Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR MX’s Justin Brayton swept to victory in the winner-take-all final of the Survival race format in the third round of the 2010 Monster Energy Super X Championship at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.Brayton won his heat, then posted scores of 1-1-4-1 in the four, seven-lap motos, the last of which was the only one that counted. The last minute switch to the Survival race format was a surprise, with the riders arriving in Tasmania expecting to be scored on their combined results from four, six-lap sprintsInstead it came down to the five fastest riders going head-to-head for the overall win. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen got the jump on the field, with Brayton fighting his way past on the fourth of seven laps and speeding to victory.The margin of victory was 2.365 secs.Geico Powersports/Cougar Bourbon Honda’s Kevin Windham filled out the top three, finishing 4.2 secs. behind Hansen. The final two finishers were Australians Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Yamaha) and Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Jake Moss.Acknowledging this was the first time he had experienced this type of race format, Kevin Windham admitted he didn’t quite get the result he was after.”This was certainly an interesting experience,” Windham said. “The race format threw me a bit; I can honestly say I have never had to push my Honda back to the start-line before.”It was still a great day, I won the eliminator,” in a two-lap face-off against Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing teammate Todd Waters, “and I have really enjoyed my time with the Cougar Bourbon Honda team.”Earlier, Windham was part of the USA team that beat Team Australia in the USA vs. Australia Challenge. Each team had four Open and one Lites rider. Windham teamed with Mike Alessi (JDR Motorex KTM), Brayton and Hansen, with Lites rider P.J. Larson (JDR Motorex KTM) up against the Australian team of Jake Moss, Tye Simonds, Jay Marmont, Daniel Reardon and Lites rider Matt Moss. Each rider rode for a lap and a half before handing off to his teammate. The final leg came down to a face-off between Windham and Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing Reardon with Windham crossing the line with a cushion of .754 secs.The weekend in Tasmania marked the end of the Australian adventure for Windham and Brayton, who now head back to the U.S. to prepare for the AMA Supercross season.Brayton leaves Australian trailing Hansen in the championship by nine points, 130 to 121, with Windham fourth at 95. Australian Jay Marmont is third with 106.Now the Super X series takes a weekend off before resuming in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, November 13.(Follow this link http://www.motoonline.com.au/2010/10/31/2010-super-x-launceston-race-reflection/ at motoonline.com.au to hear the riders talk about their races. And make sure to bookmark motoonline.com.au the site for its excellent ongoing coverage of the Super X series.)OPEN top ten results – Round 3
1. Justin BRAYTON – Muscle Milk / Toyota JGRMX: 25
2. Josh HANSEN – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki: 22
3. Kevin Windham – Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing: 20
4. Jay MARMONT – CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 18
5. Jake MOSS – Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 16
6. Daniel REARDON – Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing: 15
7. Tye SIMMONDS – JDR Motorex KTM: 14
8. Todd WATERS – Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda Racing: 13
9. Mike ALESSI – JDR Motorex KTM: 12
10. Craig ANDERSON – Berry Sweet / Pro Grip / Talon / RHK / Forma: 11OPEN top ten results –
Top ten championship standings
1. Josh HANSEN – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki: 130
2. Justin BRAYTON – Muscle Milk / Toyota JGRMX: 121
3. Jay MARMONT – CDR Rockstar Yamaha: 106
4. Kevin Windham – Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing: 95
5. Daniel REARDON – Cougar Bourbon Honda Thor Racing: 92
6. Tye SIMMONDS – JDR Motorex KTM: 82
7. Todd WATERS – Cougar Bourbon Thor Honda: 78
8. Daniel McCOY – Coastal KTM Motorex Team: 71
9. Jake MOSS – Team Rockstar Motul Suzuki: 66
10. Lewis WOODS – Top Gear KTM: 66
