After taking the chequered flag in the opening two rounds of the Penrite Australian Supercross Championship, American import, Jimmy Decotis, came to Adelaide with an array of confidence as local riders lined up for another chance at taking him down. Amongst the riders hot on Decotis’ tail was Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout. After spending some time over in the USA at the MTF, he returned home with a newfound speed that has seen him threaten to take the top step of the podium on many occasions.
KTM privateer Dylan Wills started off the night well with a heat race win, with Taylor Potter, fresh off a stint in the US closely behind in second. The pair raced away early from the rest of the field. In the second heat Jimmy Decotis couldn’t catch a break, coming from behind to end up in fifth place, while Luke Clout and Jackson Richardson finished the heat 15 seconds in front of third. Both riders looked a class above the rest, although DPH Yamaha rider Wade Hunter managed the heat’s fastest lap time. This coincides with Hunter’s recent move to the team, where he managed a podium in round two, which caught the attention of the industry.
The final was set to be an epic battle. With the heat races behind him, Jimmy Decotis was looking for an early lead and an opportunity to ride his own race, unfortunately for the Penrite Honda rider that was not to be. Another poor start saw him buried in the pack, while a mid-air collision of riders saw the field spread out before the first lap was over. Clout and Richardson picked up where they left off in the heat race getting out front and breaking away, while Decotis picked off riders as he came through the pack. By mid-race, Decotis had caught up and after some clinical moves, found himself out front with a few laps to go and pulling away from the field. Clout had a last burst of energy and looked to be making up ground, but lapped traffic would play its part and Decotis would make it three-for-three and retain the red plate. Clout and Richardson rounded out the podium. A great ride from Dylan Wills saw last year’s Under 19 Champion in a solid fourth, while SD3 Husqvarna’s Luke Arbon also put together a great ride for fifth.
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Photo Blast: Australian Supercross Championship from Adelaide