DPH Motorsport Yamaha’s Wilson Todd raced to a second-consecutive SX2 main event victory tonight at the 2017 Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney, marking the fourth round of the Australian Supercross Championship.

Earlier in the night it was Todd who took the hole-shot in the first eight-lap SX2 heat of the night, maintaining control despite a late charge from Jackson Richardson (Serco Yamaha) by just over a second.

Defending champion Richardson made his way into second mid-race, but wasn’t able to make a move on Todd, while rookie Cooper Pozniak (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) was third.

Penrite Honda Racing’s Chris Blose was fastest in qualifying and maintained that form in heat two, winning by over six seconds from Jay Wilson (Raceline Pirelli KTM), Dylan Wills (Dyson Motorsport Husqvarna) – riding with a fresh hand injury – while Geran Stapleton (Honda) and newcomer Jy Roberts (Husqvarna), the rookie who led out of the gates.

A major incident between Aaron Tanti (Bulk Nutrients WBR Yamaha) and Mitch Evans (Serco Yamaha) currently sees those two being attended to by Racesafe – updates will be posted when they become available.

The first SX2 semi-final saw Honda-mounted Taylor Potter work his way by Callum Norton (KTM) in the opening laps, eventually crossing the line ahead of Nick Sutherland (Penrite CRF Honda Racing) and Pozniak. A crash on the final lap demoted Norton down the order, finishing fifth at race’s end.

The second semi-final was taken out Stapleton, who despite appearing to pass Wills under a yellow following the whoops, he won ahead of Wills and John Prutti (Yamaha) in an uneventful affair of sorts. Only the top three went directly through to the final.

Track position was key in the SX2 LCQ and it was Roberts who transferred to the final, to be joined by Bailey Malkiewicz (Husqarna) as just the two went through.

It was supercross revelation Todd who was victorious in night one of AUS-X Open, taking charge of the SX2 championship and making it back-to-back round wins. He now has a seven-point lead in the series after former leader Gavin Faith (Penrite Honda Racing) had to return home to the US through injury.

Todd led from the outset tonight, but was taken by Richardson who took the Shannons Shortcut first, only to retaliate one lap later to reclaim position. That was where he stayed for the remainder of the 15-lap duration, winning by 3.286s ahead of Blose, who used the whoop bypass to make a move on Richardson but wasn’t able to pass Todd.

Despite a last lap crash – and another once he cross the finish – Richardson wound up third, comfortably ahead of Wilson and Stapleton, as they were the final riders on the lead lap.

Night two of the 2017 Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney will mark the fifth and penultimate round of AUS Supercross, with Todd looking to take the next step toward a first-career SX2 crown.