AN off-road double feature will roar to life in the Latrobe Valley this weekend, with back-to-back Motorcycling Victoria events set to run in Newborough and Traralgon.
Newborough’s Blue Rock Motorcycle Club will host round one of the 2013 Victorian Senior Motocross Championships, while Traralgon Motorcycle Club will wave the chequered flag for the 2013 Yamaha Victorian Off-Road Championships opener, the state’s premier enduro series.
About 300 amateur and professional racers are expected to take on Blue Rock’s technical hillside course in a field which includes two-time national champion Cameron Taylor, Sam Martin, Lewis Woods, Kyle McKeddie, Jake Emanuelli and twice Australian champion Kristy Gillespie.
Kade and Chase Mosig, Joel Milesevic and Jack Simpson form the backbone of the local clubmen in the field.
BRMC president Gavin Dunn said the riders were in for a treat on the immaculately prepared Newborough track.
“The track flows and rides great… the place hasn’t been in better condition than what it is now,” Dunn said.
“It’s pretty high level and there’s a lot of prep that has got to go in to get it to a state level; we’ve worked tirelessly since Christmas.
“Running in conjunction with the Nitro Circus and the off road at Traralgon it’s just a good sport weekend for Latrobe all round.”
This year’s four round competition will see the introduction of a new professional class for the open and lites grades, which will consist of two 30 minute motos per day.
Across town at Traralgon, premier enduro racing will make its return following on from TMC’s hosting of the world’s oldest and most coveted enduro event, the International Six Day Enduro in 1998.
“A lot of riders from all over are coming back just to ride this track,” Motorcycling Victoria Enduro committee chairman Chris Grey said.
“The course will still use the same loop as we used for the ISDE in 1998 and 90 per cent of the track is new and hasn’t been ridden on in 10 years.”
Reigning four-day enduro champion Daniel Milner will return to the Gippsland racing circuit after taking out Australia’s top enduro event in Warragul late last year.
Racing at Newborough (Coach Road) starts on Saturday at 9am and continues on Sunday.
Rounds one and two of the Victorian Off-Road Championships will begin on Saturday at the Traralgon Motorcycle Club, located on Traralgon Creek Road, and run through to Sunday.
Saturday will also see the Nitro Circus perform at Latrobe City Sports Club in Morwell from 5pm.
Both TMC and BRMC have free entry for spectators and Newborough will have helicopter rides available for the public.
For more information visit www.bluerockmotorcycleclub.com.au
