A selection of Australian Supercross Championship SX2 contenders heading to this weekend’s Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland will step up to the premier class for the New Zealand event, including recently-crowned champion Jay Wilson.

Wilson, a regular challenger in the New Zealand MX Nationals, will return to the Josh Coppins-operated Altherm JCR Yamaha squad, this time aboard a YZ450F in a special one-off appearance.

“It’s sort of a one-off, no pressure race for me,” Wilson explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “New Zealand is like my second home – I do a lot of racing over there with the JCR team and Josh Coppins. It will be nice to get back over there and do a supercross, so I’m really excited about it and also jumping back on the 450.

“I’ve been enjoying it – supercross has obviously been really good for me this season. To race on the bigger bike with some good dudes, I’m just pumped to be doing it. It’s not completely pressure-free as I’ve got my own personal goals that I want to achieve over there, but there’s no championship on the line – if I go there and get a good result, then that’s a bonus for me and the team.”

Amongst the contingent of 250 riders graduating to SX1 for the weekend is DPH Motorsport Husqvarna duo Hayden Mellross and Dylan Wills, plus KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Dakota Alix.