Cody Crocker has returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since early last year after taking out the fifth round of the DEWALT SXS Australian Championship in Nowra.
It was a brilliant day from the four-time SXS champion, picking up heat wins on the way to the Grand Final before an entertaining encounter with the Stephen Henry.
The pair were at each other’s throats throughout the whole Grand Final as Henry managed to cross the line first, ending Crocker’s hopes of breaking his drought.
In a stroke of luck for the Crocker, Henry was handed a penalty following the race for jumping the start, ultimately handing both the outright and SXS Turbo Class to Crocker.
Following his first win since round two last year, Crocker was thrilled about finally breaking his drought, regardless of the way that he did it.
“I didn’t know I had won until I got out of the car and people started patting me on the back,” Crocker joked.
“This is the first time in my life that I have won a race by coming second and it’s a very interesting way to win.
“I was confident of getting into the finals and confident of doing well. During the final, we had an idea that Stephen was going to get the penalty, so we made the decision to follow him and it ended up paying off.
“To win was a feeling of absolute elation. It’s amazing how much of a buzz it is. I haven’t forgotten it but I’ve been missing that feeling all this year and so for it to come back is just amazing.
“It’s been a pretty frustrating year so I am very happy to have finally broken the drought.”
Despite Henry receiving the penalty, the CAN-AM pilot still managed to secure outright second place, while Brett Comiskey rounded out the podium after holding off a late charge from Ewan McClue.
Tim Liston managed a top-five finish after an entertaining battle with Mitch Keyte and Andrew Robertson, where Keyte and Robertson fought for the position for much of the day until Liston snuck past them in the Grand Final to secure fifth.
Liston’s result also saw him claim the SXS Sport Class with Keyte finishing ahead of Robertston to secure second in class.
It was a disappointing outing from series leader Simon Evans who was forced to retire early from the Grand Final, giving up crucial points in the title race to rivals Comiskey and Henry.
The SXS Australian Championship heads to Broadford in Victoria for the sixth and final round of 2018.
