Just when you thought the supermoto scene has gone a bit quiet, Western Australia has come to the fore and is again hosting the national championships -- this time at a brand-new, purpose-built track.
The booming WA economy, thanks largely to the mining industry and its associated sectors, has helped the Supermoto Club of WA secure major sponsorship and support to turn a road-racing circuit into a custom-make supermoto track.
Construction is in its final stages at the 1.2km track at the Collie Motorplex, about two and a half hours south of Perth.
A 400m supermoto dirt section with jumps, berms and other challenges is being added to the existing Motorplex track.
It is the third time the Supermoto Club of WA has been part of the national championships.
The club hosted a round of the 2008 championships on a street-based circuit at Northam, about an hour east of Perth, and last year's championships over three days at the Wanneroo Kartway north of Perth.
Mining services company Striker Crushing and Screening is the key sponsor in helping the Supermoto Club of WA stage this year's championships, which will be conducted from Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 5.
Earthmoving and transport firm B&J Catalano is building the dirt section of the track for the club.
Reigning Australian supermoto champion Davide Gozzini will be back to defend his title aboard a Franzone TM450SMX.
Gozzini is the Italian supermoto champion and finished second in this year's world championships.
He is due to arrive in Perth from Europe in the early hours of Friday, December 3 and will head straight to the track, where practice starts at noon.
Gozzini has blinding speed on a supermoto bike and was virtually untouchable at last year's championships.
British supermoto gun Christian Iddon will also be returning to WA and will be riding a Crushing and Mining Equipment KTM450SMR
A strong field of Australian riders has entered, with entries closing soon.
Main Photo: Heavy metal: Supermoto Club of WA track construction supervisors John Roberts, left, and Brett Stewart with an excavator making its way across the track as gently as it can.
