AUSX Supercross was a standout for privateer Hayden Mellross one year ago, earning third position in the competitive SX1 division against a solid line-up of top-tier opposition. While that performance ultimately wasn’t enough to attract interest from the factory teams, the experienced 31-year-old details his plans to race-on for 2026 within his own program in this Check In feature.

Image: Foremost Media.

First up, last year went really well for you – third overall in SX1 – and given that, has your program changed much for 2026, or are you essentially running it back?

For this year, the program is pretty much going to be the same, honestly. We’re running it back, and yeah, the same people and supporters that have kind of been on for the last couple of years to make this show work are staying on board. I think we’ve got about eight or so personal sponsors that are contributing financially that are still doing the same thing this year. We’ve, you know, maybe lost one or two, but also gained a couple extra so that definitely helps out because the costs are extremely high being a privateer, but yeah mate, as far as everything goes, you know, my suspension hasn’t changed, the bike hasn’t changed – it’s essentially what I was racing with all last year.

As far as the AUSX series is concerned, we’ve seen some substantial changes that I would imagine would have a direct impact on your program, and something you may have even contributed to in developing last year. Talk to me about what AUSX has done to help out privateers.

Yeah, and I think they’ve done an awesome job. You know, Mick [Sinclair] did speak to me at the end of last year about potential ways they could help privateers and things like that. And, you know, travel is one of the major contributors to why going racing is so expensive. They’ve definitely changed it and positively helped privateers, especially when you include the social media money that you can potentially earn just by trying to be active and posting about AUSX and then also your own profile, so that is really cool. As far as the bonuses for privateers, that’s massive as well. That just gives privateers another incentive to keep going. I think that the biggest thing to be eligible for that, you have to attend all five rounds. Now, I think that in itself maybe keeps a level head on privateers because, yes, they want to do well and they want to get the best results, but the biggest thing is consistency in attending every round, and then you’re essentially going to get a paycheck regardless. Then obviously the freight costs and things like that are good – I’m still trying to navigate how that’s all going to work for me because it does financially help to a degree, but then, you know, you are limited to the resources that you do have at those venues. So, that one is a little bit different, but as far as all the other inclusions, they’re all really positive.

Image: Foremost Media.

AUSX is continually working to expand the series, expand the footprint. We’ve got Western Australia and New Zealand in 2026, and in some ways, that is really cool for fans in those regions to see the sport. But how is it for a privateer in actually making those rounds?

It is hard. I am all for these destinations and expanding AUSX, but it is really hard to have three of [those rounds] in one series, like in one season. One, maybe two of them are alright, I believe, but three does make it tricky. You know, the cost of living in itself and fuel prices, everything like that’s gone up – which no one knew was going to happen – but yeah, then again, AUSX are helping with the freight. But when you go to book flights, as I’ve just booked flights for myself and my mechanic for round one, it cost $1800. Where for my mechanic and myself to fly to… Well, I actually didn’t have to fly to Queensland last year because I could drive it, and I flew up my mechanic, so I was only up for $400, so it is tricky. Perth and Auckland, they’re going to be the same as far as the flight costs, whereas if [the rounds] were more domestic and closer along the east coast, then I would probably just drive and save a little bit of money, you know? I’m all for it, but it is hard being a privateer, and I do think AUSX are doing their best to try to help accommodate those costs, too.

So in a nutshell, a lot of these things are a balance because they want to go to new places, while also trying to keep it affordable for the privateers.

Yeah, for sure. Like for me, with flights and accommodation and then paying a mechanic, for round one, it’s already at like $4500 – you know what I mean? Where that’s out of the sponsorship money that I get from different sponsors, so the costs are higher per event, but then again, they’ve got all these other incentives with social media and bonuses for privateers where at the end of the season, you might recoup, you know, a chunk of that. You might be better off even. I definitely think it is a little bit more expensive per round, but at the end of the season, when you’ve claimed all these additional add-ons that they’ve done, I think it will be better.

Image: Foremost Media.

The next question is an interesting one because last year went really well for you, even compared to a lot of the other riders who were on official teams. So, how come we aren’t seeing you part of a team in 2026?

I’m asking myself the same question, to be honest. It’s very disappointing, and I’ll be completely honest, I’m very disappointed in not being on a team. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful, and I love the support that I have from my current sponsors, but I was very time-poor last year with training. I was only able to put a certain amount of effort into training – I know what it takes to be at the top of the sport, and I definitely wasn’t able to train or put as much effort in as I could just with providing for the family, making sure our bills are paid, making sure I’ve got money coming in to go race. Being a family man, there are so many elements that come into it. So for me, it is disappointing to not receive a team ride, and then once again, to see all these other teams getting overseas riders and whatnot. But yeah, I kind of just use it as fuel at the end of the day. But there’s also that part of me that wishes I got a factory ride because if I got a paying ride, I would essentially be on a salary and I wouldn’t have any overheads to get to the races, which then I could take time away from work, and I could ride four days a week. I could train off-bike four or five times a week, like I could actually put in the effort that’s required to be at the top of the class.

Wait, so you’re telling me the phone didn’t ring at all after last season?

It didn’t ring once from any team. I tried calling a couple of teams, and a couple of people said they’d get back to me and never did. And then obviously my main focus shifted to the KTM Racing Team as I knew there was an SX1 spot there. There was a lot of interest in that seat, and they went with Luke [Clout], which is, you know, understandable. He’s an extremely good rider, but it was disappointing, given how much loyalty I’ve shown to the brand, to not receive that seat. In saying that, they are supporting me more than they did last year as a privateer, and I really appreciate that, but not having, you know, a factory offer from any team really is extremely confusing and disappointing. But, you know, it is what it is, right? Like, it’s not just teams. I got third in Australia last year, and I don’t want to single any company or product out, but I’m still paying for stuff. I can’t even get free products or free different things in different markets. And it’s confusing to me that, you know, it’s come to that because, yeah, I would have thought that results earn you some acknowledgement to get some additional support here and there. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of my sponsors that have stepped up more, but then there’s a lot that I still have to pay for stuff, which is a shame. But look, it’s, as I said, I use it as motivation. I use it as fuel to kind of drive me into achieving good results.

That’s interesting, for sure – I just automatically assumed that there’d be a lot of interest given last year’s result. And then finally, at this stage in your career, being a supercross-only rider, do you have an idea of how long this could last?

Honestly, I would love to keep doing it for many more years. I guess my body is very broken. I’ve had a lot of big injuries throughout my career, which have kind of been my biggest setbacks, but right now I love it. I love doing it. My goal returning to racing a couple of years ago after my last big injury was to stand on the podium with my son. Not that he remembered it, but when he gets older and sees that, I feel like he’ll be very proud of me in that moment, so that was a massive driving force as to why I want to continue racing. Now I’ve got another little one as well, so I think that motivation is still the same. I definitely want to keep racing for myself as well, but then again, I also want to do it for my kids because, from what I’ve been able to overcome in my career and to keep striving to be better as a person and as a racer, I feel like one day there are a lot of lessons that could be taken out of that for my children. And also at the end of the day, you know, being a father, I want them to be proud of me. So I think as long as I’m enjoying it and the family’s having fun with it, then I’ll, I’ll try and continue to do it. The AUSX crew always put on great events, so I’m stoked and really looking forward to going racing at Townsville – the event and vibe should be a good one.