2022 Aussie SX: Red Corner vs Blue Corner

If Team Honda’s Justin Brayton thought he waltz it in for his fifth consecutive Aussie SX1 title this year, he had another thing coming. Sure, the 37-year-old American held an eight-point advantage over a resurgent Yamaha-mounted Matt Moss heading into the AUSX Championship series’ final round at Wagga Wagga on the weekend, but he needed to fight off a spirited attack from the Yamaha trio of Matt Moss, Aaron Tanti and Josh Hill, who blue-washed SX1 podium at the series’ final round in Wagga Wagga on the weekend. And after a drama-filled season decider, Moss came up just one measly point short in the SX1-class standings…

Following an intense season of Fox Australian Supercross competition, which involved drama every step of the way, it was Team Honda HRC Australia duo of Max Anstie and Justin Brayton who walked away from season 2022 as the respective champions.

In a hard-fought night of racing at the series’ final round in Wagga Wagga, defending champion Brayton put himself in a great position during the opening main event of the double-header, only to sustain a freak puncture just moments from the receiving the chequered flag. This netted him a P4 while rival Matt Moss took victory and tightened the standings up substantially.

In main two, Brayton rode a measured yet high-pressured ride to land another fourth place, securing the 2022 Fox Australian Supercross Championship in the SX1 class by one point over Moss. It marked his fifth consecutive crown, and prompted the No.10 to admit it was, “Definitely one of the more stressful nights of racing in my career.”

“We were up against it this season and definitely encountered some challenges,” Brayton went on to say. “For me to leave my family and come here; I expect nothing less than to win. Dad doesn’t leave for weeks to not get the job done. Number five is incredibly special for that reason.”

In the SX2 class, Team Honda stablemate, Max Anstie, continued his fine form in Australia, piecing together a calculated night that saw him secure the championship comfortably. Serco Yamaha’s Cole Thompson took the night’s Overall win, with KTM’s Nathan Crawford and Anstie rounding out the Wagga Wagga podium.

“A huge shoutout to the whole Honda team in Australia,” said the affable Anstie. “They gave me everything I needed to get the job done, and here we are, after an awesome season, standing here with the number one plate!”

According to the series promoter, AME Group, “The 2022 Fox Australian Supercross Championship season saw a rollercoaster of storylines and reintroduced the sport to thousands of fans around Australia and the world through digital, broadcast, and at-event presence. For season 2023, the series will continue its upward trajectory, and look to build upon what has been an incredibly promising season of supercross.”

2022 FOX ASX C’SHIP – RESULTS

SX1 – RD 4 @ WAGGA WAGGA

1. Matt Moss (Yamaha)
2. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha)
3. Josh Hill (Yamaha)
4. Justin Brayton (Honda)
5. Dylan Wills (Husqvarna)

SX1 – FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Justin Brayton (Honda) 85 points
2. Mat Moss (Yamaha) 84 points
3. Aaron Tanti (Yamaha) 77 points
4. Dylan Wills (Husqvarna) 68 points
5. Kyle Webster (Honda) 61 points

SX2 – RD 4 @ WAGGA WAGGA

1. Cole Thompson (Yamaha)
2. Nathan Crawford (KTM)
3. Max Anstie (Honda)
4. Wilson Todd (Honda)
5. Kaleb Barham (Husqvarna)

SX2 – FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Max Anstie (Honda) 95 points
2. Cole Thompson (Yamaha) 75 points
3. Nathan Crawford (KTM) 73 points
4. Rhys Budd (Yamaha) 65 points
5. Noah Ferguson (GASGAS) 64 points