2018 Australian Supercross Championship
Metcalfe claims his first round win of 2018 season
Hayden Mellross tops SX2 & closes in on leader Jay Wilson
Images by TBG
SX1
Brett Metcalfe dominated the Dunlop presented Round 4 of the 2018 Australian Supercross Championship at Gillman Raceway on Saturday, as Luke Clout was penalised to fourth in Main Event 1.
Metcalfe took a 5-1-1 score, leading to a eight point win over Justin Brayton who retains his championship lead, now by 6 points, with both riders running Dunlop Geomax tyres. Kawasaki’s Jace Owens took third overall, with Yamaha mounted Dylan Long and Dan Reardon filling out the overall top five.
For Brett Metcalfe it was his first overall win for the season as teammate Brayton took second overall, with Penrite Honda continuing to have a surreal season, finishing first and second in the first four rounds of the 2018 season.
The night’s three races saw Luke Clout penalised in SX1 Main Event 1, relegating him to fourth, and handing the win to Brayton, with Jace Owen and Dan Reardon completing the podium. SX1 Main Event 2 saw Metcalfe claim an early lead and go on to win from Jace Owen and Luke Clout, while Main Event 3 once again saw Metcalfe take command, with Dylan Long and Justin Brayton completing the podium.
Brett Metcalfe
“In the first 3 rounds of the SX I finished 2nd to my teammate Justin Brayton. This round has been a huge step forward for me, I wanted to win and it could not have been at a better time. It’s my first year with the team and with Honda in Australia, so it can take some time to work everything out and we are really finding our feet. Big thanks to everyone on the team, they have worked nonstop and its showing as
Justin and I have finished 1st and 2nd at every round. Race 1 was tough, I got an average start and worked my way through. I came together with Reardon in the race which set me back and I had to accept 5th. Race 2 and 3 were dream races, I go great starts and was able to capitalise on them. This is an amazing feeling, this is my home town, my family is here, my kids are here tonight and winning in front of them is unbelievable. Overall I am happy for the team, each week we have been chipping away at it and its showing. I am excited to keep the championship alive and am happy for everyone involved” Said Metcalfe
Justin Brayton
“Tonight was tough, there was some close racing and some bar banging. It didn’t help that my starts weren’t great and crashing certainly made things harder. I tried to ride clean but found myself in the thick of things with some of the other riders this evening. Whilst I am bummed I am happy to come away with a decent points lead going into the final round. Overall its been a tough month as I have been fighting pneumonia since round 2 and its taken its toll a little. I will rest up and focus on Sydney. I want to congratulate my teammate, Metty has been consistent and is riding well and I happy for him and the whole Penrite Factory Honda Team.”
Jace Owen (Complete Parts Kawasaki Racing) stormed to third overall, piloting the all-new 2019 Kawasaki KX450, the American displaying strong speed from the get-go, and scoring a direct ticket to the trio of Triple Crown main events after finishing second in his heat race.
Owen led a number of laps in the first two finals, settling for second on both occasions while positioning himself nicely for an overall win entering the third race on Saturday night at Gillman Speedway.
Unfortunately, the number five was forced to take evasive action in the final encounter when a rider crashed in front of him, causing him to fall in the process. He remounted for eighth, granting him third overall – the team’s first premier class podium – while also boosting his standing to third in the championship.
Jace Owen
“Today is the best day I’ve had over here in Australia. In the first three rounds I struggled to get going, but finally today I felt like myself all-day long and it feels good with a third overall. I led a lot of laps in the first two mains and ended up second. But in the third main I was coming through and [Luke] Clout went down in front of me and I smacked right into him and I went down as well. It’s unfortunate for me, I knew I could’ve fought for the win tonight, but at the end of the day we’re still up on the podium. I couldn’t be happier with the team and the new KX450.”
SX1 Final 1
- Justin Brayton 7:31.421
- Jace Owen +2.580
- Daniel Reardon +5.996
- Luke Clout +
- Brett Metcalfe +6.452
- Dylan Long +9.327
- Mitch Evans +14.987
- Lawson Bopping +30.005
- Robbie Marshall +34.018
- Gradie Featherstone +42.703
SX1 Final 2
- Brett Metcalfe 7:19.563
- Jace Owen +5.806
- Luke Clout +7.993
- Dylan Long +8.551
- Mitch Evans +12.817
- Lawson Bopping +19.444
- Daniel Reardon +22.209
- Justin Brayton +34.892
- Robbie Marshall +36.961
- Rickie Girdwood +38.970
SX1 Final 3
- Brett Metcalfe +7:17.725
- Dylan Long +1:39.677
- Justin Brayton +1:39.678
- Daniel Reardon +1:39.679
- Robbie Marshall +2:19.862
- Mitch Evans +2:20.096
- Lawson Bopping +2:20.831
- Jace Owen +2:21.049
- Rickie Girdwood +2:21.440
- Zak Small +2:21.831
Australian Supercross Standings – SX1 Round 4 Overall
- Brett Metcalfe 66
- Justin Brayton 58
- Jace Owen 57
- Dylan Long 55
- Daniel Reardon 52
- Mitch Evans 45
- Lawson Bopping 42
- Robbie Marshall 40
- Luke Clout 38
- Rickie Girdwood 31
Australian Supercross Standings – SX1 – After Round 4
- Justin BRAYTON 97
- Brett METCALFE 91
- Jace OWEN 72
- Daniel REARDON 70
- Dylan LONG 64
- Luke CLOUT 58
- Robbie MARSHALL 47
- Lawson Bopping 42
- Jesse DOBSON 41
- Nicholas SUTHERLAND
- Zak SMALL 36
- Joshua KILVINGTON 31
- Jamie Harvey 23
- Rickie Girdwood 22
- Jesse MADDEN 21
SX2
In the SX2 category Dunlop clad machines swept the top two steps of the podium, with Hayden Mellross (DPH Motorsport Factory Husqvarna Racing) charging to wins in the night’s first two finals, then coming home second in the third final, to seal the round victory. Jacob Hayes snared second overall at Gillman, from Joshua Osby, with both finishing the weekend with a score of 56 points for the round.
SX2 Main Event 1 saw Melross claim victory ahead of Hayes and DPH Motorsport teammate Dylan Wills, a standout performance for the #5 this season.
Melross was then able to go back to back as he stormed ahead of Serco Yamaha’s Wilson Todd and American Joshua Osby in SX2 Main Event 2 claiming victory and a tidy lead for the night ahead.
Current red plate holder Jay Wilson fought back in SX2 Main Event 3 taking the victory ahead of Melross and Hayes to keep the championship points lead alive and disrupt what would have been the perfect night for Melross.
Hayden Mellross
“What an incredible and near perfect day. We finally got the overall round win and I couldn’t be any happier. To overcome the setbacks and challenges I have been faced with this season, felt amazing. This truly has been the sweetest and most rewarding win yet. The whole team and I have been working so hard to achieve this result and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an amazing team.”
SX2 Final 1
- Hayden Mellross 5:53.964
- Jacob Hayes +1.270
- Dylan Wills +4.829
- Joshua Osby +5.507
- Dakota Alix +11.613
- Wilson Todd +15.766
- Aaron Tanti +16.951
- Jay Wilson +18.050
- Jackson Richardson +19.653
- Tomas Ravenhorst +20.944
SX2 Final 2
- Hayden Mellross 5:59.891
- Wilson Todd +3.882
- Joshua Osby +10.216
- Aaron Tanti +11.485
- Jackson Richardson +12.080
- Dakota Alix +12.718
- Jacob Hayes +19.637
- Jay Wilson +21.751
- Lorenzo Camporese +22.028
- Hugh McKay +22.314
SX2 Final 3
- Jay Wilson 5:54.050
- Hayden Mellross +1.811
- Jacob Hayes +2.958
- Joshua Osby +7.184
- Jackson Richardson +8.065
- Dakota Alix +12.295
- Wilson Todd +14.829
- Richie Evans +22.585
- Tomas Ravenhorst +23.630
- Aaron Tanti +23.886
Australian Supercross Standings – SX2 Round 4 Overall
- Hayden Mellross 72
- Jacob Hayes 56
- Joshua Osby 56
- Jay Wilson 51
- Wilson Todd 51
- Dakota Alix 46
- Jackson Richardson 44
- Aaron Tanti 43 14
- Dylan Wills 32
- Lorenzo Camporese 28
Australian Supercross Standings – SX2 – After Round 4
- Jay WILSON 88
- Hayden MELLROSS 77
- Wilson TODD 75
- Jacob HAYES 75
- Dakota ALIX 61
- Joshua OSBY 54
- Jackson RICHARDSON 52
- Bradley TAFT 50
- Aaron TANTI 49
- Dylan WILLS 42
- Kyle WEBSTER 39
- Richard EVANS 36
- Tomas RAVENHORST 33
- Hugh McKay 23
- Cooper POZNIAK 22
Junior Lites
In the Junior Lites division local SA rider and freshly crowned Australian Junior Motocross champion, Alex Larwood made his supercross debut at Gillman, and promptly swept all three moto’s in his class to deliver another convincing victory.
Denzel Woulfe took third overall but retails a 3-point lead in the standings, while Jai Walker was second overall for the round, and is now fourth in the standings.
Australian Supercross Standings – Junior Lites Round 4 Overall
- Alex Larwood 75
- Jai Walker 62
- Denzel Woulfe 56
- Brandon Steel 52
- Jake Cuka 48
- Kai Bonning 45
- Kipp adams 38
Australian Supercross Standings – Junior Lites – After Round 4
- Denzel WOULFE 238
- Jake CUKA 235
- Brandon STEEL 225
- Jai Walker 192
- Zackariah WRIGHT 138
- Kai BONNING 135 103
- Reece CRUTCH 81
- Alex Larwood 75
- Blake FOX 72
- Kipp adams 38
Junior 85/150
Ryder Kingsford took top hours in the Junior 85/150 categories with 72 points to his name, with Jack Mather second on 69. Mather sits second in the overall standings, behind championship leader Brad West, who took third overall, and saw Mather close the gap by 11-points.
After four stunning outdoor and stadium rounds in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, the 2018 Australian Supercross Championship now moves indoors for the fifth and final round, the Aus-X Open at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, NSW, on Saturday, November 10.
Australian Supercross Standings – Junior 85/150 Round 4 Overall
- Ryder Kingsford 72
- Jack Mather 69
- Brad West 58
- Cambell Williams 56
- Zane Mackintosh 47
- Anthony Atanasovski 46
- Will Schuuring 42
Australian Supercross Standings – Junior 85/150 – After Round 4
- Brad WEST 265
- Jack MATHER 255
- Cambell WILLIAMS 220
- Cody KILPATRICK 154
- Anthony ATANASOVSKI 151
- Zane MACKINTOSH 149
- Ryder Kingsford 132
- Connor MCLAUGLIN 121
- Will Schuuring 76
- Reid TAYLOR 72
- Kaipara CLARKE 65
- Jake GREENHALGH 59
- Connor TOWILL 52
- Zachary WATSON 48
- Ben Caiafa 40
