Major news broke earlier this week as Motorcycling Australia (MA) and the Australia Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA) announced a new partnership for 2016, effectively signalling the end of the Australasian Superbike Championship’s AASA association.

The Formula Xtreme-based ASC series has been sanctioned under AASA since 2010 rather than the FIM-affiliated MA system, but now that governing body – owned by the Benalla Auto Club (BAC) – will no longer do motorcycle or event licencing.

From what we understand, the ASC series operated by Terry O’Neill will now move to Queensland Raceways’ RACERS sanctioning, which had been suspected for some time when rumblings began surrounding an AASA/MA partnership.

Image: Russell Colvin.

What’s it mean for the sport locally? Well, to scratch the surface, it’s a positive step for MA and the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), especially because it also aligns them with BAC’s Winton and Wakefield circuits.

Funnily enough, it was previously ASC organiser Road & Track Rider Promotions (ARTRP) that was closely associated with those venues, so there’s been a real shake-up of late.

And from what we’ve seen since last year, O’Neill has been working more closely with Queensland Raceway hosting the club-based QR-FX Race Series and Race Your Mates events at the circuit under RACERS sanctioning.

Image: Russell Colvin.

We hope to speak more in-depth regarding these topics with O’Neill in the next week or so, however by all indication it’s all systems go in FX land. And with the Yamaha Racing Team, plus Kawasaki Motor Australia’s supported team’s involvement.

Where to for Team Honda Racing? We still don’t know, nor do we know what Troy Bayliss’ (who will take over the ASBK from October as promoter) DesmoSport Ducati team will do. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes right now.

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