A disappointing crowd turned out to see the SX Nationals Championship decider here tonight in Melbourne. A number of AFL games being played in Melbourne combined with the choice of venue maybe combining to that lack of interest. The Rod Laver Arena is the smallest venue on the calendar and possible the least suited to a championship finale. However it must be said that the track builders here this week have done a stellar job with the track infinitely bigger and better than what was presented for the Supercross Masters final here late last year. This time the riders actually leave the stadium and entered the undercover area previously used as the pits, this definitely added another dimension. While the layout on the actual tennis centre floor was so much better than what we have seen before. The track builders have copped criticism at times this year but here it is fair to say they excelled.

The fight tonight was chiefly going to be for the Pro Lites #1 plate, Daniel Reardon and Ryan Marmont only separated by a single point entering this championship decider. Basically it all comes down to one race, the Pro Lite Final, where one will leave disappointed, and one elated. Most onlookers agreed it would come down to who got the holeshot. One could say Ryan Marmont enters this final with a lot more pressure on his shoulders than Reardon. Ryan rides for the dominant factory Motorex KTM squad and he was expected to challenge for the title this year. While at the opposite end of the scale is Reardon, a privateer, and a rider that few expected to be a true championship contender. It goes to show just how awesome his season has been thus far, he has surpassed all expectations, including his own.

An interesting battle was also set to unfold between a number of riders for the Pro Open #2 plate. Of course Jay Marmont had already made the #1 plate to complete back to back titles for the Wollongong 21 year old. But the battle for the #2 plate was set to be waged between Troy Dorron (Honda), Cameron Taylor (Yamaha), Cheyne Boyd (KTM) and Danny Ham (Suzuki). Four different manufacturers, four different riders, all with one goal in mind, that Pro Open #2 plate.

Pro Lite – Heat 1 - The opening Pro Lite heat was marred by four riders going down at the first turn. No such dramas for Jye Harvey though as he led the way from Greg Schnell, Brent Landman and championship contender Ryan Marmont. Harvey and Schnell quickly broke away from Landman and Marmont to set the pace out in front. Ryan Marmont then lost touch with Landman when he mistimed on the triple. Schnell took the lead from Harvey as they got the last lap board and the American immediately pulled away after that aggressive move. Schnell took the win from Harvey, Landman coming home third only inches in front of Ryan Marmont. Fifth place went to Hobson.
Result – 1.Schnell – 2.Harvey – 3.Landman – 4.Marmont – 5.Hobson

Pro Lite – Heat 2 – Mitch Hoad wasted no time in his return from injury to score the holeshot and take the line in to the first turn to lead the field away from Cody Cooper and Jono Porter. Reardon worked his way up to fourth early on the second lap while Cooper started to close on Hoad a little to challenge for the lead. Reardon quickly closed on to the tail of Porter and was looking smooth, fast and confident. Cooper and Hoad touched at the bottom of the flyover that next time around before Cooper then took the lead a couple of corners later and started to pull away. Reardon had speed on Porter but was still running fourth and looking for a safe way past, no sense in taking risks before the final. Hoad then came down which allowed a gaggle of riders to push him down the order as he struggled to kick his Suzuki back in to life. It refused to fire thus he failed to finish. Cooper took the strong win from Porter with Reardon home third.
Result – 1.Cooper – 2.Porter – 3.Reardon – 4.Cini – 5.Rochford

Pro Lite – Heat 3 – They were held a long time at the gates for this one but that posed no problems for Daniel McCoy as he shot to the front and immediately started to build a lead, McCoy looking full of aggression here tonight. Sinclair was running second before Kiniry forced his way past him before the triple to take second place, aggressive move from the young American, no chance for Sinclair to retaliate though as Kiniry sprinted away from him convincingly. McCoy hosing them here tonight in this one, Kiniry has a clear track and is trying to catch him and set a faster lap time a couple of times but McCoy held it together out in front for a convincing win.
Result – 1.McCoy – 2.Kiniry – 3.Sinclair – 4.Broomfield – 5.Thompson

Juniors – Race 1 – Pocket dynamo Luke George got the holeshot but got forced out wide and off the track as the whole field went past him as he struggled to get back on track. Wade Thompson immediately then pulled away out in front from Ford Dale and Matt Moss. Moss tried hard to get the better of Dale but it was not to be as Dale secured that second place.
Result – 1.Thompson – 2.Dale – 3.M Moss – 4.Dalle-Molle – 5.Carafa