The 2019 Australian Supercross Championships season, including a round in New Zealand, will kick off this coming weekend, October 12, inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
The series is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons in history, with a host of decorated international talent preparing to face off against the best Australasia has to offer, and take the coveted SX1 and SX2 Championships to foreign lands.
Leading the charge and looking to secure his fourth consecutive Australian championship will be Penrite Honda’s Justin Brayton, who has recently signed a deal with the HRC corporation for his World Championship campaign in 2020, and will come with additional parts for his Honda machine which is an ominous sign for the competition.
The American is known as one of the world’s best supercross riders, having made his debut in 2004 and progressively making his way into the top echelon of the sport, and has his sights locked on another title.
“The aim is to defend (my championship), and add a fourth to the belt. I’m under no illusion that it’ll be an easy defence though, with a lot of good guys putting that target on my back and wanting the SX1 Championship.
“I’m expecting a few guys to step up and make it difficult, however, I’m confident in my preparation and believe that I can get the job done,” said Brayton.
Team USA will have a presence in the SX2 ranks too, with Mitchell Oldenburg and Chris Blose as the sister Penrite Honda’s of Brayton, albeit both in the small-bore division. Bradley Taft (Empire Motorsports Kawasaki), Jacob Hayes (Serco Yamaha) and Josh Osby (Raceline KTM Thor) will all return for their second season in Australia and will no doubt be after the championship.
“I’ve watched the Australian Supercross Championship expand over the last couple seasons, and was pretty eager to be involved. I’m super thankful for the opportunity to come and race with Penrite Honda – it’s going to be awesome to spend the summer in Australia and go after an international championship,” said Oldenburg.
The Australian Supercross Championship will span five rounds in 2019, with Brisbane Entertainment Centre playing host for the opener on October 12. The series then heads to South Australia the following 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.
Anderson will head to New Zealand for the first time ever, which he says will be a fresh addition to his off-season 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 off-season 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.”
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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