Features 18 Sep 2013

MX Hub: 37

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Rounds one and two of Australian Supercross have been run and won, in what was a promising start to the series for many including International Entertainment Group (IEG).

As we pointed out in yesterday’s Top 10 feature, there were a heap of great moments across the weekend (click here to read more on that). The live streaming was epic, riders world class and of course the teams did an amazing job of preparing for Supercross with a fortnight to turn around after the MX Nationals.

But there were also a few areas that IEG will be striving to improve upon in proceeding rounds and next year if the series returns to Darwin. They learnt a lot from their debut in the Top End, including track preparation in the heat (which was vastly improved even by Sunday).

The streaming was refined by Sunday, as was the live commentary, however for the most part it all ran pretty smoothly.

Despite a massive amount of pre-race publicity in the area and nationally, the crowd numbers didn’t meet expactations at least on Saturday, but you can’t say it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

In saying all that though, here on MotoOnline.com.au we experienced some of the busiest traffic of the year to date as visitors tuned in to find out the latest from the series opener. On that front it was definitely inspiring.

The Australian Supercross Championship started with a double-header in Darwin. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

The Australian Supercross Championship started with a double-header in Darwin. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

We actually had confirmation on the weekend that at least two rounds of the Supercross series will be held with the Australian Superbikes in 2014, so if they continue at MotoGP as well, that ill be three rounds where we see double the two-wheel action.

Wouldn’t it be spectacular if we saw Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly Eastern Creek) host a round of Supercross next year alongside the ASBK in the heart of Sydney? We’re hearing a 2014 calendar will actually be unveiled soon.

All in all it was an exciting weekend, one that will go down in history as Darwin’s first national Supercross, and the on-track action was as amazing as we expected it to be.

That’s it from me this afternoon, here’s Makker!

So, Supercross in the Top End, eh? How about them apples? It was hot, it was tough, it was popular with the locals and the track was long (about 1m12 per lap in both Pro Open main events), especially by Australian standards.

But there were a number of surprises over the weekend. First up, few people would’ve expected Matt Moss and Luke Styke to be so dominant fresh out of the Motocross season. Mossy won both nights fairly easily and is riding that buttery feeling of confidence where you can’t seem to put a foot wrong.

Meanwhile, Styke, who hasn’t really had a decent Supercross hit-out in two years, holeshot every race – heats and mains – over the two days. Stykesy coulda, woulda, shoulda followed Mossy’s domination in the Lites class, but bobbled in the round one main to let defending champion Gavin Faith through for the win.

Not bad for a bloke who told me yesterday he didn’t even really want to do the championship now that he’s got bigger fish to fry in Europe next year.

Gavin Faith led the American charge with a victory in Saturday's SX-Lites main event. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

Gavin Faith led the American charge with a victory in Saturday’s SX-Lites main event. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

As for the US imports? Well, there are a few raised eyebrows – especially in the States – that their boys Josh Hill, Weston Peick and Gavin Faith aren’t dominating as they were expected to. News flash to the rest of the world: Australian riders are just as good (if not better) than most of the high profile cats you can throw at us.

But for mine the biggest surprises came in the form of Kirk Gibbs and Luke Arbon. We’d heard pre-season rumours that Gibbsy was going to rattle the cage, but generally speaking, you take these whispers with a grain of salt.

Seems they were right about Gibbs, however. The Motorex KTM racer led a large chunk of Sunday’s Pro Open main event before washing his front wheel in a turn and dropping back to fourth. I expect big things from him over the next few rounds.

As for Arbon, it looks like he’s grabbing his Serco Yamaha lifeline with both hands and is scarily determined to make the most of his second chance at racing. A fifth on Saturday, then a fourth on Sunday show Arbon still has what it takes to race at this upper level.

With the third round of the championship at Mt Gambier (effectively a home round for both Gibbs and Arbon), you can expect they’ll be frothing at the chance to put on a good show for their families and friends.

That’s all from me this week. Remember, you can keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going down in the moto world by checking out all of MotoOnline.com.au’s social networking channels across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Just search MotoOnline.

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