The 2025 Boost Mobile AUSX Open marks the 10th anniversary of the high-profile international event, which ushered in a new era of supercross in Australia by bringing some of the sport’s most decorated stars down under. Leading into this Saturday’s blockbuster, MotoOnline takes a look back at the event’s history in Rewind.

It’s no exaggeration to say the AUSX Open had a substantial impact on the domestic supercross landscape when it first took flight inside Sydney’s then-titled Allphones Arena in 2015. International superstars hadn’t been prominent in the Australian fixture for some time beforehand, dating back to the SuperX series between 2008-2011.

Supercross as a whole was rather unstable after the cancellation of SuperX in 2012, with promoters AME Group eyeing a Paris-style race for the Australian market – a singular event combining high-tech entertainment values as well as the world’s best riders to compete down under. It was a lofty aim – one that required courage and bravery to pull off – but the target was set for a 2015 debut.

As is the case with events, variables inevitably enter the mix, with the previously announced global megastar James Stewart pulling out of the race at the last minute, following an incident at the Paris supercross. This was a massive blow at the time, with a promised Chad Reed vs Stewart showdown being effectively the event’s selling point.

That’s partially true, because indoor seating, pyrotechnics, freestyle motocross, and other elements were part of the deal, although in terms of the marquee square off, it was between these two. A fast-thinking team, however, scrambled as a consequence, and in the end, both Ricky Carmichael and Cooper Webb were sourced as replacements, which culminated in one of the greatest supercross events in the nation’s history across two nights of racing in its inaugural year, with Reed capturing victory.

Image: Supplied.

The competition was chaotic and intense, both Carmichael and Reed put on a nostalgic exhibition that had any 2000s supercross fan in their feelings, and perhaps more importantly, the AUSX Open had truly arrived on the scene in a big way.

The same could be said for the 2016 installment, which built on the previous year by locating a formerly all but lost Ryan Villopoto, who was in his ‘disappear to the back country’ era following retirement from professional racing the year prior. Somehow, RV agreed to make the trip to Australia and compete over the two days, lining up alongside eventual SX1 winner Reed and Webb in the premier division.

By this point, not only had the AUSX Open developed a reputation as a world-class sporting event, but it had gained notoriety for its overall vibe, too, hosted close to Australia’s summer months, as well as featuring a festival-style atmosphere thanks to a buzzing pit party and a host of engaging sponsorship activations. It became one of the premier off-season races to contest, which drew the likes of both Jason Anderson – the 2017 and 2018 winner – and Dean Wilson, as well as Carmichael and even ‘Ronnie Mac’ in the years that followed.

Qudos Bank Arena had been enough to satisfy the crowd and competitors from a racing standpoint, although it was on the tighter side, with organisers utilising the tunnel to expand the circuit and open up more floor space for rhythm lanes, triples, and whoop sections. By 2018, however, it had outgrown the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, and a move to Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium was announced for 2019.

Four successful years in Sydney were met by another exceptional event in 2019, with the savvy promotional team again targeting the right talent, with young Australian rider Jett Lawrence having just emerged, winning the 250 Futures division at the Monster Energy Cup in the lead-up.

Image: Supplied.

The AUSX Open was touted as Lawrence’s first supercross race as a professional, as he joined Reed – who was then in the early stages of his retirement tour – as well as Anderson and event winner Justin Brayton, who headlined Melbourne that year.

It was reported that 35,000 fans attended the Marvel Stadium debut, which marked a strong milestone in the event’s history, graduating from Qudos Bank and growing into an increasingly prominent global supercross stop.

That takes us to COVID-19, which pulled the brakes on everything for the best part of two years, before the inception of the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) – which also took place in Marvel Stadium, effectively under the same management – absorbed the AUSX Open’s position on the schedule for two years, at least from a competitive point of view.

All of the above parked the event for four years, before it again returned in a big way for 2024, bringing home the now globally-recognised Lawrence brothers – Hunter and Jett – which was a major coup for supercross in Australia, fans of the sport, and the promoters, with over 42,000 people filling Marvel Stadium to witness their homecoming.

Hunter was triumphant at last year’s edition to the roar of the Melbourne crowd, who showed their appreciation for the Queenslander.

Image: Supplied.

And now we arrive here in 2025, leading into what is the 10th anniversary since the event’s launch back in 2015, with both Lawrence brothers again confirmed for this year alongside a healthy roster of AUSX Supercross Championship competitors – including a healthy assortment of internationals in its own right – which is set to make for another thrilling showing.

What is undeniable is the role that AUSX Open has played in the overall supercross narrative domestically, with part of AME’s mission to introduce the sport to a wider audience through convenience, comfort, and world-class entertainment. You’d have to say that after 10 years, it’s largely been a case of mission accomplished.

Supercross in Australia would look substantially different if AUSX Open weren’t part of the past decade. Promoters have done a solid job at attaining a share of the sport’s biggest names, as well as leveraging all the other aspects of an event of this stature, giving the Australian fanbase the ability to witness some of the world’s best talent, right on their doorstep.