Tye Simmonds hungry for Supercross success as Dubbo opener draws near

The action and adrenaline of world-class Supercross competition is less than a fortnight away from taking over Dubbo’s Morris Park Speedway.

The opening stanza of the new Terex Australian Supercross Championships promises to be fierce and closely-fought as a range of credentialed riders assemble at the starting gate on Saturday October 13.

New Zealand, the US, England and even Scotland are represented in the rider lineup, though it will be a tough ask to top Aussies on home soil, especially Pro Open prospect Tye Simmonds.

Simmonds is based around 400km from Dubbo – a short drive for locals – in the tiny township of Bourke.

It’s here he learnt his craft and catapulted onto the professional radar in his mid-teens.

Now 20, Simmonds has shown he can match it with the best of them in the Pro Open class for 450cc bikes.

He finished a close second to Jay Marmont in 2011, and is hoping to be a contender once more in 2012.

“I’m looking forward to getting out to Dubbo for the opening round, each round is going to be so crucial because of the tighter championship so it will be important to be consistent,” said Simmonds.

“We’ve been putting a lot of work into getting my bike ready and now I’ll spend the next week or so just getting out there and riding some tracks to get myself sorted.

“It’s going to be tough, I think the riders would rate the field as stronger than last year and there are lots of guys out there hungry to win.”

The landscape of the Championship has changed dramatically since 2011, with at least half of the top 10 Pro Open competitors switching manufacturers.

Honda, KTM, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki will each field a raft of potential race winners, with the Dubbo round set to reflect form for the season ahead.

Simmonds and fellow competitors will bang bars through a series of preliminary practice and qualifying sessions to claim a position at the starting gates for the all-important 20-lap Main Event.

The sport returns to the format made standard by competition in the United States, and will pit riders against once another in an all-out battle of skill and race fitness.

In addition to the race action the event will offer a range of attractions and interactive features.

Budding stars can test out their first dirt bike in the Throttle Jockeys Arena, created specifically for kids and parents considering taking up the exciting sport.

The Throttle Jockey characters - Revs, Octane, Throttle, Slider and Heart Attack – will provide tips to make riding both fun and safe.

Monster truck and freestyle motocross demonstrations will get the crowds to their feet under skies lit up by fireworks.

Early-bird ticket sales will end on Friday – to save on tickets, fans should visit http://www.ticketdirect.com.au/Event/Season/875.