07.10.2023

CHALLENGING NIGHT FOR KTM RACING TEAM IN 2023 AUSX CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER

This press release has: 8 Images
The opening round of the 2023 Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) marked a challenging start to the season for KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford, with the Queenslander charging to a ninth-place result in the SX2 category at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Unfortunately for rookie teammate Kayden Minear, injury ruled him out during the afternoon's qualifying.
Crawford began race day in South Australia by posting the third-fastest lap-time in qualifying, clicking off a time that was just 0.067s from pole position as riders came to grips with the tight confines of indoor competition.

After missing a direct transfer through the heat race by one spot in P3, Crawford raced to victory in the night’s LCQ, and took to the outer-side of the start gates when the main event arrived. A poor launch and further troubles saw him playing catch-up for the entirety of the final, with the number 199 powering his 250 SX-F into a ninth-place result by race's end.

Despite displaying front-running speed throughout the opening round of the AUSX series, starts will now be the focus for Crawford between now and the second round, which takes place in four weeks time in Newcastle.

Teammate Minear experienced the harsh nature of the technical discipline of supercross, recording the 10th-fastest qualifying time in SX2, before a hard fall towards the end of the final session kept the youngster out of the night show.

The 2023 AUSX championship now heads to McDonald Jones Stadium in New South Wales for round two of the series on November 11.

Nathan Crawford: "Not a lot to say on my end from round one of the AUSX championship – I didn't get the start and that sort of dictated how my main event played out. We showed plenty of speed today in qualifying and the LCQ, although it's tough to have a ninth-place finish in such a short championship. We'll put our heads down, run through some starts with the team, and make sure we arrive on our game for the next two rounds."

2023 Australian Supercross Championship – Adelaide, SA

SX2 round one results:
1. Max Anstie (Honda)
2. Robert Wageman (Yamaha)
3. Wilson Todd (Honda)
9. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team)

SX2 championship standings:
1. Max Anstie (Honda) 25
2. Robert Wageman (Yamaha) 22
3. Wilson Todd (Honda) 20
9. Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) 12
Get all contents of this press release as .zip: Direct download Save to Lightbox

Images (8)

NATHAN CRAWFORD - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
NATHAN CRAWFORD 02 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
NATHAN CRAWFORD 03 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
NATHAN CRAWFORD 04 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
NATHAN CRAWFORD 05 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
KAYDEN MINEAR - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
KAYDEN MINEAR 02 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media
KAYDEN MINEAR 03 - KTM RACING TEAM
6 000 x 4 000 © Foremost Media

Contact

AUSTRALIA - Rosie Lalonde

 

 

Rosie Lalonde

Marketing Manager

KTM Group
Australia - New Zealand

T + 61 428 181 388 
E rosie.lalonde@ktm.com