Image: Foremost Media.

Second overall in SX1 at Adelaide came as a welcome result for Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti, admitting that his podium was a ‘long time coming’ after recovering from a serious neck injury sustained near 12 months ago.

After missing the majority of ProMX, the 29-year-old continued his comeback in the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship with increasing expectations as the gates dropped for the five-round schedule.

Tanti showed top-three speed throughout the series, although inconsistency kept him off the podium until the Adelaide Grand Final, where he delivered a 5-2 scorecard to claim P2 on the podium.

“I really wanted a holeshot – I did have to get past one person and it took me a few laps – and once I got past, it was good to have some free air and actually ride how I have been riding, just without all the carnage around me,” Tanti told MotoOnline.

“I kind of clicked it up a gear – I was holding Dean [Wilson] off there for a few laps of the second final, which was cool. I struggled a little bit earlier in the day, so it was good to sort it out and finish on a high.

“Second overall to finish the season, my first podium as a dad, first podium back from my broken neck… it feels good to finish this way and lead into the off-season, which is a big relief.”

The storied Craig Dack-led Yamaha organisation struggled to find the SX1 podium all season despite its three-rider roster of Tanti, Mitchell Harrison and Phil Nicoletti, with the Australian team regular delivering silverware for the Victorian-based effort with his round five performance.

“This one definitely feels good, and it was a long time coming,” he continued. “That was the first podium for CDR in this year’s AUSX season, and it shouldn’t have been like that. I had the speed all year, and I should’ve been up there more.

“Having a two-year deal with the CDR crew now – Dacka backed me after my injury, and there were a lot of questions as to whether I was going to return. To get a two-year deal is awesome – my longest contract – and it’s great to reward the team with this result.”

Tanti closed out the 2025 AUSX championship sixth in the final SX1 point-standings and is set to remain with the Monster Energy CDR Yamaha team alongside Jed Beaton for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.