Planning heats up with date release

Confirmation of August 26, 2018 as the date for FIM World Junior Motocross Championships in Horsham next year has added momentum to a busy planning schedule.

Horsham Motorcycle Club spokesman Kenny Watts said the announcement opened the door for further preparations for an event that represented a first for Australia.

He said latest planning, which had so far been smooth, would include Horsham Motorcycle Club sending a representative to Spain later this month to further outline event and promotion details with international interests.

He added Horsham would also welcome officials from Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, FIM, who would be in the Wimmera on December 8 and 9 to finalise checks on facilities and services.

“Now that we have a concrete date we’re starting to deal with more media attention. It’s all starting to happen,” he said.

Mr Watts said club members were delighted with the August 26 date, which avoided a potential clash with a major motocross event in America.

“We had three dates we might have had. We are very happy with the announcement,” he said.

The titles are on the same date as a growing Horsham Calisthenics Competition, which attracts competitors from across Victoria and interstate, but Mr Watts said he was confident Horsham could accommodate all visitors.

He said the expectation was that international riders and support teams would start arriving in the Wimmera about a week before the event to allow them to acclimatise and prepare their motorcycles.

He added that from a participation point of view, the world titles would have fewer competitors than the week-long Australian junior titles, which Horsham hosted earlier this year.

“The event is big in stature and raising the profile of Horsham worldwide, but during racing on the Sunday the maximum number of riders in the program is 120,” he said.

“We are hoping to get a large influx of spectators – motocross supporters – to come along to see who is the next superstar emerging in the sport.

“We are also looking at creating a camping ground at Wimmera Events Centre to encourage Australian-based people to camp and will arrange high-level entertainment.”

The junior world titles will have three classes – 65cc for age groups 10 to under-12, 85cc for 12 to under-14, and the pinnacle class for junior motocross, 125cc 14 to under-17.

An official Friday night opening will be on August 24 and involve a national teams parade.

Saturday action will involve practice and qualifying races and a race for non-qualifiers.

Finals are on the Sunday.