Features 28 Aug 2013

Cycle Central: 34

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After what seemed like a bit of a drought from competition, championships are firing back into life, left right and centre.

On a domestic level, the FX-Superbike Championship resumed at Queensland Raceway after a considerable break.

From all accounts it was a great weekend of racing, with Saturday’s Nationals program producing a number of different winners and a real mix of results on Sunday, too.

While the Yamaha Racing Team took its share of wins, it had an uncharacteristically tough few races, including the second FX-SBK race which both Kevin Curtain and Rick Olson crashed out of.

By virtue of Curtain’s DNF, and his own solid run of results, Broc Parkes now takes over the lead of that championship, setting up an interesting run to the flag.

Matt Walters took a solid race win in the FX-SBK ranks at Queensland Raceway. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Matt Walters took a solid race win in the FX-SBK ranks at Queensland Raceway. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

It’s also great see Matt Walters back in the winner’s circle, plus the likes of Chris Seaton and Dan Stauffer battling competitively despite some time away from regular competition.

With the Kawasaki, Aprilia and BMW proving competitive versus the Yamaha, it certainly adds a new level of interest, which can only be good for the championship.

Mike Jones was back in the mix at Queensland Raceway, a late entry on one of Callum Spriggs’ spare bikes. It’s a track he knows well and has plenty of wins and records at, so it was little surprise to see him take a race win there despite being away for a decent amount of time.

To learn that he had been let go by Racedays Honda, his World Superstock 600 team, wasn’t such great news. Mike’s been making solid progress in his first full international season and, with a few things not going his way at the first few rounds, hasn’t really had the opportunity to show what he can do.

It’s a tough break. You probably couldn’t find a rider more committed to the sport, and committed to making himself that ‘complete’ package, both on and off the track.

Mike Jones finds himself back in Australia after parting with his World Superstock 600 team with three rounds remaining.

Mike Jones finds himself back in Australia after parting with his World Superstock 600 team with three rounds remaining.

These are attributes shared by most of the Australian racers competing overseas, but when they’re not given the leeway to learn such a huge range of unknown tracks, they’re hardly going to be able to show their full potential.

I realise it’s a cut-throat industry, but it would be so good to see these guys given a greater opportunity to perform.

Also at a local level, Motorcycling Australia yesterday issued a list of confirmed promoters for national championships, and not yet confirmed was the Australian Superbike Championship.

By now we’d expected to receive some sort of update from MA regarding the championship, but it seems that plans have yet to be locked down.

The MRRDA indicated on its Facebook page that it has in fact submitted a proposal to MA that would see it competing with current promoter IEG for the rights.

2014 plans for the Australian Superbike Championship still seem to be up in the air.

2014 plans for the Australian Superbike Championship still seem to be up in the air. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Such a proposal is obviously confident, so we can’t be certain as to the MRRDA’s plans, but posts within its page indicates it feels a change is necessary, and it is capable of delivering them.

Regardless of the end result, there is a change in the air. Last week Yarrive Konsky told CycleOnline that there would be one single 1000cc class next year under IEG’s watch, with the rules to based upon the preferences submitted by competitors.

“I can state there will be one single Superbike class for 1000cc motorcycles and the competitors will be asked to submit their preference on rules so a neutral majority ruling can determine the class regulations,” he said. Click here to read that story in full.

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