Jackson Evans has won the 2019 CAMS DEWALT Australian SXS Championship in dramatic fashion after a thrilling Grand Final race.
Heading into the final round 12 points behind leader James Shipp, Evans needed somewhat of a miracle to take out the title, which started off with having to win the first round in his career. Evans did everything he needed to do throughout the heats, taking out top honours in three of five heats and only losing to Shipp in the remaining two.
In the semi-finals, Shipp comfortably qualified for the grand final race after crossing the line in second, while Evans just managed to sneak into the final after failing to finish in the top three of his semi-final. With fellow title contender Tim Liston missing out on the final race after struggling in his own semi-final, the title-fight came down to a two-horse race between Evans and Shipp.
Evans needed to win the race and Shipp to finish dead last to have a shot at the title and the window opened Shipp went off the track with a broken steering rack midway through the final – putting his fate in the hands of his rivals. Shipp’s mishap opened up the door for Evans who pushed through the field to the front and never lost the lead for the remainder of the race, remarkably winning the championship in one of the most thrilling of circumstances.
Following his spectacular victory, Evans was shocked to get on the podium, as well as win the round and the championship.
“I really have no words. I was so nervous all week,” Evans said.
“There was a lot of talk in the lead up and people said that I had no chance but I just thought to myself if I could get the win and a few other things could go my way, then who knows.
“SXS is crazy like this. Heaps of work on the car I can’t thank the team enough. Once I got in the car, I was focused and was all excited.
“Emac (Ewan McClue) pulled me aside before the Grand Final and told me that if I could get in front of the pack, the pace I showed all day could get me the win. I took his advice, went the joker early and got the lead early. I haven’t had a podium all year. I really did not think this day would go like this.
“I had no idea that I won that championship until Shippy came up to me at the end of the round and congratulated me. Until then, I had no idea. I just don’t know what to say. It’s amazing.”
Completing the the SXS Turbo class podium at the final round was Evans’ teammate and father, #360 Simon Evans and the #42 Polaris RZR Turbo of Mitch Keyte.
While #28 Shannon Leach was the quickest in the SXS Sport Class on the day, but it was #17 Tim Liston who walked away with the SXS Sport Class Championship after the 4 hotly contested rounds.
Outright Top 10 – 2019 DEWALT SXS Australian Championship
Jackson Evans 228
James Shipp 226
Simon Evans 216
Tim Liston 214
Mitch Keyte 208
Glen Ackroyd 202
Tom Evans 200
Stephen Henry 192
Shannon Leach 184
Robert Gussenhoven 176
