Australia To Host First Leg Of Asia Supermoto Championships - ASG

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- The city of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia will host the first round of the International Motorsports Federation (FIM) Asia Supermoto Championships on Sept 3-4.

Chief Executive Officer of Asia Supersports Group (ASG) S. Mayachandran said Newcastle, the second most populated city in New South Wales is selected to host the first leg of the motorsports race since it has its own quality including infrastructure, amenities and sizable fan base.

ASG, a Malaysia-based Motorsport Event Organiser, is the exclusive rights holder of the FIM Asia Supermoto Championships which is sanctioned by FIM Asia.

"Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok will also be selected to host the championship. Dates for these cities will be announced soon. Supermoto is an emerging sport in the Asia Pacific region, with surging interest towards the profession."

"This deal with Newcastle for three years will further expand the sport's reach in the Oceania region, creating a rapidly growing platform that will engage and entertain two-wheel motorsport enthusiasts for years to come," said Mayachandran in a statement issued by ASG.

NSW Tourism, Major Events and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres, on the other hand, noted that the race would draw more than 3,300 international overnight visitors over three years with an estimated visitor expenditure of AUD1.9 million (RM5.62 million), in addition to a sizable number of local Australians.

"We are pleased that ASG has selected Newcastle as the opening round of the championship series, drawing a stronghold amount of visitors, tourists and global Supermoto enthusiasts to our city," he said.

The first series of the championship was held last year, featuring over 18 top international riders from 12 countries including Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and United Kingdom.

Supermoto is a race that combines various exciting elements of motocross, dirt track and road racing in one discipline.

-- BERNAMA