Anderson Wins Cape Town Thriller to Claim First SX1 World Supercross Title
A historic night of World Supercross unfolded in South Africa as Jason Anderson emerged victorious from a nail-biting three-way championship decider to secure his first-ever SX1 World Supercross title. Racing under the lights in Cape Town at the inaugural South African World Supercross GP, the Pipes Motorsport rider delivered a flawless performance when it mattered most.
Just one point separated Anderson, Joey Savatgy and Christian Craig heading into the final round of the 2025 SX1 World Championship. With the pressure at its peak and more than 20,000 fans packing the venue, Anderson rose to the occasion, claiming overall victory across the hard-pack Cape Town circuit.
The American went 1-1-1 on the night, fending off relentless pressure from Savatgy in a tense and physical showdown. Plastics were scraped and margins were razor-thin as both riders pushed the limits, while Craig’s title hopes faded after crashes in the opening two Sprint races.
Each contender arrived in Cape Town with a unique storyline. Savatgy entered as the most experienced World Supercross campaigner, while Anderson was a rookie in the series and a new recruit to Pipes Motorsport, adapting quickly to the Suzuki RM-Z450. Craig, also new to World Supercross, was still seeking to reassert himself in SX1 competition.
Anderson’s momentum built early with victory in the first Sprint, followed by a crucial fourth-place finish in Sprint two, giving him a slim two-point advantage over Savatgy. The Quad Lock Honda rider responded emphatically, charging from sixth to second in Sprint two and setting up a dramatic Race 3 finale.
The final race delivered everything the crowd hoped for. Savatgy struck early, with Anderson in close pursuit, riding on the edge and thrilling the fans with his aggressive, loose style. The lead changed hands multiple times as both riders flirted with disaster. With four laps remaining, Anderson appeared to have done just enough, and despite a last-ditch lunge from Savatgy into the penultimate corner, the Suzuki rider held firm to seal the championship.
“Man, that’s racing!. Joey kept me on my toes. Two 8s and a 12—that’s a lot of intense racing. I’m exhausted, but I’m grateful to the team. It’s cool to win this for Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports.”
Anderson said after the finish
Savatgy praised the atmosphere and intensity of the showdown despite narrowly missing out on the title.
“We had an amazing crowd—it was definitely the loudest this year. I’m glad we could put on a show. It’s unfortunate, but I tried my best. We were good tonight, just not quite good enough.”
Craig endured a difficult evening, crashing in the first Sprint and tumbling on the opening lap of the second, recovering to ninth. He rebounded with a strong third place in Race 3, but Colt Nichols’ consistency earned him the final podium spot for the round.
Elsewhere in SX1, Jorge Zaragoza delivered a milestone result for Stark VARG with a strong run to the podium, while teammate Vince Friese was relegated to tenth after receiving an energy tolerance penalty. The Teams Championship was secured by Australia’s Quad Lock Honda, whose consistent points haul across both divisions proved decisive.
Anstie Banks the SX2 Title as McElrath Dominates Cape Town
The celebrations continued in SX2 as Max Anstie officially wrapped up the 2025 World Supercross Championship, confirming his second world title with a composed runner-up performance in Cape Town. The British rider finished second overall on the night behind a dominant Shane McElrath, whose pace proved untouchable.
Anstie delivered three consecutive second-place finishes, exactly what he needed to seal the championship in front of a vibrant South African crowd. His consistency capped a commanding season that included 11 consecutive race victories and regular podium appearances.
McElrath, the outgoing champion, controlled the evening with three strong starts and a near-flawless ride on a slick and dusty circuit. Despite sustained pressure from Anstie, the American held firm to claim his first overall win of the season.
“We persevered, and it was an uphill battle. The fans here in South Africa have been a real treat, and it feels great to finish on top tonight.”
McElrath said
An emotional Anstie reflected on his journey back to the summit of world supercross.
“Pretty awesome—it’s been a great season and so cool to race in all these countries. Supercross felt like such a dream for so long, and now I’m in a really solid spot in my career.”
Behind the leading duo, Coty Schock surged to third place in Race 3, earning both a podium finish on the night and third overall in the championship standings. Enzo Lopes narrowly missed out, settling for fourth after holding provisional podium position earlier in the evening.
The first World Supercross Grand Prix in South Africa delivered drama, emotion and championship-defining moments, cementing Cape Town’s place on the global supercross stage and closing the 2025 season in unforgettable style.