Factory Honda Racing has strengthened its position in the 2026 AUSX Championship following the third round in Geelong, Victoria, with Christian Craig and Cameron McAdoo extending their respective championship leads in front of more than 20,000 spectators.
The Delcon Group-backed Honda squad delivered another consistent performance across the SX1 and SX2 categories, with Craig qualifying fastest and finishing second in all three SX1 finals, while teammate Austin Politelli secured fourth overall.
In SX2, McAdoo claimed third overall to extend his championship advantage, although the remaining Honda riders endured a difficult weekend as crashes and mistakes proved costly in the three-final format.
CRAIG EXTENDS SX1 LEAD WITH THREE SECOND PLACES
Craig entered Geelong carrying the momentum from the opening rounds and immediately established himself as one of the riders to beat, setting the fastest qualifying time in SX1.
However, despite his pace, the American was unable to convert that speed into a race victory, finishing second in each of the three finals to secure second overall.
The result was enough to extend his lead in the AUSX Championship and maintain his position in the fight for the Australian Supercross Championship as the series approaches its final rounds.
Craig has been one of the most consistent riders in the championship, with his ability to produce results across the three-final format proving important in the points battle.
The Honda rider credited his recent form to the environment within the Factory Honda team and his confidence in the motorcycle.
“I’m enjoying my surroundings, the team, and the bike is working great. I’m just having a great time. It’s all relative,” Craig said.
Although Craig missed out on the overall victory in Geelong, his qualifying speed and three second-place finishes demonstrated that he remains a serious contender heading into the remaining rounds.
POLITELLI MOVES TO FOURTH IN CHAMPIONSHIP
Teammate Austin Politelli delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, finishing fourth overall in SX1 after making significant progress with his motorcycle setup.
Politelli struggled to find the right balance during the earlier rounds but arrived in Geelong with a revised suspension setup following additional testing between the New Zealand and Victorian events.
The changes helped the American improve his comfort and confidence on the Honda, allowing him to secure fourth overall and move into fourth position in the championship standings.
With the final rounds approaching, Politelli remains within reach of an overall championship podium, although he will need to maintain his improved form against a competitive SX1 field.
“What a turnaround by the team. We made some changes to the suspension between New Zealand and this weekend, and I’ve had some valuable practice time and testing on the bike. I’m feeling really good,” Politelli said.
The result gives Factory Honda two riders inside the top four of the SX1 championship and provides Politelli with an opportunity to challenge for further podium finishes during the closing stages of the season.
McADOO EXTENDS SX2 LEAD DESPITE LIMITED TIME ON HONDA
In SX2, Cameron McAdoo continued his strong start to the Australian campaign, finishing third overall in Geelong and extending his lead in the AUSX Championship.
The American has been adapting to the Factory Honda machinery after spending seven years racing a different motorcycle, with the Geelong event marking just his third week aboard the new bike.
Despite the limited preparation time, McAdoo has established himself as a championship contender and has continued working with the team to improve the motorcycle’s setup and his own performance.
His third-place finish was another important result in the championship battle, although McAdoo admitted there is still work to be done before he is completely satisfied with his speed and setup.
“It was another great opportunity to test some parts, work on my riding and continue to build. We aren’t where we need to be just yet, but it’s only been three weeks on a new bike after racing for seven years on something completely different. It’s an extremely positive position to be in,” McAdoo said.
McAdoo’s ability to extend his points lead while still developing the motorcycle provides Honda with a strong position heading into the remaining rounds.
However, with the Australian Supercross Championship also at stake, the American will be looking to turn his consistent podium performances into race victories as the series progresses.
KINGFORD FRUSTRATED AS MISTAKES PROVE COSTLY
While McAdoo continued to deliver results in SX2, the remaining Factory Honda riders experienced a more difficult night in Geelong.
Crashes and inconsistent performances across the three finals prevented the team from capitalising on its speed, with reigning champion Ryder Kingsford among those left frustrated by the outcome.
Kingsford has shown that he has the pace to challenge at the front of the SX2 field, but mistakes have continued to undermine his results during the opening three rounds.
With the championship contested over a relatively short series, the Australian acknowledged that further errors could prove costly in his attempt to defend the title.
“The speed is there, the lap times are there, but the mistakes are costly. It’s pretty disappointing, but I’ll take the positives. We’re competitive; we just can’t afford mistakes in a short championship,” Kingsford said.
The three-final format places additional pressure on riders to produce consistent results, with a crash or poor finish in one race capable of significantly affecting the overall standings.
For Kingsford, the priority heading into Perth will be converting his qualifying and race pace into three consistent finals without the mistakes that have affected his championship campaign.
HONDA HEADS TO PERTH WITH BOTH AUSX LEADS
Factory Honda Racing now turns its attention to Perth, where the fourth round will provide another opportunity for Craig and McAdoo to consolidate their AUSX Championship leads.
Craig remains at the front of the SX1 standings after his three second-place finishes in Geelong, while McAdoo continues to lead SX2 despite finishing third overall.
Politelli’s improvement has also strengthened Honda’s position in SX1, with the American now fourth in the championship and chasing an overall podium finish.
For Kingsford and the remaining SX2 riders, Perth represents an opportunity to recover from a difficult Geelong round and regain ground in the standings.
With both the AUSX and Australian Supercross Championship titles still being contested, the final rounds will be critical for Honda as the team attempts to convert its early-season consistency into championship victories.
