Hansen Wins Aussie SX Title

Cycle News Staff | December 6, 2010

Josh Hansen wrapped up the 2010 Monster Energy Super X Championship on Saturday night in treacherous conditions at QSAC Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, the California resident joining Lites Champion Matt Moss in claiming titles Down Under.Heavy rain during the day completely soaked the track and forced promoters to cancel practice and qualifying. In the first of three six-lap races in the Triple Challenge, Hansen got out to an early lead and held on for the win. Lewis Woods put up a fight, but crashed while trying to pass Hansen, allowing Jay Marmont to finish second. Tye Simmonds ended up third.Simmonds then claimed the second holeshot of the night, but Hansen soon passed him to again take the early lead. Billy Mackenzie, however, had other ideas as he passed Hansen when the American got stuck in the mud. Mackenzie went on to win moto two with Simmonds second and Hansen third.

But Hansen struck back to win the series in style with a victory in the final moto over Mackenzie and Simmonds.In the final standings it was Hansen, Marmont and Jake Moss filling the top three.”I am really stoked Monster brought me out here for this series and I really want to thank my mechanic Eric Johnson for being with me the whole time,” Hansen said in a promoter-generated press release. “Our goal was to win and that’s what we did so it’s going to be good returning home to the Kawasaki team in the U.S. with this result. I have loved my time here in Australia and can’t wait to come back again next year.”Marmont was hoping for better, but struggled in the tough conditions.”It was really tough conditions out there tonight,” the Aussie said. “I got some good starts, but couldn’t make it happen and just missed out on the podium. I am pumped to get second overall in the championship, though.”The Lites championship went right down to the wire with Matt Moss leading PJ Larsen by only five points going into the round. In the first five lapper Moss and Larsen both went down on the start straight; while Larsen was able to remount, Moss couldn’t get his bike started and only rejoined on the final lap. Brit Steven Clarke won the moto with Lawson Bopping second and Joel Roelants third.In the second moto, Kade Mosig took his first win of the series with Larsen second and Clarke third. Moss crashed on the first lap and finished 10th, putting him and Larsen in a tie going into the final race. Clarke was the victor in the final moto for the Lites, but all eyes were on Moss and Larsen in second and third, respectively. Larsen couldn’t catch Moss and the championship went to Moss for the third year in a row.”That was really hard out there tonight, but I am so stoked right now,” Moss said. “Rockstar Motul Suzuki… we got the hat trick!”Larsen was obviously disappointed at losing out on the title.”It was a really tough night, but I have had a great time racing in the series,” the American said. “I went down pretty hard in the first moto and was worried I broke my wrist after someone ran over it, but managed to come back and race well in the other two. It’s disappointing to come so close to the championship. It was a very close battle.”