Image: Foremost Media.

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha front-runner Aaron Tanti emerged relatively unscathed after crashing heavily in round three of the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, recovering to a third-place finish in SX1 final two.

Tanti, 29, qualified fifth in the 450 division at Sharks Stadium, looking to add consistency to his Cronulla weekend after experiencing up-and-down results across Redcliffe’s season-opening double-header.

The night began well for the New South Welshman, who was battling for third during the opening stages of the first race, before a heavy collision over the finish left him in 17th. He would recover in the second final to a strong third place.

“It was just an unfortunate crash in race one and not really anyone’s fault,” Tanti told MotoOnline. “The finish was a very large jump, and it had a bit of a dog leg over it with a lot of riders drifting back to the middle of the downramp to try and get that next corner a bit straighter.

“I just stayed a lot lower over the jump after cutting down in the corner before. Phil [Nicoletti] and my line met on the down-ramp, and I just unfortunately hit the back of him before we landed, then I slapped the ground pretty damn hard.

“I’ve got a bit of bark off my face from my goggles, and my legs are swollen up because I think I collected my knees on the way through on the bars, but other than that, [I’m] all good and healthy – it was just a massive bummer because I was running really well.”

Podium-calibre pace has been met with inconsistency throughout his AUSX campaign so far, with Tanti balancing expectations after having spent six months off the bike in 2025 following a spinal injury in January.

“It’s a funny one, because sometimes I’ve got to step back and realise that I spent six months off the bike this year, because at the moment, sometimes I forget as my speed and fitness are pretty good,” he continued.

“At round one, I noticed that I lacked a bit of racecraft, just given I was off for so long. I’m lacking gate drops, and it’s evident against guys who have been competing all year. In saying that, Sydney was a big step in the right direction, and I am gaining confidence every time that gate drops, so I’m excited for Melbourne.”

Tanti has scored third position in three SX1 second finals – each the last race of the weekend – contested this year, and is ranked seventh overall in the SX1 standings with two AUSX rounds left to contest in Melbourne and Adelaide.