Features 16 Aug 2015

Moto 360

An all-access Australian view of dirt bikes, presented by Alpinestars.

Even though we’re in a slight lull just before the MX Nationals finishes with a bang, a tonne of stuff is happening behind the scenes for the upcoming Australian Supercross Championship, and there’s plenty to be excited about.

CDR Yamaha youngster Jacob Wright is back on the bike again after a nightmare knee injury just weeks out from the start of the MX Nationals.

While it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see him at his home round at Toowoomba or Coolum, Wright will be back and fighting fit for the supercross championship and will be very eager to make amends after such a disappointing season.

And yep, if you’re clever and read between the lines there, CDR will again be present in the pits in 2015 after reneging on the 2014 championship citing to the short notice of dates and a dispute over the awarding of prize money to riders.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

Speaking of amends and difficult seasons, defending champion Matt Moss is expected to get clearance to get back on the bike any day now.

After his massive, horrific crash into a bobcat at Shepparton, Moss broke his wrist, received a big concussion and fractured his ribs among other injuries. The fact that he’s looking to get back riding again so soon is incredible.

A crash like that that shunted a two-tonne piece of steel sideways should’ve seen him incapacitated for the rest of the year and possibly for life.

When he lines up for the opening round of the supercross championship at Bathurst on 10 October, it’s going to signal one hell of a comeback.

As for the supercross championship, it looks like the dates have been shuffled around a fair bit from the provisional dates we received earlier.

The series will start at Bathurst (10 October), then head to Jimboomba, QLD (17 October), Wayville, SA (31 October), Coolum, QLD (21 November), Sydney (27 November) then finish at Knights Stadium, VIC, on 5 December.

The addition of Coolum might come as a surprise as that round was initially chalked in for Mt Gravatt in Brisbane. I had a good chat with the promoter of the two Queensland rounds, Scott Bannan this week and he revealed that the Brisbane city council was too much of a punish to work with and made life so hard, they simply took their business elsewhere.

In stark contrast, the Sunshine Coast warmly welcomed the addition of another national motorsports event to their shores and the wheels began turning.

The Coolum round will be held behind the extension of the motocross track on a purpose-built track that will become a permanent stadiumcross circuit at the facility.

With two world-class tracks next door to each other, Coolum is shaping up to be one hell of a riding destination in the near future. Building of the new track will commence as soon as the MX Nationals finale has been held there at the end of the month.

Image: Marc Jones.

Image: Marc Jones.

Also on the cards for one and possibly both Queensland rounds is the addition of a very high-profile American rider. We’re not allowed to say who yet as it’s not 100 percent confirmed, but if SB Promotions pulls it off, it’ll be another huge coup for the rejuvenated Australian Supercross Championship.

We’ve also heard word that AME Management, the promoters of the much-anticipated AUS-X event at Sydney’s Allphones Arena will be making some big announcements around their FMX Best Trick line-up in the next few weeks.

It’s shaping up to be possibly the biggest FMX contest held in Australia in a very long time. Stay tuned right here for more info that we’ll drop as soon as it’s official!

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