The Australian Supercross Championship (ASX) will host its first round under new promoter International Entertainment Group (IEG) at Dubbo on October 13.
With a calibre of riders rivalling the world’s best, the title of Australian Supercross Champion will be fiercely contested across the four rounds on 2012 calendar.
World Champion and America Supercross champion Ben Townley from New Zealand will go head to head with Australia’s champion Jay Marmont, British Champions Brad Anderson and Billy McKenzie and American, runner up Australian champion Gavin Faith. It’s a star-packed field and it’s the full throttle action and unpredictability of the end result that will bring fans trackside.
The 13 October Dubbo opener will be followed by a highly-anticipated clash at the Phillip Island MotoGP event, October 27-28, where international sporting audiences will get a chance to see the nation’s top talent up front in an exciting cross-discipline showcase.
Riders and teams will head north to Toowoomba for the third round on November 10 with the final event to be held in Newcastle a week later on November 17.
Riders are excited about the four-round format which will see traditional ‘Main Events’ return to the sport.
Defending Champion Jay Marmont expected the competition to be closely-fought given the importance of taking top points from each event.
“I’m pumped and can’t wait to get started with the new series,” said Marmont. “I’ve had an up and down year so far due to injury so the emphasis is now on defending my Supercross title.
“I’ve got my own track built and have been practicing at every chance. There’s lots of people who want to write me off this year and that’s only fuelling the fire.”
“It’s going to be important to be scoring good points at every round, there’s no room for error and the pressure will be high.”
Marmont supported the ASX’s move to race alongside the MotoGP Championship at Phillip Island.
“I can’t think of a better move than to have our sport at the MotoGP,” he said. “Just being trackside is great, but to actually be racing there is amazing.”
Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Ben Townley is expecting some epic battles to erupt from the stacked field.
“I’ve been working away at the final stages of rehab and am just taking things week by week as I get ready to get back racing, I am expecting the championship to go to the wire as we ‘ll all be going after every point,” said Townley.
“The Supercross talent here is strong and the level of riding has definitely been raised over the past few years… and of course it’s a massive thing for our sport to be aligned with the MotoGP.”
The Main event
Leading riders are in full support of a return to traditional ‘Main Event’ racing format that will feature at all four rounds of the new ASX.
The Pro Open class will contest a series of preliminary sessions to qualify for the final, which will consist of a 20-lap battle from the gate drop through to the wave of the chequered flag. Pro Lites riders will race a 15-lap final, and Under 19s a 12-lapper.
The ‘Main Event’ format is raced the world over, including in the benchmark AMA Supercross Championship in the USA and one that organisers feel will attract a new legion of fans as the scoring and results are simple to follow.
Further momentum for the new series comes in the confirmation of all major motorcycle manufacturers – Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM, Honda and Suzuki – as official sponsors.
Tony Hinton from Honda Motorcycles said the range of changes planned for 2012 would help to refresh the sport.
“2012 is going to be an exciting year for the Supercross Championships in Australia and Honda is pleased to be on board as a major sponsor,” said Hinton.
He cited a new promoter, new venues and the return to the old format of Supercross racing, combined with event associations like with the MotoGP at Phillip Island.
And to compliment the full throttle action is a Monster Truck show and fireworks display that will leave everyone screaming for more.
Get there
Early-bird (7 days or more prior) tickets will start at $12.50 for children (16 and under), $22.50 for adults and $55 for families. Regular ticket prices will remain at an affordable pricing structure of $20 for children, $30 for adults and $70 for families.
www.australiansupercross.com.au
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