Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki has opened its 2026 Australian Supercross Championship campaign with a strong showing under lights at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, with French import Cedric Soubeyras claiming second overall in the SX1 class alongside a solid seventh-place result from Ryan Alexanderson.
More than 16,000 spectators packed into the Townsville venue for a huge opening night of the championship, providing an electric atmosphere as the 2026 AUSX season officially got underway.
Soubeyras made an immediate impression in his first competitive outing with Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki, showing front-running pace throughout the day aboard the Kawasaki KX450. The experienced Frenchman began the afternoon fifth fastest in SX1 practice before stepping things up considerably in qualifying, recording a 47.777-second lap to qualify third fastest behind Christian Craig and Luke Clout.
Soubeyras carried that pace into the night program, finishing second behind Craig in Heat 2 to earn his place in the six-rider Superpole session. Another strong lap saw the #2 Kawasaki record a 47.873 to finish third in Superpole and set the scene for the night’s two SX1 finals.
When the gates dropped for Final 1, Soubeyras delivered an impressive opening race for his new team. He completed all 10 laps in second position behind Craig, securing 22 championship points with his first podium result of the season.
Another composed performance followed in Final 2, with Soubeyras crossing the line third behind Craig and Clout. His 2–3 finishes earned him 42 points and second overall in SX1 at Round 1, putting Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki on the podium at the opening round and establishing Soubeyras as an early championship contender.
Ryan Alexanderson also produced a consistent opening round for the team.
After finishing ninth in practice, Alexanderson would then place 10th in qualifying with a 51.638-second lap before lining up in Heat 1. The #63 rider finished fifth in the six-lap heat to transfer directly into the evening’s main events.
Alexanderson continued to build throughout the night, racing to eighth in Final 1 before improving one position to seventh in Final 2. His 8–7 scorecard delivered seventh overall for the round with 27 championship points, completing a positive opening weekend for the Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki squad.
With both riders safely inside the SX1 top seven and Soubeyras leaving Townsville second in the championship standings, the team now turns its attention to building on a strong start as the 2026 Australian Supercross Championship continues.
RESULTS — AUSX ROUND 1, TOWNSVILLE
Cedric Soubeyras — #2
– Practice: 5th
– Qualifying: 3rd
– Heat 2: 2nd
– Superpole: 3rd
– Final 1: 2nd
– Final 2: 3rd
– Overall: 2nd — 42 points
Ryan Alexanderson — #63
– Practice: 9th
– Qualifying: 10th
– Heat 1: 5th
– Final 1: 8th
– Final 2: 7th
– Overall: 7th — 27 points
