Super X Round 5 wrap up

Heading into round 5, Unit Team Rider Dan Reardon had the series lead, followed by Jay Marmont who was fighting through the terrible tragedy of his daughters passing, and former world champ Chad Reed, who most people assumed would be leading the series easily by this stage!

The format was 4 x 6 lap races in the final, each race the last 5 placed riders were knocked out, and the top group headed back to the gate with only a 2 minute gap between races. This format would see only the most consistent riders earn points, and some notable competitors were dropped early.

All the big guns made it past the first race, but in the 2nd spell we saw the series leader Dan Reardon dropped after a series of small mistakes, and outstanding performances from riders like Jay Marmont, who from last place fought back to the top 10, Robbie Marshall who earned his best result of the series and Tye Simmonds who battled hard after a rough start to just scrape into the top group.

The final race, saw the top 5 riders go head to head, with the exception of Reardon, we saw the rest of the top guys in there as well as a surprise in Jeremy McGrath, who realistically has not been carrying the speed of the top contenders until tonight! Reed had a strong start, and headed straight for the finish line, which left the battle for 2nd wide open. Simmonds and Marmont scrapped it out, with Marmonts race experience pushing him ahead to battle it out with McGrath. It look liked the 'J' plate had the position locked in, but Marmont offered a super strong push, and looked liked he was going to make the pass on the final whoops, before being beaten by a mere fraction of a second.

So after an amazing round, we had some surprising upsets, and it looks like Reed has got the Win he needs to really pressure that 1st place spot in the series. Marmont is still right up there, along with Tye Simmonds, but it seems Reardon may have a real fight on his hands for the overall Win!

• By Allan H