Image: Octopi Media

The Salt Lake City 2022 Monster Energy Supercross finals brought a close to the full-time racing career of Justin Brayton, the Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda rider ‘thankful’ for his time spent in professional competition.

This year marked Brayton’s 20th season as a professional, still ranking as the oldest 450SX winner in history following his victory at the Daytona Supercross in 2018. He’s also a four-time Australian SX1 champion (2016-2018).

“The number one word that keeps coming to my mind is thankful,” Brayton explained. “Honestly all of it, from the ups and the downs, the people I’ve been able to meet, the awesome bikes I have been able to ride… Results aside, it’s such an amazing sport and I’m so thankful for the way I did it, the way I came up, leaving Iowa, graduating high school – kind of did it my own way.

“I didn’t really have a specific way I was going to do it, I just knew I had a dream and the dream was to potentially race one Supercross and here we are. I’m so thankful, it’s been an amazing ride. There hasn’t been much sadness, honestly just so thankful that I was able to make it to now, retire on my own terms at 38 years old, oldest ever to win a Supercross, 190 starts, just so thankful.”

“Now, [I’m] ready to turn the page – I’ve got three kids that keep me busy. The number one thing is that I have been able to do it at a high level for a long time. Now that I have three kids and I’m older, it’s harder to prepare the way that you truly need to prepare.”

Brayton concluded his career with a solid seventh-place result in Salt Lake City last Saturday night, capping off a string of top 10 finishes across the final five rounds. He earned ninth in the 450SX standings despite missing multiple rounds.