Dean Ferris showed he has the skills when the dirt goes inside a stadium and the lights go on as he powered his way to an outstanding second place finish behind US import, Justin Brayton.
Ferris qualifying well throughout the day but when the gate dropped for the 20 laps, 20 rider, SX1 main event, it was Ferris who snatched the lead exiting the first turn. He instantly came under pressure from Brayton who managed to sneak by on lap three. The race ended with Brayton leading Ferris by 3.6 seconds.
“Everyone keeps telling me I’m an outdoor guy but I really like riding supercross and when I prepare for it, I think I can go well,” Ferris explains. “I felt great on the bike tonight and the team have done a great job in getting me comfortable quickly on the bike and adjusting to riding the smaller tracks.” said Ferris.
Current ASX champion, Dan Reardon had his first race back from a serious knee injury which sidelined him for three months. Reardon claimed a third place finish to put himself well in contention to retain his number one plate in the six round championship.
“The goal tonight wasn’t about winning the race but getting a good result, getting 20 racing laps under my belt and continuing to build speed and fitness as the championship progresses,” Reardon said. “I didn’t quite have the pace and the fitness to match Justin and Dean for the full 20 laps, so I rode at a speed that I could manage and get the result I needed.”
“We now have another three weeks before round two and that time will allow me to ride and train and develop the base I need to win these main events.” Explains Reardon.
“I’m really pleased with the performance of both riders,” states team manager, Craig Dack. “Dean showed he is more than just a motocross guy and also I believe he showed plenty of maturity in taking his second place finish and not taking huge risks in going for the win at such an early stage in the championship.”
“Dan is amazing and to think he has been back on the bike just on three weeks now but can ride at that speed for 20 laps is a credit to his professionalism.” Dack praises.
Meanwhile, Serco Yamaha’s Wade Hunter has put a tough MX Nationals series behind him to bounce back and take third place in the SX2 (250cc) class.
Hunter claimed third just ahead of team mate, Jackson Richardson in fourth, in a good night for the Serco Yamaha team that has both riders well placed in the six round championship after round one.
Hunter easily qualified for the 15 lap main event but as the field completed lap 1, Hunter was back in eighth place and with a lot of work to do on the tight Jimboomba circuit. However by lap six he had made his way back up the field to third.
Unfortunately for Hunter, the leading duo of US import, Gavin Faith, and Hayden Mellross had already moved well ahead of the pack and therefore was unable to bridge the gap between himself in third and the two leaders.
“It’s nice to be back on the podium,” said a relieved Hunter. “Things didn’t go my way in motocross and I haven’t been having the best of seasons so far but I like supercross and I was determined to get this championship off to a good start tonight.”
“With a better start, I think I can run with the two boys ahead of me but I just gave them too much head start tonight so that will be the main focus for the next few weeks” Hunter ends.
Drafted into the Serco Yamaha team at the 11th hour after a hand injury had usual pilot, Wilson Todd sidelined, Jackson Richardson made the most of opportunity taking fourth place at the season opener.
Richardson, who has been based in the US this year, only returned back to Australia last week and jumped on a Yamaha YZ250F for the first time, in the days leading up to the opening round.
Richardson started the main event in fifth place and moved to fourth by the mid-way point.
“The last week has been a bit crazy in getting the ride with Serco, doing some testing and just getting some time on the bike but we managed to get through and finishing fourth is a pretty good result considering what has happened.
“We have some time before the next round which will allow me to get some more riding in a feel a bit more settled on the bike so I will be shooting for the podium at round two.”
The second round of the Australian Supercross Championship will return on the 14th of October at Toowoomba, QLD.
