Motorcycling Australia (MA) is pleased to announce that Junior Lites and Junior 85cc classes have been granted championship status in the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship season. Inclusion of these two classes will help to foster junior development, ensure more race entries and assist in raising sponsorship for competitors.
Junior Lites and Junior 85cc classes have acted as a support category to the championship for the past four years. Typically in the past, supercross has been senior class focused with competitors typically transferring to the sport from other disciplines such as motocross.
Granting these classes with championship status will help to promote junior development within the discipline itself, in recognition of the fact that it can be difficult for younger riders to get involved in the sport. Now that these are classes operate on a national championship level, it should assist in developing the stars of the future.
Supercross juniors compete on the same track as the seniors, with alterations appropriate for the sizing of machines and skill level of riders.
The two affected classes include:
- SX Junior Lites 13 to 16 Yrs 122cc to 150cc two stoke / 200cc to 250cc four stroke
- SX Junior 85 12 to 16 Yrs 85cc two stroke / 150cc four stroke
MA’s CEO Peter Doyle stated; “The commission has been discussing including juniors at a championship level for some time now and it’s great to see it approved for the 2017 championship and beyond.
“The promotion of Junior Lites and Junior 85cc classes to championship status, will help to foster and develop future growth from within supercross itself,” Doyle said. “We want to encourage as many juniors as possible to become involved with the sport and to provide them with the experience they need to tackle the senior classes as they progress.” Doyle concluded.
The 2017 instalment of the Australian Supercross Championship promises to be the biggest and best yet. With the juniors now competing on a championship level, the future of Supercross in Australia is bright indeed.
2017 Australian Supercross Championship calendar:
Round 1 Jimboomba, QLD 23 September
Round 2 Bacchus Marsh, VIC 14 October
Round 3 Virginia, SA 28 October
Round 4 Qudos Bank Arena, NSW (No Juniors) 11 November
Round 5 Qudos Bank Arena, NSW (No Juniors) 12 November
Round 6 Jimboomba, QLD 18 November
Juniors will compete at four rounds within the Australian Supercross Championship season.
