Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway will play stage to the 2002 FX Tri-State  on the weekend of March 16/17.

In excess of 200 entries have been received with fields in each of the seven separate race categories nearing their maximum.

Exciting developments new for 2002 include the introduction of a free to air television package and the provision of a Superscreen at each of the events.

Network TEN, will air an exclusive 60-minute package of Formula Xtreme action from each of the six events held on the Eastern seaboard. The stand-alone programs will go to air on Sunday afternoons at 12:30pm a week or two after each event. 

The addition of the Superscreen at each event is aimed at providing the spectating public with a greater view of the action. Live feed from each of the races will be complimented by pit lane interviews and other off track event commentary.  All of this however will not take away from the action on the track itself.

Three times Formula Xtreme Champion, Kevin Curtain will be out to reclaim his crown.  Kevin returns to the domestic racing scene after a successful season competing in the Supersport World Championship.  Curtain however is also racing World SuperSport at Valencia this weekend after a surprise call-up late last week, but will rush back to Sydney next week to make the grid for the FX season opener.  Curtain will be campaigning in both the Formula Xtreme and Supersport classes.

His main opposition will come from Radar's Yamaha team-mate and defending champion, Brisbane's Robbie Baird. Both will have their hands full as they will also be fending off the challenges from their 19-year-old team-mate, Shepparton's Craig Coxhell.

New South Wales teenager Josh Brookes hopes to be aboard the new 954cc Fireblade which tuner Garry House was putting the finishing touches to this week.  All going well Josh will be on the 2002 bike but if that fails to prove ready for action then they will revert to the 2001 spec' machine.

Jay Taylor will surely be a top runner when his bike is finished but unfortunately his 2002 Fireblade only arrived in Australia earlier this week which has not allowed them enough time to be able to make this first round.  They will join the fray at round two.

Young Shepparton rider Nick Henderson did quite well recently on his first competitive outing on the 2001 CBR 929 Fireblade and may put in a surprise showing at Eastern Creek.  As may more experienced campaigner Steven Fisher who will be piloting another CBR 929, Fisher will also ride a Hornet in the Nakedbike class.

Ballarat's Liam Magee (Suzuki GSX-R1000) made a big impact at the SAASC season opener last month and will be looking to continue that form.  However some improvements will be needed to the engine if he hopes to be competitive under the FX rules which allow much more engine modifications than in SAASC.

The Bio-Magnetics Therapy Yamaha team comprising brothers Jamie and Daniel Stauffer will make a big hit in the paddock with their high class presentation and mega transporter.  The machines are sure to be fast in FX spec' with engines tuned by Kev' Marshall, the man behind Robbie Baird's Formula Xtreme winning 2001 Yamaha R1.  In somewhat of a coup for the Bio-Magnetics squad Marshall will be working nearly full time with the team to develop the new 2002 bikes which they are testing next week before making the decision whether to run at the season opener with the 2001 or 2002 bikes.

Kawasaki Australia has placed their faith in the new Shock Treatment Team with Marty Atlee on board to pilot the revamped ZX-9R.

Multiple New Zealand Open champion Tony Rees will be making the trip across the Tasman, bringing with him the R1 that carried him to victory earlier this year in his home (NZ) championship.

The Formula Xtreme fields will be joined by six other categories this year. FX Pro-Twins, the Exel sponsored Aprilia Challenge, Buell sponsored Nakedbike and combined Streetfighter, Formula Oz, Supersport and the new Formula X Unlimited which is especially tailored to give the C & D graders their own high level competition.

• Schedule
  Friday March 15 Practice for all classes
  Saturday March 16 Practice and qualifying with the opening races commencing after 1:00pm
  Sunday March 17 Warm up and racing from 10:00am
   
• Admission - $25 gets you access to the general admission spectator area plus the pit area to watch and get close to your favourite riders. This admission is valid for both Saturday and Sunday and allows spectators into the grandstand to watch all the racing live on the giant Superscreen. Children under the age of 15 are FREE and pensioner concessions are $15.
   
• 2002 Yamaha Xtreme Tri State - Calendar
  Event 1 Mar 17 Eastern Creek (NSW)
  Event 2 April 14 Winton (Vic)
  Event 3 May 19 Eastern Creek (NSW)
  Event 4 June 30 Queensland Raceway (Q'ld)
  Event 5 Aug 18 Oran Park (NSW)
  Event 6 Sept 29 Eastern Creek (NSW)