The Factory Honda Team had an impressive showing in Wollongong for Round 3 of the AUSX with wins in the SX1 and SX2 classes and capturing five podium finishes overall. The Australian Supercross Championship track was exceptionally fast, and while Alex Larwood had a hard fall in the opening heat, he was fortunately cleared of major injuries after a hospital check but missed the nights racing.
In the SX1 class, Joey Savatgy on the Boost Mobile Honda claimed first overall with two wins and a fifth place across the three-race format. Despite an off-track moment in race one and a crash in race two, Savatgy’s relentless determination earned him the top spot and extended his points lead. “It was tough tonight. Going off track in race one hurt, and crashing in race two didn’t help, but I managed to remount and win. Race three was tricky with all the lapped traffic but another win gave me the overall. I’m happy with my riding, but we need to clean some things up,” Savatgy said.
Dean Wilson put in a strong performance with three second-place finishes, earning him second overall, though he was visibly frustrated with the result. “I lost points on Joey tonight. It was a tough track to pass on, and there weren’t many areas where I could push harder. We’ve got two rounds left, and I need to be smart, but I can’t let Joey get away,” Wilson commented.
Aaron Tanti had mixed results across the three finals but pulled it together for the last race, allowing Honda to sweep the top three with a 1-2-3 finish. Despite this, Tanti’s inconsistencies placed him fifth overall for the night.
In SX2, Honda dominated with a 1-2-3 overall finish, led by Shane McElrath, followed by Brodie Connolly and Cole Thompson. McElrath was unstoppable, winning every race in a powerful display he’s been building toward. “I’m thrilled with the bike and my riding; everything clicked tonight. I’ll stay focused as we head to Adelaide,” said McElrath.
Connolly, delighted with his first-ever second overall, overcame a crash during the evening. “I thought my night was over, but we bounced back. I’m pumped to get my first second overall. I just need to work on consistency,” Connolly shared. Thompson rode a calculated three races and knows where he can improve heading into the next round.
In SX3, Mongrel Boots Honda rider Jake Cannon finished fourth after a late-race crash while in second place. Disappointed but determined, Cannon remains focused on the championship. “I messed up tonight; it’s on me. I made some stupid mistakes I can’t afford. I’m 10 points behind the leader, and I’ll be doing everything I can to make up those points in the last two rounds,” said Cannon.
The next round of the championship is at Adelaide, running in conjunction with the Adelaide 500 (Supercars).
