The SuperMotard boys have been preparing for the 2002 Australian SuperMotard
Championship
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Bright sunshine recently
welcomed 48 riders to Shepparton's Driver Education centre for an
introduction into the joys of SuperMotard riding. The riders from NSW and Victoria were able to ride their cross bred machines in a safe and controlled environment with coaching opportunities available for new inexperienced riders while others were able to get valuable practice for the upcoming event being held there in December. Although the event was primarily conducted to allow riders to practice on their machines, it was an important dry run for the upcoming 1st round of the Yamaha Australian SuperMotard Series on 16 December at Shepparton. The 2nd round of the series will cross into NSW on 27 Jan 02 at Oran Park on a full bitumen circuit, and then head back into Victoria for the 3rd round to be held at Broadford on 10 March 02. A fourth round is expected to be held but details are not finalised as yet. The Shepparton, 1.2 km circuit incorporated three small jumps and both bitumen and natural terrain dirt sections; this allows skills from differing disciplines of motorcycle riding being adapted to the one track. Competitors were rapped in the layout in the circuit which featured reducing radius corners, undulating terrain and a rise in the back straight which saw most riders wheeling their machines at speed, much to the delight of spectators who had gathered after word had spread that SuperMotard had hit town. All the aspects of what SuperMotard Racing has come to mean. The complex was rated by officials and riders to be exciting and very safe, the complex has a separate covered pit area and great spectator viewing, with the St John's ambulance in attendance, just in case, not being utilised once. Entries for the Yamaha SuperMotard Series Shepparton round are expected to reach an all time high as most riders' racing season has ceased, and generally there are not any conflicting races. The end of year/ summer timing for conducting events is quite deliberate by SuperMotard Australia, it has always been the intention to allow riders to make more use of their machines in the off season and to keep their eye in by riding and racing. The momentum for SuperMotard racing is increasing with more manufacturers offering specialist built machines as well more specific products becoming available for modifying bikes to SuperMotard spec. 2002 Yamaha Australian SuperMotard Series Calendar Rnd 1 Shepparton
(DECA) Vic 16 Dec 01 |
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