Factory Honda ace carries a 42-point buffer and career-best form into the title decider alongside the Adelaide 500
Dean Wilson rolls into the Adelaide finale with a commanding 42-point SX1 lead and momentum that makes him the rider to beat. Fresh off a measured runner-up ride behind Jett Lawrence at the AUSX Open, Wilson’s form and consistency have him perfectly placed to close out the championship at Round 5.
“I just focused on my own riding and stuck to my plan,” Wilson said. “Jett was riding great, but I’m really happy with my performance. Seeing Honda sweep the podium, 1, 2, 3 was awesome.”
The Honda rider doesn’t want to think too far ahead before the final round in Adelaide. “I think I’ll just keep the same mindset. It seems to be working so far. Take it race by race. If I ever get too ahead of myself, my brain likes to go crazy, so one race at a time. I’m here to get the bonus money, so I’m not going to back it down and I definitely still want to win. You never know what can happen, but I’ll just do my best each race and see how the outcome is.”
Multiple AUSX champ Justin Brayton is impressed by Wilson’s speed this season. “Dean is riding as well as I’ve seen him in years. His speed would put him well inside the top ten in America,” said Brayton. With the series finale running alongside the Adelaide 500, the stage is set for a pressure-cooker main, but Wilson’s experience will stand him in good stead.
Teammate Cedric Soubeyras sits second in SX1 and will look to lock that in. Reflecting on last round’s brutal layout, he noted, “The track was one of the most demanding I’ve raced. I knew I had a solid gap over third in the championship, so the focus was to maintain or improve that position, and we achieved that.” A standard Adelaide surface should let Soubeyras be more assertive off the gate while still protecting his series position.
In SX2, Shane McElrath’s speed is undeniable heading into the finale after 4-1 scores last time out. “My starts weren’t where they needed to be, that’s on me,” McElrath said. “But my riding was strong, and I’ll take the positives and work this week on my starts.” Alex Larwood, now second in the standings, has the pace to pressure for the overall. “Mistakes have cost me in this series,” Larwood admitted. “The team has given me what I need to win, I need to clean it up and deliver.” The class will run without Wilson Todd and Thomas Wood, both sidelined by injuries confirmed after last round, tightening the focus on McElrath and Larwood to bring home points for Honda.
In SX3, Kayd Kingsford needs a rebound ride to reassert himself after slipping from the points lead. Team director Yarrive Konsky didn’t mince words: “It’s frustrating, we had a clear plan, and it wasn’t executed. Mistake after mistake made things unnecessarily difficult. The championship is still possible, but he’s put himself under pressure.” Jett Alsop remains right in the hunt. “It was an okay result, but I wasn’t on the lead group’s pace,” Alsop said. “I’m still in the hunt for the championship, so I’ll give everything in the final round.”
