Three rounds into the 2025 Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, and we have witnessed standout performers emerging with only two events remaining. In this edition of Rated, MotoOnline takes a closer look at the form of the leading contenders in the SX1 and SX2 divisions.

Image: Foremost Media.

Rider: Dean Wilson
Rating: A+
Rundown: So far, the 2025 AUSX season has been one of perfection for Dean Wilson, the 2023 SX1 champion firmly fixing his eyes on reclaiming the title he conceded to Joey Savatgy one year ago in the division. Dean has been a step above the competition, and this form highlights how good he is – how good he has always been – as a former 250MX Pro Motocross champion against some of the sport’s absolute elite. He appears destined for this year’s SX1 crown, with not even a controversial flagging call last time out in Sydney able to derail his progress. The number 15 is rolling, and with six from six individual final wins and three from three overalls, a perfect A+ is only fitting.

Rider: Cedric Soubeyras
Rating: A
Rundown: Don’t sleep on the Soub! This was one of the more interesting signings coming out of the Honda Racing program, and it caught many by surprise when the 36-year-old Frenchman was announced as Wilson’s teammate. So far, so good for the supercross specialist, who is situated comfortably behind Dean in the championship picture, which must make team owner Yarrive Konsky pretty thrilled. Speaking of which, the Victorian-based outfit is eyeing its eighth consecutive SX1 crown, and adding someone with the calibre of Soubeyras to the roster from the outset is a smart insurance policy if anything were to happen to Wilson, with the team covering all bases. It’s unfolding exactly as they’d have drawn up, with Honda at the forefront of the SX1 category once again.

Rider: Hayden Mellross
Rating: B+
Rundown: There can’t be many frowns in the Hayden Mellross camp, right? This is a feel-good story, one that showcases how capable the New South Welshman is in supercross. He was someone with a lot of unknowns entering the AUSX season, and honestly, not a lot of expectation from the outside, as many may have thought that his racing career was in its twilight years. It turns out that injuries have kept Mellross out of the spotlight for the last couple of seasons, with a building year in 2024 seeing him capture a quiet sixth in the SX1 standings. It’s safe to say that he’s back to some of his best form – and remarkably – the privateer on board KTM equipment is next in line behind the powerhouse Honda Racing duo. That is extremely solid, and a lot of riders who receive a whole lot more support are behind him and are probably desperate to overhaul the 30-year-old. Kudos to Mellross – this story is an example of how perseverance pays off.

Image: Foremost Media.

Rider: Luke Clout
Rating: A-
Rundown: Another rider who has been really impressive is Luke Clout, and if it weren’t for misfortune at the second Redcliffe round, he’d be in the thick of the title fight. The Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki rider has been second best to Wilson for the most part, having qualified fastest at all three rounds and featuring up front when the gates have dropped. It’s no secret that he excels in the stadiums, with this time of year in Australia being his forte. The only downfall is the ongoing story of inconsistency, although it’s hard to attribute this year’s problems to any rider error, as he was a passenger in a first-turn incident. He is one Australian who’d have a haul of number one plates and race wins indoors if internationals weren’t part of the picture, although at the same time, to put up the fight that he does each and every year is commendable and always gives the domestic fans someone to cheer for.

Rider: Lux Turner
Rating: A
Rundown: American import Lux Turner has surprised many this year, and that probably even includes himself until this point. He’s been the standout in the SX2 division, delivering strong rides in each of the six finals contested to hold a 26-point advantage over Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha teammate Ryder Kingsford. This will be a big milestone in Turner’s career to deliver an AUSX championship, maybe more so than some of the internationals who have come before him. Shane McElrath was already established before his SX2 title, as was Max Anstie, and even Chris Blose back in 2019. For Turner, he’s only in the early stages of his career, so you’d think that title success in Australia will do a lot for his prospects and confidence, especially in the coming years.

Rider: Ryder Kingsford
Rating: A-
Rundown: As a racing fan, there is a lot to like about Ryder Kingsford and the way he goes about his business – always honest, always realistic. He wasn’t stoked about how Redcliffe unfolded and thought he was capable of more, and backed that up with a much-improved showing in Sydney. Not that his riding was the issue in Queensland, but starts held him back from achieving the desired results. And so he and the team went to work, burning clutches as they practiced start after start, which obviously paid dividends inside Sharks Stadium. There are differing ways to look at the international involvement in AUSX, but for Kingsford, he appears to be all about it, happy to have the ability to test his skills against the best. We saw this ‘never back down’ attitude in ProMX when he went after the reigning champion Brodie Connolly, which tells us one thing is for certain – Kingsford never shies away from a challenge.

Image: Foremost Media.

Rider: Alex Larwood
Rating: B+
Rundown: Honda Racing’s Alex Larwood has taken a step forward this year, even if there have been moments of inconsistency throughout. You can look past that due to the gains that have been made by the South Australian prospect, who completed last year’s SX2 championship in sixth place overall. He’s currently listed third, with a convincing race win to his name coming at Redcliffe 2. His fastest time in final two was also half a second quicker than the next best, as he breezed to a five-second victory by race’s end. There’s a lot to be inspired by when it comes to Larwood, and if those inconsistent moments – as seen in Sydney – could be ironed out, he’d become a genuine title challenger.

Rider: Tiger Wood
Rating: B+
Rundown: The 18-year-old Tiger Wood was another rider who entered this year’s AUSX series as a bit of a question mark. Everyone knew the US-based Australian would be fast, although just how fast was the question. The teenager, originally from Townsville, scored two SMX Next podiums this year in America against their top up-and-comers, although again, we weren’t certain how these results would stack up against a professional Australian Supercross field. We’re starting to see that now, as Wood has been a podium threat across the opening three rounds – claiming P3 overall at both Redcliffe 1 and Sydney – and holds fourth in the current standings. He mentioned that a good result in this championship will situate him well for 2026, which will be intriguing to see if that means a professional position Stateside or a full-time seat here in the domestic championships.