Jay Marmont anticipates an ability to manage the Northern Territory’s intense heat will be key to rider success. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Defending Australian Supercross Pro Open Champion Jay Marmont believes rider fitness will be a telling factor in the sport’s first foray to the heat-soaked Northern Territory next month.

A purpose-built Supercross track has been created alongside Darwin’s Hidden Valley road race circuit and will host the opening two rounds of the 2013 series from 14-15 September.

Though the event avoids the Top End’s wet season, there is no escaping the intense heat.

Long-range forecasts have temperatures reaching an average of 33 degrees in the day, with an advanced predictive system indicating that this could ‘feel’ up to 36 degrees.

Temperatures will fall to around 27 degrees in the evening, which still exceeds the maximum day-time temperatures that the southern states will be experiencing in mid-September.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Marmont indicated that fitness and preparation for the warmer conditions would be paramount.

“The biggest challenge for the riders is going to be the heat as it is something you can’t prepare for,” said Marmont. “We are going to have to adjust when we are here and rely on our physical fitness.”

The event is scheduled around daylight hours, with riders on track mid-morning and mid-afternoon, with some reprieve given from the midday sun. Heats for round one and two will be run from 3:40pm both days, with the feature Pro Lite and Pro Open main events to be run from 5:00pm.

The number one plate-holder was the first to sample the full-size track at a media activity yesterday. He said he was impressed by the size of the track and the lengths gone to to prepare for the event.

“I am really excited to be here in Darwin seeing the track for the first time,” he continued. “The track builders have gone to great lengths to screen the soil and make sure it is perfect for the event.

“I really liked the layout. It is great to be racing on a full-size Supercross track.”

The event will be run in conjunction with the penultimate round of the Australian Superbike Championship, which will mark a fourth consecutive year competing at the Darwin circuit.