Luke Styke holds a seven-point lead following a thrilling Mount Gambier main. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

A crushing final lap mistake at Mount Gambier’s third round of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship cost Gavin Faith victory on Saturday night, with arch-rival Luke Styke sitting in his wheel tracks to capitalise.

Faith led the 15-lap main event from the opening lap, but a final lap crash enabled Styke to pick up his second consecutive SX-Lites win for Serco Yamaha.

The result broke the points tie between the pair entering South Australia, with Styke stretching a seven-point series lead in the process.

“I got lucky tonight,” Styke reflected. “Gavin was riding exceptionally well and even though I was able to get close to him, it was unlikely I was going to get past.

“Then as we came into the corner after the start, he lost the front and fell and I was able capitalise on his misfortune.

“Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t, and tonight luck was on my side. Thanks again to the Serco Yamaha team and to everyone at Mt. Gambier that turned up and supported the event.”

It was a bitter blow for Faith’s title hopes, on debut with the 2014 CRF250R, as he rebounded to cross the line fourth and salvage his second position in the standings.

“I am so disappointed in myself,” Faith said. “I didn’t get the best start, but I put the power down and moved into the lead on the opening lap.

“I had a comfortable lead, but I hit that corner and the front just washed out. I got back up and finished fourth but that is cold comfort.”

The pair will resume their rivalry when the season continues this weekend at Phillip Island’s double-header round alongside the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.