Features 28 Nov 2023

Debrief: 2023 AUSX Rd3 Melbourne

Champions Wilson and Anstie recall third round in Victoria.

Froth Honda Racing’s Dean Wilson secured the 2023 Fox Australian Supercross Championship title in SX1 at Marvel Stadium, while Max Anstie (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) made it five from five SX2 main event wins this season to successfully defend his crown. MotoOnline caught up with both riders after the races for this Debrief feature. 

SX1

Image: Foremost Media.

2023 SX1 champion, Dean Wilson! Dean, Marvel stadium here, P2 on the night, championship win. You look tired mate, what was it like?

Yeah, it has been a long couple of days for sure. A lot of media stuff to do yesterday and that was really draining, so I felt pretty tired all day today. Overall, not a bad night, just a crappy start, I just made it really hard on myself having to pass everybody. Got into P2, and Luke [Clout] was gone. I tried to reel him in, I reeled him in a tiny bit, but yeah, he rode solid and yeah he rode really well all day. Anyways, had a great time here in Australia, had a lot of fun, and yeah that’s only night one, we have got night two tomorrow.

SX2

Image: Foremost Media.

Max, congratulations firstly, here in Marvel Stadium, Friday night, but I’m going to be honest with you, I’m looking at you, the celebration isn’t there. Max Anstie looks calm, cool and collected. Tomorrow night is on your mind, right? 

100 percent, job is done for night one, that’s the first part of it, but tomorrow is where it counts. Of course, the Australian championship, it’s been fantastic, and to go back-to-back, it’s been great, but it is hard to fully chill and have a great night because tomorrow I have got to be sharp, I have got to be on it. Excited about how today went, it couldn’t have gone any better to be honest. In the main event, I was able to control the and almost use it as a bit of stretching my legs, loosening up a little bit for tomorrow, happy with that.

This season for you so far, Australian Supercross, it’s not a walk in the park. These guys that you are racing in Australia are unbelievable athletes, right? 

Exactly. For me to win every race, it sounds like ‘oh yeah, he’s doing that it must be easy’, but it is not. I have had a lot of years of experience with racing and I know where to put myself in the right position, but these guys on supercross are fast. I race supercross all round, I haven’t ridden a day of outdoors since last year at Marvel, I literally haven’t done one day. Whereas Wilson Todd, he has got a championship over here, Nathan Crawford, these boys are fast. Having some of the US guys mixed in there with [Cole] Thompson and Robbie Wageman, the field is stacked. I can’t relax and take my foot off the gas. I have to be sharp and on it, and I’ve learned my lesson with domestic championships, the boys at home are really fast. Got to give it up to those boys, my teammate Wilson, he has got a lot of great potential and I feel like he didn’t get a full shot of it in the US with supercross. He is really fast. Definetely been a great championship, I have really enjoyed it, it is great for Honda Australia, for Yarrive, for all the guys.

You got to ride the track today, got to race the track today, see how it is forming up. You’ll take that as a positive coming into tomorrow night? 

I’m looking at it now, and it is a lot different from when we walked it. It’s hard, it’s slick, it’s getting beat up, and this is going to be how it is going to be tomorrow. I’m excited about it for tomorrow night, I think today I learned a lot, I can take that into tomorrow and execute tomorrow, that’s the plan.

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