AUSTRALIA — New world champions will be crowned as the pilot FIM World Supercross (WSX) season comes to a close in Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Marvel Stadium has been transformed for the WSX Australian Grand Prix, with more 6,000 tons of dirt creating the ultimate supercross race track. The event has attracted supercross fans from across the country with more than 50,000 spectators expected.
German rider Ken Roczen is the favorite to take home the premier WSX title. However, he will be challenged by American Vincent Friese.
“It’s been a long drought for me winning a championship. Having the opportunity racing for this is awesome. The competition is stiff. I’m excited to be in this position,” said Roczen, who rides for Australian team Honda Genuine.
Friese, who rides for Motoconcepts Racing, said, “This bike and this team deserve a number one plate. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and have some fun in the process.”
The pilot WSX season has featured 10 international teams, including NASCAR and IndyCar team owner Rick Ware’s race team and two Australian teams — Honda Genuine and Craig Dack Racing.
SX Global President Tony Cochrane AM said Melbourne will feature as the series grand finale over coming years.
“This is an amazing sporting city, probably one of the best in the world to be frank. They have an incredible sports portfolio all year around. With motorsport they don’t miss anything. In bikes they’ve got MotoGP, Superbike World Championship and now they’ve got the World Supercross Championship, so they’ve got a complete deck here in Melbourne,” Cochrane said.
“It’s a great sports loving city. Over the next two nights, we’ll see a bit over 50,000 people, so it’s an enormous vote of confidence in supercross we’re just delighted to be here. It’s going to be officially the grand finale for the next few years.”
While the WSX Australian Grand Prix Round takes place on Saturday, the supercross action at Marvel Stadium starts on Friday night with the first round of the Australian Supercross Championship and the first practice round for WSX Australian Grand Prix.
Multi-time Australian Supercross Championship Justin Brayton, who is within striking distance of the WSX Championship, will be racing both nights.
“It seems the older I’ve gotten and the more riding I do, the better. I’m like an old Diesel engine, takes a while to start up and get going. I’m going to wake up tomorrow morning feeling loosing and ready to go,” Brayton said.