The 2006 Ssangyong Australian Supermoto Championship continues in Newcastle (NSW) this weekend, with the only doubled-header of the six-round title fight to be held at the excellent Cameron Park Go-Kart Centre.

After the unforseen difficulties presented at Eastern Creek’s round one on February 4 – the day-night meeting began two-and-half-hours behind schedule after a plodding go-kart meeting tested everyone’s resolve – the Supermoto campaigners are all looking forward to re-assembling at Cameron Park – just over three months after the circuit hosted the final, intriguing round of the 2005 championship.

In that hitout, Yamaha’s Shannon Johnson (YZ450F) just edged out Stuart Bennett (Motorex KTM 450SMR) in Saturday’s S2 (250cc 2T vs 450cc 4T) contest, while Glenn Allerton (RM-Z450) clinched the championship for Shift Motul Suzuki – 24 hours earlier than he would have expected after Sunday was abandoned because of severe electrical storms.

Meanwhile, young gun Troy Herfoss (Husqvarna Racing SM450R) broke his wrist in the opening S2 race on Saturday, after breezing through seven of the opening eight races.

Since that occasion, the Supermoto scene has gone through a massive refurbishment – at all levels. At the coal face, championship has already made massive gains in terms of raw numbers – 158 machines will compete in the three championship classes and six support categories at Cameron Park.

In S2, Johnson and Allerton have now departed the scene (both are now concentrating exclusively on their road racing careers) but the likes of 39-year-old Bennett are still giving it there all.

The wily veteran, who is the only rider to finish in a top three in every Supermoto championship (2003-2005), currently leads the S2 class alongside Rodney Taplin (Axis Honda CRF450R) after the duo swapped first and second places at Eastern Creek.

The double act saw them finish on 47pts, ahead of rookie Adam Cini (Husqvarna Racing SM450R, 38pts), Ben Grabham (GHR Team Honda, 35pts), American Cassidy Anderson (Shift Motul Suzuki RM-Z450, 30pts), Nick Brain (OTW Racing CRF450R, 27pts) and Michael Avard (Team Yamaha YZ450F, 25pts).

The versatile Bennett, who will also anchor KTM’s assault on the 2006 Yamaha Australia Off Road Series when it commences on March 18-19, is feeling upbeat about his Newcastle prospects, as he attempts to replace Allerton as S2’s No. 1 ticket holder.

“My preparation going into Newcastle will be no different to the first round,” said the Orange (NSW)-reared Bennett. “I have three key ingredients: a good bike, a great mechanic and determination to win. Put them all together and you’re off to a great start.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Taplin, who won the S3 (125cc 2T vs 250cc 4T) title in 2003, showed some real grunt at Eastern Creek, and the double-header at Newcastle will give him another opportunity to solidify his position at the head of the points table.

Taplin’s pursuers will not only include the Eastern Creek gang, but motocross champion Danny Ham (Axis Motorsport CRF450R) and Jake Magee on the Magee Aprilia Racing Team twin-cylinder SXV449.

The Newcastle-based Ham is making a cameo in front of a vociferous band of supporters, while Magee sat out Eastern Creek after the SXV449 wasn’t ready in time. Magee, who will turn 19 this Friday, has been concentrating on the local dirt track and supermoto scene for a few years now, and was fourth in the 2005 S3 title.

Moreover, the SXV449 has already proven its prowess in the world supermoto title, finishing fourth in last year’s S2 class.

Other than Taplin and Bennett, Cini and Grabham were the other two riders to finish on an S2 podium at Eastern Creek, and both will be expecting to make even more inroads on the 17-turn, 1.150km Cameron Park circuit.

Anderson has also cleared out the initial Aussie cobwebs, while the likes of Mark Avard (Beringer Yamaha YZ450F, 20pts), Alex Gobert (KTM 450SMR, 20pts) Jamie Cunningham (GHR Honda CRF450R, 16pts), Herfoss (15pts), Darren Herrick (Western Motors CRF450R, 14pts) and Graham Cheney (KTM Australia 450SMR, 14pts) will be out to breathe more life into their championship prospects.

Herfoss started from pole position at Eastern Creek, but he aggravated his wrist in race two, and was forced to retire.

Twenty-seven riders will start S2 qualifying, followed by two 12-lap ‘finals’. The program will also include an S2 Superpole shootout for the top four qualifiers.

In S1, the same number of riders will contest the three eight-lappers, including two ironmen: Cunningham (Honda CRF480R) and Cini (Husqvarna Racing SM510R).

Cunningham snared a couple of wins in round one, and is on 70pts, while Cini is only on 43pts after failing to finish one race. In between the two, Robert Jones (Suzuki DR-Z480, 66pts); Angus Reekie (Elf Racing KTM 525EXC, 55pts); reigning No. 2 Ben Lucchitti (CRF450, 50pts); and Jason Kain (JK Motorsports Honda CRF490, 43pts) are all preparing for successful sorties of their own at Cameron Park.

For the first time this year, S1 (over 250cc 2T vs 700cc 4T) will feature defending champion Josh McFarlane, who will defend Magee Aprilia Racing Team honour on the bigger SXV549; and former class gun, Cheney (KTM Australia 450SMR).

Finally, 38-year-old Paul Caslick (YZ450F), whose return to dirt track competition in 2004 met with immediate success – he clinched the Australian 450cc 4T long track title – will also try his hand at S1.

S3 witnessed the only round one whitewash – thanks to the sublime talent of current No. 2, Grabham (GHR Team Honda CRF250R), who’s now on a perfect 70pts.

The enduro ace’s performance has primed him for more of the same at Cameron Park, although Blake Jacobs (On Two Wheels Motorsports Yamaha YZ250F, 62pts) and Justin Girotto (Kawasaki KX250F, 60pts) were also mightily impressive in round one. Timmy Weigand (Motorex KTM 250SX-F) has also been given the go-ahead to continue his S3 campaign after a brilliant second din the opening round of this year’s Australian Supercross Championship.

Support races will also be held at Cameron Park for Veteran, Novice, Women, Clubman, Junior and Quad competitors.

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