As a fan of motorcycle racing, you couldn’t help but be excited following last weekend’s Australian and World Superbike season openers at Phillip Island, which produced spectacular racing across the board and some really impressive performances on track.

The atmosphere was incredibly positive, especially when it comes to domestic competition, and the new direction that Motorcycling Australia (MA) continues to take is most certainly promising. For us, in the business of motorcycle racing, this is exactly the foundation we need to build upon.

On CycleOnline.com.au we attracted record traffic and the first real spike that I have witnessed in some years. Granted, I personally increased my effort put in on race week and beyond, but that’s significantly because the event collectively deserved it (Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and IRPR do an immense job of providing access to the event).

Image: Russell Colvin.

All respect due to Terry O’Neill with what he has created in the Australasian Superbike Championship, which has proved a stable option for all kinds of riders competing in the country, however having the best of the best in Australia compete on WorldSBK weekend at the greatest track on the planet in a reasonably united national championship was a great sight.

I think like most people, I believe there is a large amount of credit that must go to O’Neill in providing a place for the factories to race in more recent years, but at the same time it’s difficult to look past the structure that MA has in many aspects. As long as they can keep up their current proactive ways and build stability, there’s no reason why the ASBK can’t work.

For us, as members of the industry media, the fact that MA has vastly improved its communications arm for 2016 is satisfying as well. They’re working with us, seeing what they can do to help us better cover the sport, and it all amounts to a better result for all. Most importantly, what they’re achieving internally is better. Not just in road racing, but in all major disciplines.

I’m not jumping on the bandwagon altogether just yet, but first impression (I hadn’t been to an ASBK in years) was that it was a winner. Now, on their own grounds and terms at Wakefield Park later this month without working off the back of Dorna and the Phillip Island circuit’s organisation, we will see how that stacks up in itself.

As for the FX-ASC (or Swann) series, it too is looking relatively strong for the opening round in Sydney next weekend. With decent grids lining up with some revisions to cater for non-professional racers, it’s not exactly disappearing into the sunset.

Source: Archives.

Moving forward, if it is here to stay as a series structured around privateers, I believe it should go back to being called Formula Xtreme (try explaining the difference of the Australasian Superbike Championship to the Australian Superbike Championship to an outsider), then they can work together to a required extent and call truce. Not sure I can see that happening, but it should.

Both are deserving of race coverage throughout the 2016 season, I’m not sure we will have the budget to attend each and every round of both once you factor in that we also travel to all motocross and supercross events with MotoOnline.com.au, but we will provide coverage that I’m hoping will further engage fans surrounding local racing.

Combine that with all the talented Aussies racing internationally that we will be following as closely as we can from so far away, there is genuine reason to be optimistic about the year of racing ahead. And that hasn’t always been the case, especially over the past five years or more.

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