The largest international supercross event to hit New Zealand shores returns once more in 2019 with the Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland heading to Mount Smart Stadium on November 16.
Featuring the world’s best riders going head-to-head on a full-sized World Championship style Supercross track and the greatest Freestyle Motocross (FMX) riders on the planet, live music and entertainment, stunning pyrotechnics, junior and celebrity races, plus FMX best-trick and best-whip competitions; the Monster Energy S-X Open is an incredible entertainment spectacle for all ages.
The event will also create history as it becomes the fourth official round of the highly contested Australian Supercross Championship when teams head across the ditch to compete inside the 25,000 seat capacity Mount Smart Stadium.
The record-breaking success of the 2018 event was unprecedented, with a crowd of over 22,500 attending Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, making it the biggest international Supercross event to ever take place on Kiwi soil and ultimately putting the country on the world Supercross map.
The S-X Open Auckland database pre-sale starts June 20 from 12pm (NZT) with public on-sale becoming available from June 26 12pm (NZT) via Ticketmaster, tickets start from $39.
Australian Chad Reed (Suzuki RM-Z450), top dog in the inaugural S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championships, which wrapped up at Mt Smart Stadium last year. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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The Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland forms part of the 2019 S-X Open International FIM Oceania Supercross Championship, the largest international Supercross Championship outside of the USA and second behind only the World Championship, with S-X Open Auckland kicking off the series, as the opening round.
This year the event is set to feature even more of the world’s best against New Zealand’s dirt bike heroes.
This year will see the 2018 World Supercross Champion Jason Anderson gear up for the S-X Open Auckland as he looks to take down two-time World Champion and defending S-X Open Auckland Champion Chad Reed – with both World Supercross Champions locked in to race at Mount Smart Stadium on November 16.
Anderson will head to New Zealand for the first time ever, which he says will be a fresh addition to his offseason training and is keen to win the title of FIM Oceania Champion.
“I’m super excited to be heading to the S-X Open Auckland, it will be my first time to New Zealand, I saw it last year and it seemed like a really epic event,” Anderson said.“I only get to choose a select few events to race at in the off-season so heading to Auckland will keep my offseason interesting, and to win the FIM Oceania Supercross crown would be sweet, it would be another one to add to the trophy case, it’s one I don’t have and look forward to putting it up there.
“Competing against Reedy, I know he is a tough competitor, no matter how old he gets, he’s always fighting and he’s always gnarly, and he definitely won’t make it easy on me, and I know it’s going to be a good battle and a fun race.”
Reed left the entire field in his wake winning all three feature races at the inaugural Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland, to make a remarkable run to victory on the night and says getting the opportunity to go up against Anderson and more of the world’s best riders, helps with his preparation for the 2020 World Supercross Championship.
“New Zealand this year, having Jason [Anderson] also going after the FIM Oceania Championship actually excites me, as it will help my preparation for the 2020 season. Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium gives you a good replication of the gate drops and the tracks I’ll be racing in 2020 [in the World Championship]”, Reed said.
Reed also hopes to retain his FIM Oceania crown and says he’s heading to New Zealand better-prepared than last year.
“It’s important to retain your championship, and this year to win the second FIM Oceania Championship would be a huge honour. I think we’ll have a much better preparation and be able to come out swinging in New Zealand,” said Reed.
“Fans in Auckland last year were unbelievable, despite the challenging conditions of the weather, I had such a great time, and the supercross was amazing, you couldn’t have asked for a better night of racing.”
The 2019 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland is proudly supported by Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development (ATEED) and Monster Energy.
© Photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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Mount Smart Stadium was packed for the inaugural S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championships last year. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
