Factory Honda has opened the Australian AUSX with two overall victories at a packed Reid Park in Townsville, Queensland, where more than 15,000 fans were treated to an action-packed night of racing across the 450, 250 and 250 Development classes.
The Factory Honda Team arrived in Townsville with several riders sidelined following a challenging few months, but the team remained focused on its objective, winning races.
Dean Wilson was ruled out with a torn labrum requiring reconstructive surgery, while Ryder Kingsford suffered a broken collarbone two weeks ago that also required surgery. Joey Savatgy entered the event having raced through a difficult SMX campaign, crashing at all three rounds, with the final-round incident resulting in a head impact that forced him to sit out the final race.
Despite the setbacks, Factory Honda arrived in Townsville ready to race.
American Supercross Champion Christian Craig made his debut in the Australian 450 class and immediately made his presence felt, dominating both races to claim the overall victory.
“This was so fun. The people are great, the stadium and the town are amazing, and the racing was legit,” said Craig. “I can’t give any of these guys an inch. I really enjoy the racing and I learnt a lot. It’s intense from the moment the gate drops.”
In the 250 class, it was New Zealand’s Brodie Connolly who took the overall victory with 1-3 race finishes.
Connolly has continued to make steady progress in his Supercross development, despite having very limited experience in the discipline. The Townsville victory came with less than 10 Supercross races under his belt across the past three years.
“This is still very new to me. I’ve done less than 10 races in three years, and that’s my entire experience, so I’m learning every time I hit the track,” said Connolly. “I want to win, but I need to make sure I finish these races. It was good to take the win, but I know where I need to improve.”
Cameron McAdoo made his Factory Honda debut in the 250 class and finished fifth overall after battling through setbacks in both races.
With only one day on the Honda before the opening round, McAdoo used Townsville as an opportunity to learn the motorcycle and work with the team ahead of the remaining championship rounds.
“Wow, straight from SMX to this, it’s good, it’s different, so it’s all about learning,” said McAdoo. “New team, new bike and one day on it before the race. Honestly, it’s super exciting to be here, to get this opportunity and to learn again.
“We made some real gains with the bike and the suspension, making it suit my style better. We have a few weeks to get ready for the next round, so it will be head down and make the most of the days ahead.”
Kayd Kingsford showed competitive pace throughout the 250 class, matching several riders who have established themselves inside the top 10 in the AMA championship. However, two crashes prevented him from converting his speed into the result he was looking for.
Kingsford, the defending SX3 champion, was disappointed with the overall result but was encouraged by his pace and relieved to escape the crashes without serious injury.
“The speed was good, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the year,” said Kingsford. “The bike, the team, everything is good and familiar, and I can’t wait for New Zealand. Fortunately, everything is good following those crashes.”
In the SX3 Development class, Heath Fisher showed strong pace early in the night, racing to a podium finish in his heat race before a difficult final saw several mistakes cost him valuable track position.
Fisher will now turn his attention to the second round of the championship in New Zealand on October 31.
For Factory Honda, Townsville delivered exactly what the team set out to achieve, two class victories, valuable development time for its new riders and a strong opening statement in the Australian AUSX Championship.
With the championship now heading across the Tasman, the team will continue its focus on development, consistency and winning as it prepares for Round 2 in New Zealand.
