Ryder Malinoski came into the Adelaide finale of the 2025 Australian Supercross Championship carrying the red plate and leading the 2025 SX3 class, but a tough afternoon on the tight Adelaide circuit saw his title hopes slip away as his main rival Kayd Kingsford executed one of the most clutch performances of the AUSX season to steal the crown.
After a slow start to the year, the U.S rider and his Monster Energy WBR Yamaha team clawed their way back into contention with hard-fought round victories at Cronulla and again in Melbourne. Those wins launched him into the championship lead heading into Adelaide, but the points were tight, the top four separated by just four points, with everything to play for across two short, intense main events.
While Kingsford’s remarkable comeback story ultimately defined the title fight, Malinoski was very much at the heart of the drama. He entered the finale four points clear and started Main Event 1 inside the top three, but struggled to settle into the smaller, more technical Adelaide layout. As Kingsford delivered a must-win performance to haul himself back into a tie for the points lead, Malinoski faded to sixth, suddenly putting himself on the back foot.
Main Event 2 turned into a straight fight for the championship, but Malinoski again struggled to find the rhythm he needed. A tough start left him buried in the chaos, and although he pushed hard through the pack, seventh was all he could salvage. That result dropped the Yamaha rider to third in the final standings as Kingsford delivered a flawless wire-to-wire win to wrap up the 2025 SX3 crown and complete a historic MX3/SX3 championship double for Honda. Jack Deveson finished second on the night, also overhauling Malinoski in the points to secure second in the championship, leaving Malinoski officially credited with third.
Malinoski was honest in his assessment after a frustrating day, saying he simply didn’t execute when it mattered most.
“No excuses from me, I just didn’t execute well at all today. My starts weren’t good and I was back in the chaos with riders and bikes going everywhere and never able to get a clean lap,” Malinoski said. “When you are in that situation, you aren’t riding the track, you are defending it and I found it hard to move forward.
“The positives I can take away from being in Australia is that I learnt so much and gained valuable time racing. If I had stayed in the US, I would have just been training but I feel like you learn much faster in racing situations so I’m thankful for the opportunity the Monster Energy WBR Yamaha team gave me. I would love to come back one day and redeem myself.”
Despite the disappointment, Malinoski’s season remains a standout. He transformed his championship from a slow start into a genuine title campaign, scored two impressive round wins, and carried the red plate into the final round — a strong effort in one of the closest SX3 title fights in recent years.
