The Australian riders who have raced in WSX

This weekend, the FIM World Supercross Championship will return to Australia where it will contest its first-ever double-header event with two thrilling nights of WSX action in Perth.

The 2024 WSX Australian GP marks the first time the series has raced at HBF Park, and after a spectacular season-opener in Vancouver, Canada, the race for the title in both the WSX 450cc and SX2 250cc classes is heating up.

With four Australian riders racing in WSX on a full-time basis in 2024, and with another four making Wildcard appearances in Perth, the nation is one of the most represented on the current grid.

But who are the 12 Australian WSX riders who have raced in the series since its pilot season in 2022? Get to know them below…

Hayden Mellross

Hayden Mellross was one of the first Wildcard riders to race in the FIM World Supercross Championship and made his debut in the series at the 2022 WSX Australian GP in Melbourne.

In his single WSX appearance in the premier 450cc class, Mellross finished 11th overall after going 11-12-11 over the course of one night of racing at Marvel Stadium.

Mellross scored 29 points in his three GP Races to rank 18th in the 2022 WSX Riders’ Championship and was the second-highest ranked Wildcard rider over the year, finishing behind Eli Tomac who dominated the season-opener in Cardiff, Wales.

Jackson Richardson

Jackson Richardson made his series debut on the same night as Mellross, racing at the WSX Australian GP in 2022 as a rider for MDK Motorsports.

Richardson finished 15th overall at the event with a best result of 11th which he claimed in GP Race 2 after being pipped to the top 10 by France’s Cedric Soubeyras.

Kyle Webster

Kyle Webster will return to WSX this weekend as one of four Wildcard riders in Perth, but the native of Korumburra has actually featured in every season to date.

Webster made his debut at the 2022 WSX Australian GP in the WSX 450cc class, and then returned to the series in 2023 as a part-time competitor in SX2 with Honda NILS WSX.

While Webster finished 22nd in the SX2 standings, a seventh place overall in Abu Dhabi was an unmistakeable high in his season as he prepares for his guest appearance at HBF Park.

Luke Clout

Luke Clout made his debut in WSX’s inaugural race in Cardiff, Wales, but was forced to withdraw from the remainder of the 2022 season after sustaining an injury in GP Race 1.

Clout returned last season in SX2 and quickly emerged as a standout performer, placing third in the Riders’ Standings – a series-best result for an Australian competitor in WSX.

The New South Welshman is back in the premier class for 2024 as a team-mate to Mitch Oldenburg at Rick Ware Racing and finished 13th in the season-opener in Vancouver, taking a best finish of fifth in GP Race 2.

Aaron Tanti

Aaron Tanti was a force to be reconned with in 2022 after finishing fourth in the SX2 standings with CDR Yamaha, falling just five points short of the top three, and 14 points away from a vice championship title.

He returned to contest SX2 again in 2023 and took seventh in the season-opener but was soon drafted into the premier WSX class as a mid-season replacement for Grant Harlan.

Unfortunately, Tanti broke his ribs in an accident in his first WSX 450cc start and was forced to withdraw from the campaign. He returned to dirt bike racing earlier in 2024.

Wilson Todd

Wilson Todd raced for Honda Genuine Racing (later be known as Fire Power Honda) in SX2 in 2022 and finished seventh in points, taking a best overall result of sixth on home ground in Melbourne.

Todd returned to the SX2 grid in 2023 to replace Gage Linville mid-season and rallied to an impressive 10th in points despite missing the first round of the year in Birmingham, England.

Matt Moss

Nine-time Australian National Champion, Matt Moss, is one of the most decorated Aussie supercross riders in the world and has raced in WSX since 2022.

With all the characteristics to become a World Champion in his own right, Moss started his record in WSX with an SX2 podium in GP Race 1 in Cardiff and went on to rank ninth that season.

He stepped up to the WSX class last year, and is back for 2024, starting the season with eighth place in Canada as part of CDR Yamaha Supported by Star Racing.

Nathan Crawford

Like many riders on this list, Nathan Crawford made his WSX debut at the WSX Australian GP in 2022 and contested the same event as a Wildcard rider last year.

Crawford secured his best overall SX2 finish of 10th in 2023, but after two seasons of racing 250cc machinery, will step up to the WSX class in 2024 for his guest appearance in Perth.

Rhys Budd

Rhys Budd appeared alongside Nathan Crawford in the SX2 class at the 2022 WSX Australian GP and finished 15th overall but returned in 2023 for a single round as a mid-season replacement for Matt Moss.

As part of ClubMX, Budd took home 16th overall in his debut race in the WSX class, with a best result of 10th, taken in GP Race 1 in Melbourne.

Kaleb Barham

Kaleb Barham is one of four full-time Australian riders racing in WSX in 2024 and made his debut as a Wildcard rider in Melbourne last season as part of the SX2 class.

By going 10-12-10 at Marvel Stadium, Barham finished 10th overall to become the first rider since Eli Tomac to secure a top 10 finish as a Wildcard entry.

This performance bagged Barham a place on the 2024 grid, riding for CDR Yamaha Supported by Star Racing in SX2.

Dylan Willis

Dylan Willis made his WSX debut in 2023 and finished 18th overall in Melbourne.

By ranking 22nd in the WSX Riders’ Standings, Willis was the highest-placed Wildcard rider in the 450cc class that season, edging ahead of Jack Brunell and Charles Lefrancois.

Ryder Kingsford

Ryder Kingsford made his FIM World Supercross Championship debut at the WSX Canadian GP at BC Place, Vancouver, earlier this season and set the world alight in SX2.

At just 19 years old, Kingsford had one of the most impressive debut weekends in recent memory which saw him finish second in GP Race 1 as the only rider to challenge reigning SX2 champion, Max Anstie.

Although incidents in GP Races 2 and 3 impacted Kingsford’s overall finish on the night, the CDR Yamaha Supported by Star Racing rider will be back in action in Perth.

Tickets for the 2024 WSX Australian GP at HBF Park in Perth are available on Ticketmaster from A$55 per person as the best talent on two wheels battle it out in a high-octane, heart-pumping weekend of racing.