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Motostars Ride Day Broadford – Not Just for the Kids!

Filed Under: News, Road Race

MotoStars will venture into new ground next week, with a Ride Day and Coaching event at Broadford, Victoria on the 18th of October.

Not only is the first time MotoStars has hosted an event at the popular venue, but it is also the first time the MotoStars will offer their services to bigger machines- 600cc and 1000cc bikes included.

SUPERSPORT/SUPERBIKE GROUP: Utilizing a bigger circuit for the first time, MotoStars aims to provide the same, well run, value for money track day and coaching services it is becoming known for at short course venues around Australia.

SUPERMOTO GROUP: Many are aware that Broadford is home to one of the best Supermoto venues in the country, including a challenging dirt section rarely utilized at track day events. The MotoStars will run a specialized Supermoto group, alternating between road only and dirt section sessions throughout the day. If you’ve ever wanted to try Supermoto, or you’re already a fan of the discipline, this is a great opportunity to test your skills.

12” ROAD CLASS: A popular group at MotoStars regular events, the 12” class was created for Juniors and Seniors riding similar performing motorcycles including Kayo MR150’s, NSF100’s, Metrakit 70’s, Honda Groms, Z125’s, etc, all with 12” wheels. If you haven’t seen our juniors in action before at a MotoStars Ride Day, it’s worth paying a visit just to see these kids show off their skills!

17” ROAD CLASS: A group for smaller capacity road bikes, for suitably capable Juniors and Senior riders, this class consists of your R15’s, CBR150’s, Gixxer 125’s, R3’s, Ninja 300’s, KTM 390’s etc. A perfect place for those planning on an OCEANIA CUP assault next year, or for young guns practicing for the 300 Supersport Class in ASBK. Just for fun ride day folk have a place among all the future world champs here too, without the daunting prospect of a SBK flying past on the back straight (the young guns will just round you up in the corners!).

PERSONAL COACHING: MotoStars coaches are among the best assembled, not only at coaching but at racing themselves! At Broadford our coaches include multiple Australian Champion (in multiple disciplines) Shannon Johnson and former MotoGP racer Damian Cudlin. All riders attending our event receive instructional advice and tips from our coaches, however Personal Coaching is available for a small additional fee- giving you one on one time with the best in the business.

GREAT FACILITIES: Camping is available at the circuit, along with hot showers, toilets, etc. Broadford has a great canteen serving hot food all day, so no need to pack lunches and eat soggy jam sandwiches! Our track events are managed by experienced course marshals, include onsite medical support, so you know you’re in safe hands.

GREAT VALUE: Pre-event booking is available now. Early bird price for Seniors is $140 while Juniors cost $100. Personal Coaching is also available for an additional $100, while hire bikes and hire riding gear is also available at an additional cost. Licence endorsements also possible with our accredited coaches.

Places are limited in each group, so get your bookings done early to avoid disappointment!

More info can be found on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2184292228494457/

bLU cRU Right Behind the Oceania Rookies Cup

Filed Under: Juniors, News, Road Race, Road Racing

Motorcycling Australia (MA) is proud to announce a ground-breaking partnership with Yamaha Motor Australia and the newly announced Oceania Rookies Cup, with bLU cRU becoming the official naming rights partner for the next two years. Launching in 2019, the bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup will be an all-inclusive road race academy for young junior riders to show off their talents on a national stage.

Announced last week, the bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup is an academy focused at developing Oceania’s next big road race star, with the door open to all kids aged 11 to under 16 regardless of experience. It will provide them with everything they need to take to the track for an affordable price of AUD $7,750 (excluding travel and accommodation) for the entire season! Don’t forget that the program will include entries, garage space, the use of a race ready Yamaha YZF-R15, transportation of the bike, mechanical support, full racing gear and so much more.Junior development is at the core of the bLU cRU program and that is precisely why Yamaha Motor Australia have backed the academy. The bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup will be a perfect platform for young juniors to develop their skills before moving up to towards the Australian Supersport 300.

Yamaha believe in the natural progression of this program as riders start on a YZF-R15, which then leads them to a YZF-R3, YZF-R6 and finally the YZF-R1 Superbike. That’s the bLU cRU philosophy.

Yamaha Motor Australia’s Motorsports Division Manager, Ray Howard commented; “The bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup is the proving ground for future champions and the starting point for a potentially long and successful road racing career for bLU cRU riders. Powered by the aspiration delivered by Yamaha’s MotoGP riders, and right the way down to the local YRT team, the Oceania Rookies will embark on an exciting journey. A journey that can take them into the R3 Cup and SS300 class racing on a twin cylinder YZF-R3 and then onto the dominant model in the Supersport class – the YZF-R6. The R-series models offer a platform to excel at every level – much like in the MX space where junior riders can start on YZ65 in the YZ65 Cup and progress all the way up to the reigning MX1 champion YZ450F.”

“bLU cRU is the environment that brings Yamaha’s blue and white world together in one space no matter your age or riding level. Our aim is to expand the number of junior riders signing up for road racing and to offer a stable platform to launch a successful career. By making it super easy and affordable to race, the bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup is the perfect entry point for riders hoping to become the next Valentino Rossi. And because Rossi is a member of the bLU cRU – as well as the youngest rookie in the Cup – there is a direct connection that makes the aspiration more real.”

MA’s Operations Director, Martin Port shared; “We are very pleased to announce a partnership with Yamaha Motor Australia through its bLU cRU program. Yamaha’s commitment to junior development is profound and the possibilities are endless, with the bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup kicking off in 2019. This will be an accessible program that will support Juniors on and off the track. I couldn’t think of a better bike than the YZF-R15 for this cup and a more fitting partner with bLU cRU right behind it.”

Opportunity to Register your Interest is now available!
Head to ASBK.com.au and fill out your details today. The opportunity will close October 31st, so don’t miss out!

Stay tuned to ASBK and MA websites for upcoming announcements including partners, expression of interest and so much more.

International Spotlight with Kim Krebs

Filed Under: News, Road Race, Road Racing

Motorcycling Australia (MA) was lucky enough to sit down with Land Speed racer, Kim Krebs, who is currently making a name for herself as the Fastest Australian Woman. Kim spoke to MA about her strangest overseas experience to date and how she trains for each Land Speed event.

Where are you currently competing?

I’ve just returned from the United States of America (USA), where I was competing at the AMA National Land Speed Grand Championships. This is an event that is run through the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

What’s the hardest thing about adapting to your new country?

Driving on the other side of the road and finding a somewhere to have a decent meal. (For some reason, vegetables aren’t a very common and so much of their food is flavoured sweet).

What do you miss most about home?

We’re on the Salt Flats at dawn and don’t leave until sunset everyday. Sunrise and sunset sounds almost silent. I miss the familiar dawn chorus from birds like magpies.

What is your preparation/training regime like?

Land Speed Racing is a sport that you can’t practice for. You need to treat every run like it’s your only one. That said, the first run of the event is usually the slowest. To stay fit between events, I ride a bicycle around the Adelaide Hills and during the race meet I try and go for a morning run each day.

What’s been a highlight for you this year?

in March this year, Swiss Performance partnered with Dry Lake Racers Australia to run the inaugural World Speed Trials at Lake Gairdner, SA. I was one of 11 competitors in this FIM sanctioned event, and I managed to set a new world Landspeed record. Being able to set a world record in your own country is very special.

What is your single most motivating force?

I’m motivated and inspired by my race partners, Greg Watters and Jim Higgins. We have an unconditional belief in each other. We don’t doubt what each other does, as we build the bikes, and we know that we can go fast – very fast. In a strange way, that motivates me.

Tell us a bit more about what you hope to achieve and what you have already achieved in 2018?

My fastest record (AMA) is 241mph, and my goal is to set a world or national record over 250mph. In particular, I’d like to set that record on our 750cc bike. The fastest we’ve gone on the 750cc bike is 239mph, so we’re getting close. My achievement this year is to bump up the turbocharged 1600cc class to 213mph.

What’s your strangest overseas experience been so far?

In 2011, I received the equivalent of the American Woman Motorcyclist of the year. That was 12 months before I had the similar recognition in Australia.

Do you have a special message for your fans back home?

Land Speed Racing isn’t about being the fastest ever, it’s about seeing what YOU can build and how fast YOU can make that machine go. For that reason, you connect with like minded people, and that makes us the richest group of people. So I’d like to remind everyone that we’re all capable of great things. It’s just all the better if it involves a bike.

Favourite thing to do besides motorcycling?

I enjoy anything that gets me outdoors and keeps me under that huge sky of ours. By traveling overseas I’ve realised that our country is a very beautiful place, and our skies are a brilliant blue that you just don’t see elsewhere.

Embarrassing fact about you?

I once completed a record qualifying run, just after dawn at Bonneville. When the FIM Official came up to me and asked why I rode the bike without the seat and tail piece, I had to admit that it was early and I was still half asleep, so we forgot to put it on before I launched!

Describe yourself in three words

Fastest woman record-holder

Oceania Rookies Cup Set to Revolutionise Junior Road Racing

Filed Under: Important Announcements, News, Road Race

Motorcycling Australia (MA) is thrilled to announce a game changing Junior Road Race Academy that is set to take the region by storm! Making its Australian Road Racing debut is the Oceania Rookies Cup, a phenomenal all-inclusive program for young aspiring junior riders from all nations.

The Oceania Rookies Cup is a Junior Road Race Academy aimed at developing Oceania’s next road racing stars. It will provide young riders with everything they need to take to the track, opening the pathway to the next generation racers through an exciting experience. The belief in the program is so strong that FIM are supporting the Oceania Rookies Cup for multiple years through FIM Oceania.

Featuring as part of the ASBK Championship, the six round Oceania Rookies Cup will kick off at the 2019 Official ASBK Test before following a nationwide program around the country.

As a truly interactive development academy, those participating will be coached by former MotoGP superstars, developing their riding styles while gaining a truly unique insight into the art of race craft. In addition, off track activities will include media and PR development and a focus on developing the true value of good sportsmanship.

Who can apply:

  • Competitors aged between 11 to under 16 years of age (as of January 1st, 2019) can register their interest to be a part of the first ever Oceania Rookies Cup season.

What’s included:

  • Entries for 1 x Official ASBK Test
  • Entries for 6 x Rounds of the program
  • Garage space at each round
  • Loan of a race prepped Yamaha YZF-R15 *
  • Transportation of the race prepped Yamaha YZF-R15 to each event
  • Pre-event service of the race prepped Yamaha YZF-R15 and onsite technical support at each event
  • New race tyres for each round (wets when required)
  • Up to $1000 spare parts budget
  • Full racing gear supplied including Oceania Rookies Cup signature leathers, helmet, boots and gloves – and it’s all yours to keep
  • Oceania Rookies Cup team uniform

All this yours for only AUD $7,750 (excluding travel and accommodation) for the entire season! * Loan of a race prepped Yamaha YZF-R15

Motorcycling Australia Operations Director Martin Port shared; “The official launch of the Oceania Rookies Cup is a very exciting chapter for Motorcycling Australia. This is a long-term vision that is finally coming to fruition. There is no denying the importance of a Junior Road Race Academy for our region, and the positive impact it will have on sport’s future. It will be the pathway to finding our next world champion, while opening the sport to a whole new generation.

“The aim of the project is to make the sport so much more accessible, with all the support, both on and off the track. It’s more than just a racing class, it is designed as a true Junior Development Academy. With everyone using the same bike and tyres talent will surely rise to the top,” Port finished.

Supporting the program from the outset, FIM Oceania shared MA’s vision for the Oceania Rookies Cup and have confirmed their support for the Junior Road Race Academy for the next three years. A relationship that will surely open up pathways to the international motorcycle racing scene.

Glen Williams President FIM Oceania; “We are very pleased to announce that FIM Oceania has supported the Oceania Rookies Cup. FIM Oceania has been working diligently with Motorcycling Australia, Motorcycling New Zealand and the FIM to ensure long-term support of this fantastic program.

“It is an exciting time for our Junior Road Racers, and we are confident that the Oceania Rookies Cup is the beginnings of a pathway to global competition for up and coming riders. This grassroots investment fits extremely well with FIM Oceania’s policy to support and encourage youth in our sport wherever possible.”

Opportunity to Register your Interest is now available!
Head to ASBK.com.au and fill out your details today. The opportunity will close October 31st, so don’t miss out!

Stay tuned to ASBK and MA websites for upcoming announcements including partners, expression of interest and so much more.

Charity Encourages MotoGP Fans to ‘Get Checked’

Filed Under: News, Road Race

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) is honoured to announce Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) as the Official Charity of the Michelin® Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2018 for a second consecutive year.
 
With 20,000 men diagnosed every year, and one in seven men likely to be affected by prostate cancer, PCFA is encouraging fans, their families and friends to ‘Get Checked’ and talk with their GP at the event this year.  
 
PCFA CEO, Jane Endacott is thrilled to have the support of the AGPC in helping raise awareness amongst MotoGP™ fans.
 
“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, and the cause resonates with many fans who head down to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit each year,” Ms Endacott said.

“Regular health check-ups are vital in beating the disease. Early detection is crucial in effectively fighting prostate cancer. Men over the age of 50, or 40 if they have a family history of prostate cancer, need to talk with their GP about prostate health,” she said.

Carla D’Amico, who is a specialist prostate cancer nurse at the Austin Health Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, says there is a lot that can be done to encourage Australian men to be vigilant about their health.
 
“There are numerous resources available that provide men and their families with vital information about prostate cancer. Knowing your risk and actively monitoring your health is so important. Prostate cancer does not show symptoms in its early stages, so it is up to men and their doctors to regularly assess the risk. The best place to start is speaking to your GP and initiating the discussion about testing,” Ms D’Amico said.
 
“Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be very overwhelming and there are often other factors, like mental health, that come into play following a diagnosis. My role as a specialist prostate cancer nurse helps men and their families to feel supported and hopefully make the treatment process less stressful,” she said.   
 
James Doulis was diagnosed with prostate cancer two weeks before Christmas in 2017. As a motorbike racing enthusiast, James believes the partnership between AGPC and PCFA will help trigger Australian men to have a conversation about their own prostate cancer risk.
 
“Even though I have a nursing background and have been trained in palliative care, I still went into shock when I received my diagnosis. Nothing can prepare you to hear your name and the word ‘cancer’ in the same sentence. Thanks to my GP, I had the necessary blood tests to detect my cancer and I was able to be treated fairly quickly,” Mr Doulis said.
 
“Men need to realise that a simple blood test can save your life. We all need to take the responsibility and have the conversation with your GP about testing,” he said.
 
James formed a close bond with specialist nurse Carla D’Amico following his diagnosis. He credits her support to helping him navigate his treatment process.
 
“I helped care for my mother during her own cancer treatment and unfortunately she didn’t have the support of a specialist nurse. I would have had a completely different experience if I didn’t have extra support. Carla made an enormous impact on my treatment experience and helped to deliver complex information in manageable bites.”
 
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott, is proud to partner with PCFA for a second year and believes the cause is an incredibly important one for MotoGP™ fans.
 
“We look forward to supporting PCFA at the event this year, and we will be promoting the powerful message for fans, their friends and families to ‘get checked’ and raise awareness about this health issue,” he said.

PCFA staff and volunteers will be collecting donations and selling merchandise across the event weekend.
 
All funds raised at the event will support PCFA’s awareness, nursing and research programs.

The MA Alliance Explained: Q&A Part 1 

Filed Under: ATV, Classic Motocross, Dirt Track, Enduro, Historic Road Racing, Important Announcements, Minikhana, Motocross, News, Officials, Road Race, Road Racing, Speedway, Supercross, Supermoto, Track, Trial, Veterans

What’s in it for me? No doubt the first question you asked when the Motorcycling Australia (MA) Alliance Agreement (AA) was announced.

You, as members of MA are at the heart of the agreement. We aim to provide an economic and safe environment for participants and volunteers from all the various disciplines, whether you are a racer, a social rider, or even just an interested observer.

There are a lot of challenges and opportunities facing motorcycling in Australia – rising costs, more stringent safety requirements (higher insurance premiums), the lure of other activities (decreasing member base) and changing requirements of our riders – more ride parks, adventure riding, dirt bike rallies, ride days etc. These are real issues facing the sport which need to be faced as a cohesive team.

For quite some time all of the State Controlling Boards (SCBs) have thought long and hard about the most effective and efficient way to address these challenges and opportunities.

To retain the SCB’s autonomy (direct accountability to their members and securing their assets) while gaining the benefits of acting nationally – reduced duplication, standardising process and products, providing a national voice in support of the sport we love, the SCB’s and MA have agreed to form an Alliance where each member has an equal voice and commits to work together to achieve what’s best for motorcycling.

At this point, Motorcycling Victoria have elected not to participate in this Alliance, however we remain hopeful that they will join in the future to ensure a truly single voice in order for motorcycling to prosper in Australia.”

To stay up to date with everything involved in the new MA Alliance, head to our website, Facebook and Instagram.