Jason Anderson will lock horns with Chad Reed 10 November in Sydney at the Monster Energy AUS-X Open.
Anderson recently claimed the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and will be looking to defend his AUS-X Open crown which saw the 25-year-old American dominate last year’s event at Qudos Bank Arena. It will also be the first time ever, a current World Supercross Champion, has competed in Australia.
Reed, the 2016 AUS-X Open Champion, is hungrier than ever to reclaim the Aussie crown after sitting out the 2017 event through injury.
“Man I’m so pumped to take on the current world champ in my backyard on November 10,” Reed said.
“Last year was extremely tough, to sit on the sidelines at Qudos Bank Arena and watching the first international rider take the trophy that I worked so hard for to win, the previous two years, it sucked.
“The reception and support I still got from 26,500 fans last year, despite the fact that I was out with injury, meant there was no question I would be back this year and I’m gonna give it everything to return to AUS-X Open crown to where it rightly belongs – in my trophy cabinet.”
“Jason [Anderson] is the best in the world right now, I’m under no illusions, I’m gonna have to bring everything I’ve got to beat him in Sydney, as well as the other line up of riders from the USA and Australia – it will be the most competitive Supercross event Sydney has ever seen.”
Anderson finished the 2018 season with four wins and 11 podiums to secure the title by nine points ahead of the rest of the competition.
For Anderson, the opportunity to head back down under to race, especially as he becomes the first ever current world champion to contest the AUS-X Open, was something he couldn’t pass up.
“To be the first current World Supercross Champion heading to Sydney for the AUS-X Open is cool and I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be a great time.”
“Hopefully I head home with the AUS-X crown again this year, and have an epic battle with the main guys Downunder, especially Chad Reed.”
“To beat Reedy on his home soil is gonna be tough, I’m going to need really good starts and race hard to make sure I keep in front of him in Sydney.”
“I think the AUS-X Open is great preparation for the World Supercross Championship, last year I won the AUS-X Open and then I was able to go on and win the 2018 World Supercross Championship so I don’t think you can do much better than that, and it does help a lot.
“The Australian fans and the crowd over there, they’re crazy, they bring a really wild, loud and really intense vibe to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
“Fans that haven’t been to the AUS-X Open yet, you really need to go check it out, the racing is super tight, you have world class racers racing against the best guys in Australia and it’s just an all-round great time.”
Event Co-Founder and Director Adam Bailey said the addition of the current Supercross World Champion to the 2018 lineup is a huge inclusion and will ensure this year’s racing will be more intense than ever before.
“Jason has an incredible riding style that you have to see to believe. He is absolutely World Champion for a reason, but he certainly won’t have it all his own way on November 10.”
“Chad Reed is the best Supercross rider ever to come out of Australia, a two-time World Champion and the fourth most successful of all time. Together with current Australian Supercross Champion and world number five Justin Brayton (USA), Justin Barcia (USA) and a whole host riders from Australia and the USA – he his going to have a serious fight on his hands, to try and make it two Monster Energy AUS-X Open wins in a row.”
“To have the current world #1 racing in Sydney against Australia’s best Supercross talent is a true testament to the calibre of riders we have and just as importantly the passion and following for Supercross throughout the country.”
Further announcements regarding athlete line up and much more are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The pre-sale commenced on Thursday 31st May and continues until 6 pm on Sunday June 3. All tickets are available when the public on-sale commences at 9 am this Wednesday 6th of June.
For further information head to www.ausxopen.com.au