[Yamaha]

Aaron Tanti Takes Top Spot in ASX

4 years ago | Words: Yamaha Motor Australia | Photos: Marc Jones

Serco Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti is the new points leader in the SX2 division after round two of the Australian Supercross Championship, held in Adelaide over the weekend.

After posting a second-place finish at the first round just a week ago, Tanti has again landed on the podium at round two with a hard-fought third-place finish and his consistent 2-3 results now see him on top of the SX2 championship table, two points clear of his nearest rival. Tanti had to work hard for his podium result in Adelaide and after overcoming an average start he clawed his way past the carnage, and his competitors, to move into third place during the middle stages of the race.

With five laps to go, Tanti capitalised on a mistake by US-based racer, Josh Osby, and was able to move into second place. Osby remounted quickly and set off after Tanti again and on the final lap was able to make a bold pass in the final few turns. But it was still a spirited performance by Tanti and his consistency in the opening two rounds has been rewarded as he will carry the points leaders’ red plate into round three at Wollongong on November 9.

Aaron Tanti: “I’m pretty stoked to be on the box again this weekend and to leave here with the red plate. The track was tough tonight and the game plan was to reduce as many risks as possible but keep the racing intensity up and we were able to do that. It was a track that riding 15 perfect laps on was impossible, so I just knew what I could do, did them as well as I could for the entire race and stayed away from the crashes and fallen riders. The Serco Yamaha team have been awesome, and my bike was good tonight. We have a couple of weekends off now before round three so there is plenty of time to fine-tune things and keep getting better as the series goes on.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the finish to the night that teammate, Jacob Hayes was looking for. Carrying the championship lead into the round, Hayes looked in great form throughout the afternoon as well as the Superpole event. He posted the fastest lap in Superpole and was confident of a big showing in the 15 lap final.

Hayes started just outside the top five in the main event and was looking to move forward quickly. He squared up the turn before the big combination section and tried to make the first three jumps in only to land short and fall awkwardly.

The impact left him sore and dazed and out for the remainder of the race. He was helped form the circuit but uninjured. The DNF (did not finish) has seen Hayes drop to seventh in the championship but with three rounds and plenty of races remaining, there is still time to mount a championship charge.

Jacob Hayes: “I was probably a bit impatient. I could see the top five or six riders were all pretty tight and I wanted to get to the front as quickly as I could. Being a 15 lap final, I had more time and should have just picked my way forward. Fortunately, aside from feeling battered and a bit of a headache, I’m doing ok. I will take a couple of days off to rest up and then get stuck back into it. Three rounds and three round wins would be a nice way to finish off the championship.”

Serco Yamaha will now focus on round three of the championship at Wollongong, then followed by Auckland and Melbourne is quick succession.


Related Content

SERCO YAMAHA ON TOP AT ASX ROUND 1

YAMAHA CONFIRM ALL-STAR ASX LINE-UP

Be the first to comment...

You might also like...

Yamaha

1 week ago

VIDEO: YAMAHA’S BEYOND THE GATE – EP.9

Monster Energy Star Yamaha rolls into Alabama with Cooper Webb in the thick of the 450SX title hunt

Yamaha

2 weeks ago

2024 YAMAHA WR450F: R&D BACKSTORY

The story behind the development of Yamaha’s all-new, 2024-model WR450F.

Yamaha

2 weeks ago

VIDEO: YAMAHA’S BEYOND THE GATE – Ep.8

In this episode, we journey to ‘The World Centre of Racing’, Daytona.

Yamaha

2 weeks ago

TESTED: YAMAHA’S All-NEW 2024 WR450F

How do the sweeping changes to Yamaha’s 2024 WR450F translate when it comes to the riding experience? Damned well!

Yamaha

3 weeks ago

VIDEO: YAMAHA’S BEYOND THE GATE

Behind the scenes at in Arlington with the Monster Energy Yamaha team.

Yamaha

3 weeks ago

2024 AORC – ON FOR YOUNG & OLD

A mix of experience and youth is set to lock horns at the opening round of the AORC.

Yamaha

3 weeks ago

2024 WR450F: TOO GOOD NOT TO RACE?

Is Yami’s 2024 WR450F good enough to lure the AORC’s reigning Outright champ, Josh Green, out of retirement?

Yamaha

3 weeks ago

WILL DENNETT: THE QUIET ACHIEVER

Can 18-year-old Will Dennett continue his meteoric trajectory at this year’s AORC? Here’s what he reckons…