With the start of the Australian Supercross Championship this weekend, both Justin Brayton and Jay Wilson will be sporting No.1 plates on their respective machines.
And they will both no doubt be ready for a fight in their title defending campaigns.
For Brayton, the target is well and truly on his back, with the American having won the last three SX1 Championships in succession.
For season 2019, the 34-year-old expects the competition to be stronger than ever, however, is confident in his preparation along with the added support from Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and has his eyes fixed on championship No.4.
Determined to knock Brayton off his perch is a whole host of fast Australians, with the newly signed CDR Yamaha Monster Energy pilot Daniel Reardon eager to add to his championship tally.
Reardon has amassed a total of four Australian Supercross Championships, with one SX2 and three SX1 Championships – his latest coming in 2015.
Brayton’s Penrite Honda stablemate – Brett Metcalfe, will also look to go one better this year, having finished a close second to the American last year.
In the SX2 division, 26-year-old Wilson heads into the series with a year of development under his belt on his GYTR Yamaha machine, and under the guidance of Mike Ward and Josh Coppins, will look to go back to back domestically before his World Championship assault in 2020.
“Last year we entered the season with a whole new machine which we were trying to get to know, and it was a bit of a bonus to win the title. After a whole year of continuity, our preparation is miles ahead of what it was last year,” commented Wilson.
“This year the field is really deep with SX2 talent – plenty of internationals – which I think is great for our series. It means that, if we win the title and race well against these guys, we’re on the map internationally too – which I think is a really great thing,” said Wilson.
Strategies for winning championships can vary from rider to rider, and season to season, with Brayton last year winning the opening three rounds and then logging consistent results for the final two rounds. For Wilson, winning the opening two rounds gave him a point’s buffer over the competition, before posting consistent results to bring home the title. For 2019, Wilson explains that there’s no certain game plan, other than doing the best he can, week in, week out.
“We just do what we do. My team and I have a good grasp of championships and I have complete trust in their advice, however it’s too early to be coming up with a real specific game plan just yet – we just do what we do,” finished Wilson.
With the 2019 field being deeper than ever, with new contenders, previous points leaders and determined veterans all lining up behind the gates, both Brayton and Wilson will have their hands full for this year’s championship, with the first gate drop in Brisbane’s entertainment centre this weekend.
After tonight’s battle in Brisbane, the series then heads to South Australia next weekend, followed by Wollongong on the 9th of November. The series will then cross the pond to New Zealand on the 16th, before concluding in Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on November 30.
This year will see 2018 AMA Supercross Champion Jason Anderson gear up for the S-X Open Auckland on November 16 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.
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2019 Australian Supercross Championship calendar (SX1 and SX2)
Round 1 (October 12) – Honda Round 1, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Round 2 (October 19) – Fly Racing Round 2 Gillman Speedway, Port Adelaide
Round 3 (November 9) – Yamaha Round 3 , WIN Stadium Wollongong
Round 4 (November 16) – Round 4 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland
Round 5 (November 30) – Round 5 Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne