Three rounds into the 2026 Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship has delivered non-stop action across each category, with the series now entering the business-end of the schedule at Perth’s penultimate round this Saturday. MotoOnline’s Q&A feature addresses the leading questions heading into the weekend.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Removing the guest appearances, what does the SX1 title picture look like with two rounds remaining?

A: Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia and Jo Shimoda have all had an impact on the overall SX1 picture, particularly Roczen, whose double-round sweep yielded a maximum 150 points. Both Roczen and Barcia have now completed their cameos, while Shimoda is set to contest the Perth round before his time in Australia comes to a close. As far as the AUSX SX1 standings are concerned, Christian Craig leads the way on 182 points, holding a healthy 35-point advantage over Luke Clout, who is effectively second in the title race. French veteran Cedric Soubeyras sits third, a further 10 points back. All eyes are now on the number 28, with the remaining contenders likely needing a mistake from the talented American to close the gap.

Q: Why did Lux Turner execute a pivotal – and aggressive – pass on Cameron McAdoo in Geelong?

A: The pass in the second SX2 final at Geelong may have meant a little more than first meets the eye. Guest rider Cole Davies has understandably commanded much of the spotlight, but behind the Kiwi’s masterclass, an SX2 title fight is brewing, with Cameron McAdoo and Lux Turner emerging as the key combatants. McAdoo leads the standings on 152 points, with Turner just 14 points behind his fellow countryman. Turner’s move on McAdoo in Geelong saw the Quad Lock Honda rider go down, allowing the Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha representative to claim second overall on the night while relegating McAdoo to third. In the context of the championship, leaving the door open like that proved costly for McAdoo, and it’s unlikely he’ll make the same mistake again. There’s plenty at stake with the title on the line, and we can expect the intensity to ramp up across the remaining rounds.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Should we have expected more from double AUSX SX2 champion Max Anstie?

A: Yes and no. Given his talent and credentials, perhaps we should have. However, the reality is that the MXRP-backed Yamaha deal came together extremely late, with both rider and team still navigating the complexities of getting everything in place. Anstie had been scheduled to defend his SX2 title in World Supercross this year alongside Rick Ware Racing (RWR) and ClubMX, with those plans coming to an abrupt halt following the 2026 cancellation. So, while expectations were naturally high given his ability, there are other factors that have influenced his performances. He currently sits fifth in the SX2 standings, 33 points behind McAdoo.

Q: Following the controversy, what formats are we expecting over the remaining two rounds?

A: There was a slight twist here, with AUSX organisers initially announcing in Geelong that both the Perth and Newcastle rounds would become Triple Crown events, designed to off-set the points accumulated by Roczen and Davies in their respective championships. They have since reversed that decision, with Perth reverting to a traditional single-main-event format, while Newcastle will run as a double-header, reducing the total points available from 150 to 75. The decision ultimately arrived due to an oversight in the rulebook, with further detail available here.

Image: Foremost Media.

Q: Electric versus combustion – are we seeing an even playing field between the Starks and other manufacturers?

A: We seem to be! The Stark Factory Racing riders featured much more prominently during Townsville’s season-opener, with Michael Hicks initially credited with the SX2 win before a post-race penalty relegated him to third. Since then, no electric machine has reached the podium, with all four riders having featured around the mid-field, while Brian Hsu missed the night program in Auckland. In SX1, Jorge Zaragoza and Vince Friese hold positions five and seven, respectively, while Hicks is sixth overall in SX2. These are roughly the positions that could be expected riders of this calibre to achieve on combustion-powered engines too, indicating that, at least for now, we may have struck an equilibrium that works between the differing drivetrains.

Q: The support categories, both SMX Next and the SX85 class, highlight the sport’s brightest upcoming talent. Who have been the standouts in 2026?

A: Seeing the progression of some of these young riders in supercross is downright impressive at times, and speaks volumes about the developmental classes and initiatives in place for up-and-comers. In the SMX Next class, Jack Deveson has been the standout, demonstrating the speed and poise that have delivered four consecutive race wins, including overall victories in both Auckland and Geelong. Positions two and three are currently held by round one winner Jack Nunn and Riley Burgess, who have each shown the pace to challenge Deveson at the front. In the 85cc ranks, the battle between Nico Verhoeven and Blake Bohannon in Geelong could almost have been considered the race of the night. Once again, the way these young riders navigate a full-sized supercross circuit on 85s is seriously impressive. It seems like only yesterday that Cole Davies was coming through the then-named SX3 program in AUSX, and we may well be watching the next generation of stars emerge right before our eyes.