An eventful off-season for Australian road racing will finally come to fruition with the opening round of the newly-branded Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship at Wakefield Park this weekend.

The developments that occurred to attract Australia’s top teams and riders to the one series have stopped the growing unease that placed the sport’s future on shaky ground.

The Superbike class has, at time of writing, attracted 30 entries, bringing factory teams and top privateers into the fold.

Continuity will favour the factory Yamaha outfit, who attacks the title head-on with a four-pronged attack in Kev Curtain, Rick Olson, Cru Halliday and newcomer Robbie Bugden.

In the opposing corner is Team Honda Racing, with three factory machines to be capably piloted by Jamie Stauffer, Wayne Maxwell and Troy Herfoss (in place of the injured Josh Hook).

Glenn Allerton is a definite title prospect, having dominated previous meets on his Next Gen BMW, and a number of top privateers, including previous podium-placers Matt Walters, Ben Henry, Glenn Scott and Mike Jones, will also make their mark.

The Supersport ranks also look set to achieve the 30-entry mark, and also boast a high calibre of riders, many of which will be the faces of the sport for years to come.

With Pro-Twins and Naked Bike, FX 300 Ninja Cup and FX 250 Ninja and Formula Oz classes also on track, anticipation is high for the weekend’s racing, with the short, technical circuit on the outskirts of Goulburn set to produce some thrilling competition.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Circuit location

Braidwood Rd, Tirrannaville, NSW

Circuit facts

Length: 2.20 kilometres

Turns: 10
Superbike lap record: 59.842s, Rick Olson (Yamaha)
FX-600 (Supersport) lap record: 1m00.158, Rick Olson (Yamaha)

Event entry

Children (16 and under): Free
General Admission (Friday or Saturday): $25
General Admission two-day: $30

Schedule

Entry list

Australasian Superbike Championship riders:
1. Matt Walters
2. Kevin Curtain
2. Chris Trounson
3. Rick Olson
8. Albie Wheeler
15. Kenny Redding
17. Troy Herfoss
18. Ben Henry
19. Brad Conder
20. Mitch Paynter
21. Sophie Lovett
22. Glenn Cullen
23. Chris Seaton
24. Robbie Bugden
25. Michael McLinden
26. Sean Condon
27. Jamie Stauffer
28. Glenn Allerton
33. Hamish McMurray
41. Craig McMartin
46. Mike Jones
47. Wayne Maxwell
51. Dustin Goldsmith
52. Paul Byrne
60. Ben Burke
65. Cru Halliday
67. Glynn Thomas
68. Glenn Scott
86. Beau Beaton
S. Sloan Frost

Australasian Supersport Championship riders:
3. Callum Spriggs
4. Justin DiGiandomenico
5. Aiden Wagner
9. Jordan Carlsson
10. William Davidson
16. Jay Presepio
20. Ben Blyth
22. Pat Medcalf
25. Daniel Falzon
27. Andrew Kings
29. Patrick Li
30. Dylan Mavin
32. David Roughley
38. Stephen Craig
44. Matt Davies
51. Brayden Elliot
53. Mason Coote
57. Joel Hughes
60. James Greensill
64. Aaron Morris
66. Aaiden Coote
68. Mitch Levy
69. Aaron Gobert
81. Cambridge Olivier
84. Thomas Bryden
86. Chris McMillan
95. Chris Eyre
96. Luke Mitchell
99. Michael Lockart

2014 ASC calendar

Rd1 – 13-15 March – Wakefield Park, NSW
Rd2 – 16-18 May – Mallala Motorsport Park, SA
Rd3 – 27-29 June – Queensland Raceway, QLD
Rd4 – 1-3 August – Winton Raceway, VIC
Rd5 – 12-14 September – Wakefield Park, NSW
Rd6 – 21-23 November – Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW