McElrath takes historic SX2 world title!
After two vice-titles in 250SX, Shane McElrath (Rick Ware Racing) has won his first major title. The 28-year-old American was the most consistent over the two rounds of the renewed Supercross World Championship. Challenger Max Anstie tried to put pressure on McElrath in the final, but Max had to settle for the vice world title.
Two weeks after the season opener in Cardiff, the curtain fell today at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on the 'pilot edition' of the Supercross World Championship. For the Australian championship promoter it was also a home race linked to the Australian SX Championship which started yesterday at the same stadium.
Flying start Anstie
The first race was dominated by ex-GP rider Max Anstie who led from start to finish. Anstie made it ahead of World Championship leader Shane McElrath (Yamaha) who led the championship. Due to the hard and slippery top layer, many riders slipped, which led to numerous position changes and falls. Jace Owen (Yamaha), Chris Blose (Kawasaki) and Phil Nicoletti (Yamaha) completed the top-5.
Home win for Tanti
Craig Dack Racing's Aaron Tanti proved in race 2 why he is one of the emerging Australian SX talents. Tanti quickly took the lead and never relinquished his position, although McElrath (second) was never far away. Max Anstie (Honda) now finished third ahead of Mitch Oldenburg (Honda) and Chris Blose (Kawasaki).
Direct match McElrath – Anstie
The best start went to McElrath while Anstie was a little further away. Max still came out well, but the 10-lap final was too short to make it difficult for the Rick Ware Racing driver. For a moment Anstie came alongside in the penultimate corner but in the end Shane McElrath held on. With Anstie in 2 and 3, the fastest men of the evening were all at the front. Bud Racing Kawasaki duo of Chris Blose (Kawasaki) and Matt Moss (Kawasaki) finished 4th and 5th.
SX2 Race 1
1. Max Anstie (HON), 6 Rdn, 2. Shane McElrath (YAM), +1.810, 3. Jace Owen (YAM), +3.261, 4. Chris Blose (KAW), +10.124, 5. Phil Nicoletti (YAM) ), +12.400, 6. Wilson Todd (HON), +13.837, 7. Mitch Oldenburg (HON), +14.693, 8. Carson Brown (YAM), +15.725, 9. Lorenzo Camporese (HON), +16.238, 10 Maxime Desprey (YAM), +16.472, 11. Justin Bogle (KTM), +17.077, 12. Aaron Tanti (YAM), +17.395, 13. Henry Miller (YAM), +18.504, 14. Rhys Budd (YAM) , +19.160, 15. Dilan Schwartz (SUZ), +20.427, 16. Derek Kelley (SUZ), +21.469, 17. Nathan Crawford (KTM), +24.913, 18. Thomas Do (HON), +26.594, 19. Kyle Chisholm (YAM), +1 Rnd., 20. Matt Moss (KAW), +3 Rnd., 21. Cole Seely (HON), +5 Rnd.
SX2 Race 2
1. Aaron Tanti (YAM), 6 Rdn, 2. Shane McElrath (YAM), +0.801 3. Max Anstie (HON), +1.610, 4. Mitch Oldenburg (HON), +3.308, 5. Chris Blose (KAW) , +6.434, 6. Matt Moss (KAW), +8.346, 7. Carson Brown (YAM), +9.427, 8. Nathan Crawford (KTM), +13.505, 9. Dilan Schwartz (SUZ), +14.370, 10. Henry Miller (YAM), +16.004, 11. Kyle Chisholm (YAM), +17.514, 12. Phil Nicoletti (YAM), +18.930, 13. Wilson Todd (HON), +20.686, 14. Lorenzo Camporese (HON), +21.305, 15. Maxime Desprey (YAM), +21.612, 16. Rhys Budd (YAM), +22.546, 17. Derek Kelley (SUZ), +27.364, 18. Cole Seely (HON), +31.233, 19. Thomas Thu (HON), +32.556, 20. Jace Owen (YAM), +1 Rnd., 21. Justin Bogle (KTM), +6 Rnd
SX2 Race 3
1. Shane McElrath (YAM), 10 Rdn,, 2. Max Anstie (HON), +0.659, 3. Aaron Tanti (YAM), +9.738, 4. Chris Blose (KAW), +11.544, 5. Matt Moss ( KAW), +12.650, 6. Mitch Oldenburg (HON), +13.952, 7. Wilson Todd (HON), +16.598, 8. Maxime Desprey (YAM), +18.940, 9. Dilan Schwartz (SUZ), +23.685, 10. Henry Miller (YAM), +27.125, 11. Rhys Budd (YAM), +36.055, 12. Phil Nicoletti (YAM), +41.754, 13. Derek Kelley (SUZ), +43.783, 14. Lorenzo Camporese (HON ), +45.868, 15. Thomas Do (HON), +47.921, 16. Nathan Crawford (KTM), +2 Rnd., 17. Cole Seely (HON), +4 Rnd., 18. Carson Brown (YAM), +9 Rnd., 19. Kyle Chisholm (YAM), +9 Rnd.
SX2 GP Australia final standings
1. Shane McElrath (YAM), 69 Pts, 2. Max Anstie (HON), 68, 3. Aaron Tanti (YAM), 54, 4. Chris Blose (KAW), 52, 5. Mitch Oldenburg (HON), 47 , 6. Wilson Todd (HON), 37, 7. Phil Nicoletti (YAM), 34, 8. Matt Moss (KAW), 32, 9. Maxime Desprey (YAM), 30, 10. Dilan Schwartz (SUZ), 30 , 11. Henry Miller (YAM), 30, 12. Carson Brown (YAM), 29, 13. Lorenzo Camporese (HON), 26, 14. Nathan Crawford (KTM), 22, 15. Rhys Budd (YAM), 22 , 16. Jace Owen (YAM), 21, 17. Derek Kelley (SUZ), 17, 18. Kyle Chisholm (YAM), 15, 19. Thomas Do (HON), 11, 20. Justin Bogle (KTM), 10 , 21. Cole Seely (HON), 7
World Championship SX2 final standings
1. Shane McElrath (YAM), 123 Pts, 2. Max Anstie (HON), 114, 3. Aaron Tanti (YAM), 105
Photos: WSX
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