claimed the SX2 world title in style, taking his first race win of the season in the final bout to secure another overall, and the championship. Anstie kept the number 12 honest crossing the line less than a second from victor, following a last-lap push. Tanti impressed once more to finish third, in front of Blose and Moss. Oldenburg had a heart-in-the-mouth moment on the opening lap as he approached the triple, recovering to P6 after losing considerable time. Positions seven to 10 were occupied by Todd, Desprey and Schwartz. Anstie and Tanti completed the podium for the round.
WSX final one:
A clinical performance from Roczen saw him start his Melbourne final assault on the best foot with a 4.842s win ahead of Savatgy. The Rick Ware Racing rider grabbed the early lead, but was passed by Roczen in the turn before the whoops in the opening lap and was unable to stick with the German. MotoConcepts Honda pair Brayton and Friese finished third and fourth respectively, ahead of Wilson in P5. Sixth to 10th were Tixier, Hill, Escoffier, Pellegrini and Bourdon.
WSX final two:
Savatgy kept his nose clean to win what was an eventful second final that saw disaster strike title-favourite Roczen. Roczen grabbed the early lead in the outing and looked set for another victory when he was forced to the pits with a flat tyre. Brayton continued his podium run to cross the line P2, ahead of teammate Friese once more. P4 was Clason in a stronger showing, as Bourdon completed the top five. Former motocross world champion Tixier finished sixth, ahead of Webster, Harlan, Pellegrini and Soubeyras. Notably, Wilson and Hill were involved in a multi-bike pile-up with five laps remaining at the corner between the quads.
WSX super final:
Following the race two drama, Roczen did what he needed to claim the 2022 WSX Championship as Savatgy took another race win to take the round victory. With Brayton, Friese and Roczen entering a winner take all bout in the final race for the title, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Savatgy moved to the early lead as Roczen worked his way to P2, while both Friese and Brayton were devastatingly involved in a multi-rider pile-up at the first turn on the opening lap. In the end, Roczen crossed the line 1.495s from the race win, as Hill completed the top three ahead of Wilson. Friese remounted and delivered a spirited charge back to fifth, as the top 10 for the final bout was rounded out by Clason, Soubeyras, Brayton, Tixier and Bourdon. For the round, Roczen and Brayton completed the overall podium as Savatgy and Friese were second and third in the championship. Top Australian for the round was Hayden Mellross (GasGas Racing Team) who finished P11 overall, as Jackson Richardson (MDK Motorsports) was 15th and Webster 16th after not contesting the final bout. Notably, Luke Clout (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy) did not compete tonight due to a thumb injury.