Road Race

Oceania Rookies Cup Set to Revolutionise Junior Road Racing

September 21, 2018 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 31^st, 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’

September 19, 2018 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

September 7, 2018 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.