Image: Foremost Media.

A third-place result during Sunday’s second round of the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship was a ‘surreal’ moment for privateer hero Hayden Mellross, who overcame the odds in returning to the SX1 podium.

Nearly two years of uncertainty due to an ankle injury pulled the brakes on the 30-year-old’s career, as he worked tirelessly to return to a place of competitiveness, which involved fielding his own AUSX program last year.

Steadily building, an exceptional showing at both events in Redcliffe on the weekend saw him claim fifth on Saturday, before improving to an emotionally-charged P3 result on Sunday, and now sit third in the SX1 point standings.

“I can’t explain my emotions right now – I get choked up and emotional just talking about it,” Mellross told MotoOnline. “I’ve been told that I’d never race again, that my career was over, and my back was against the wall.

“No one supported me through the tough times after taking a year and a half off. We returned last year with my own program and a mad group of people, with the idea of being realistic and building. The mindset for this year has elevated a bit, and yeah, the emotions after this one are surreal.

“Nowadays, I don’t give a shit about any trophy or any team, really. I said if I can hold my young fella on the podium at the end of the night, that to me is my goal. And I achieved that tonight.”

A true privateer in all aspects of the word, Mellross continues to balance a full-time job with his racing aspirations, and will look to build on his opening round performance in Cronulla on October 25.

“On Monday, I worked a 12-hour shift – Tuesday was 10, and then Wednesday was probably 10 as well,” he continued. “I then drove 14 hours on Thursday to get here, and I’ll leave here at four in the morning so I can get back home to work on Tuesday.

“It’s unreal, and the sacrifice is everything, you know? But the love I have for what I do and what I want to achieve is what got me through at the end of the day.”