One point divided Jason Anderson, Joey Savatgy and Christian Craig in the run-up to the first-ever World Supercross South African GP and the pursuit of the 2025 SX1 World Championship. When the chequered flag fell on the third and final race Saturday evening it was Anderson who grasped the overall victory across the Cape Town hard-pack and therefore the bigger prize. The American went 1-1-1 in front of a determined Savatgy and the pair scraped plastics in a tight and tense outing.
Each of the protagonists had their own story coming into a tense closer. Savatgy is a seasoned World Supercross campaigner compared to his rivals. Anderson was the World Supercross rookie as well as a fresh recruit to the Pipes Motorsport team [as well as to Suzuki RM-Z450 machinery]. Craig was also a newcomer to World Supercross and still with a point to prove in SX1/450SX competition.
Anderson’s third win of the season came in the first Sprint and was backed-up by the fourth in the second, giving him a 2 point gap over Savatgy. The Quad Lock Honda man was unstoppable in the second Sprint to blast back from 6th to 2nd and drive the narrative to Race 3 as the 20,000+ fans were then rewarded with the ultimate showdown.
The South African air was thick with noise and expectation. The entertainment ramped-up as Savatgy led early on and Anderson chased; the Suzuki man loose, ragged and utterly watchable. The pair swapped positions and cut the track centimetres from disaster and glory. With four laps until the flag, Anderson seemed to have done enough but Savatgy managed one last but unsuccessful lunge into the penultimate corner.
“Man, that’s racing!” said Anderson. “Joey kept me on my toes. Two 8s [minutes] and a 12: that’s a lot of intense racing. I’m pretty exhausted but I just want to thank the team. It’s cool to win this for Suzuki and for Pipes Motorsports and all my guys. I’m excited.”
“We had an amazing crowd; it was definitely the loudest this year,” Savatgy reacted. “I’m glad we got to put on a show. It’s unfortunate … but I tried my best. I should have picked a better point to make a strike. The fact that we were as close as we were on a track that was not my favourite … I’m happy. We were good tonight but not quite good enough.”
Craig crashed in the first Sprint. He then tumbled on the first lap of the second, needing to trail through the pack and managed 9th. Craig redeemed himself with a P3 in Race 3 but Colt Nichols built the better scorecard to walk the third step of the last podium of the year.
In other news, Jorge Zaragoza and Vince Friese nailed starts in the second Sprint to run 2-3 on the Stark VARG; the Spaniard earned a noteworthy first top three for the team while Friese incurred a ‘energy tolerance’ penalty and was relegated to P10. The Teams Championship was signed and sealed with Australians Quad Lock Honda heading the table thanks to the accumulation of points throughout the season in both divisions.
More from a press release issued by World Supercross:
In a season defined by consistency, determination, and tactical brilliance, British supercross star Anstie has reigned supreme in a near faultless display of domination.
Max Anstie’s 2025 World Supercross SX2 Championship triumph will be remembered as far more than a dominate title win. It was a season defined not just by his riding ability but also his own resilience.
After suffering a broken leg in March, Anstie was initially told that the injury would not require surgery. Riding through the pain barrier, it eventually became clear the initial diagnosis was incorrect and that he would require an operation.
So it was with a sense of optimism that he signed up to the season, with some questioning whether he would even return to full fitness in time. Fewer still imagined he would go on to dominate in the way he has.
A STATEMENT FROM ROUND 01
When the Championship kicked off at the Buenos Aires City GP, Anstie wasted no time answering any lingering doubts. He claimed Superpole and went on to win all three SX2 motos, delivering a flawless opening round. The performance was clinical and an unmistakable statement from a rider who had already fought one of the toughest battles.
Round 02 in Vancouver and the Canadian GP followed the same script. Once again, Anstie topped qualifying and swept to victory in all three races, extending his championship lead in tricky racing conditions.
MOMENTUM BUILDS ACROSS THE GLOBE
The World Supercross Championship is uniquely demanding with five rounds in five continents in 35 days. Battling against jet lag, all the Championship riders have tested their human endurance while adapting to different riding conditions.
At the Gold Coast round in Australia, Anstie continued his run of form, managing races intelligently while still delivering the speed required to secure another overall SX2 victory. It was another clean sweep in the motos, despite missing out on Superpole.
PRESSURE BUILDS IN STOCKHOLM
The penultimate round in Stockholm, Sweden, brought the pressure of expectation. With the championship within reach, Anstie faced sticky track conditions, deep ruts that promised to disrupt his march towards the title.
He won the opening two sprint races but was to be denied a full house after finishing third in the main race. It was nonetheless a measured ride. Having already suffered one fall, Anstie eased off and brought his bike home to secure third and a crucial haul of points, rather than risk it all for the win.
CROWNING GLORY IN CAPE TOWN
By the time the Championship reached its finale in Cape Town, South Africa, Anstie stood on the brink of his second world crown. With smart, calculated racing, he did exactly what was required to secure the 2025 World Supercross SX2 title. As he crossed the line, the significance of what he had achieved quickly became apparent.
Supported by his family, the Team GSM Powered by Star Racing Yamaha rider, had made no secret of the fact he wanted to add to the title he won in 2023. Admitting that being crowned champion of the world was something that a boy from Winchester in the UK was something that he could only dream of.
MORE THAN A CHAMPIONSHIP
Winning the SX2 world title adds another milestone to his distinguished career. He now hopes this helps him become a trailblazer for British riders on the global stage. His 2025 SX2 title is a story of human endeavour and perseverance. Obstacles overcome and doubts silenced.
Throughout the five rounds, he explained how much he was enjoying his time with World Supercross and that it was allowing him to experience some redemption after his injury nightmare. It is what makes this one of the most inspiring campaigns in modern World Supercross history and also sets an incredibly high benchmark for others to follow.
