SPEED DEMONS REJOICE
SUPERBIKES COME TO TASSIE
THE fastest riders on two wheels will converge on Symmons Plains later this year for the first round of the Australian Superbikes championship to be held in Tasmania since 2015.
The teams will bring with them 1000 riders and support staff and hundreds of interstate fans.
As it does for the Supercars, the Tasmanian Government has backed the motorcycle equivalent with $150,000 in a bid to bring toplevel sport to the state along with travellers to stimulate the economy.
The Supercars are worth about $9m to local business, and the Superbikes are also expected to generate millions of dollars for local operators.
The Tasmanian event will be Round 7 of the national series and be held here on November 4-7.
The deal was announced at Symmons Plains on Wednesday by Tasmanian Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events Sarah Courtney and Motorcycling Australia operations manager Martin Port.
Mr Port said the ASBK Championship event would see Australia’s fastest twowheel riders go head-to-head in Superbike, Supersport, Supersport 300, R3 Cup and Oceania Junior Cup classes on Tasmania’s premier circuit racing venue.
Symmons Plains will host the opening round of the Australian TCR series for two-litre touring cars, open wheelers and Mustangs from
Sunday to Tuesday.
The last time the Superbikes held a round at Symmons Plains, the event attracted about 4000 fans.
“This event will receive great exposure for Tasmania as it will be televised across Australia and into Asia via Fox Sports and SBS,” Ms Courtney said.
“The Australian Superbikes championship is another example of how the government and event organisers are working together to support and safely reactivate the event sector, in line with the Safe Events and Activities Framework, to ensure Tasmanians can keep
WE ARE THRILLED TO BE COMING BACK TO TASMANIA, EXPANDING THE NATIONAL FOOTPRINT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
MARTIN PORT, MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA
doing the things they love.”
Mr Port was joined for the announcement by Victorian young gun Tom Bramich, a former World Supersport 300 rider and 2021 ASBK Supersport competitor.
“The Australian Superbike championship is the premier national road racing championship, and it is very exciting for Tasmanians to again have the opportunity to see them racing,” Mr Port said.
“It is anticipated that nearly 1000 participants and support crew will travel to Tasmania to participate in races across categories, from the Oceania Junior Cup, for riders aged between 11 to under 16 years, through to the Australian Superbike category featuring some of the largest capacity motorcycles currently available on the domestic market.
“We are thrilled to be coming back to Tasmania, expanding the national footprint of the championship; providing world class racing to our national and international audiences as well as showcasing what an amazing destination Tasmania is.
“With critical championship points on the line in each class, Tasmanian fans are guaranteed to see scintillating racing action.”