Roczen now leads the standings by a whopping 27 points, but it has been confirmed that he will not race the final two rounds. Colt Nichols will fill his PMG Progressive Suzuki spot for the remaining two rounds of the series, but he does not inherit Roczen’s points. This leaves the championship battle to be between Quad Lock Honda’s Christian Craig and Joey Savatgy, as well as PMG’s Jason Anderson who is still in the fight despite a tough night in the Gold Coast. Craig leads with 95 points, Savatgy with 83, and Anderson with 77.
In SX2, it was no surprise to see Team GSM’s (via Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) Max Anstie atop the board in qualifying. Anstie came into the night with a perfect season, including qualifying and super pole intact, but he took his first L of the season in SuperPole when he jumped off track. That gave the win and first gate selection to Rick Ware Racing’s Enzo Lopes.
Like Savatgy in SX1, Lopes carried his momentum from the afternoon into the night, grabbing the race one holeshot. He led the first lap; the first lap of the season not led by Max Anstie so far this season. Anstie put that momentum to an end quickly, making an aggressive pass for the lead on lap two. Enzo kept the 99 in check for much of the race, but it was more of what we have seen all season with Anstie inching away and taking a comfortable victory to start the night.
Behind them, defending champion Shane McElrath and Coty Schock battled for the final podium spot. Schock held the position to start, but McElrath, who has had a difficult start to the series, was able to make the move and the two went back and forth. As they battled, it allowed MCR’s Cullin Park into the fight. Park was able to take advantage of a big mistake by Shane in a rhythm lane and move into fourth. He made a late push and was able to get to rear wheel of Schock’s Rick Ware Racing/Club MX Yamaha, but Schock held on for the position.
Race two started exactly how race one ended with Anstie and Lopes 1-2 while Park and Schock resumed their battle for third. Park controlled third until he missed the triple, allowing Schock by. Moments later Lopes crashed out of second in the whoops and eventually exited the race.