After six gruelLing rounds throughout the country, American Justin Brayton (HRC Honda) rose to the challenge to secure the Australian Supercross Championship. Chad Reed (Factory Yamaha) tasted victory in the final double-header rounds after returning home as a drawcard for the event, alongside new teammate Cooper Webb (Factory Yamaha) and former champion Ryan Villopoto (Monster Kawasaki).
Brayton ended the series a comfortable 24 points ahead of Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha), who managed to claim his maiden race win at Avalon mid-series. It was a great effort for Ferris not long after announcing a motocross only deal for 2017. Teammate Dan Reardon (CDR Yamaha) was unable to retain his title but walked away with a third overall for the series after a disappointing final two rounds by his standards (7,8).
The Pro Lites title came down to the wire with Hayden Mellross (DPH Motorsport) needing to beat Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) in the final race to take the championship. All was going well for Mellross until a mechanical with less than two laps to go left him out of the race and handed the title to Richardson. It was a disappointing result for Mellross, after finding himself on the podium at every race before Sydney. He claimed third in the series. For Richardson, it was a great reward for his consistent results and the hard work he put in training and racing in America in recent years. Former champion Gavin Faith (Penrite Honda) snuck into second overall, claiming three wins during the series including both race wins in Sydney. A crash at Toowoomba was his only downfall for the series.
Marc Jones
pro open FINAL STANDINGS
POS NAME bike points
1 Justin Brayton HON 115
2 Dean Ferris YAM 91
3 Dan Reardon YAM 81
4 Wil Hahn KAW 81
5 Jay Marmont HUS 71
pro lites FINAL STANDINGS
POS NAME bike points
1 Jackson Richardson YAM 105
2 Gavin Faith HON 102
3 Hayden Mellross YAM 99
4 Joel Wightman HON 62
5 Wade Hunter YAM 58