Two new national race series have been announced aimed at riders who want to try road racing at minimal cost.

450cc Aus Road Racing series

Two new national race series have been revealed aimed at dirt bike riders who want to try road racing at minimal cost.

Both AFX-SBK (Australian FX-Superbike) and ASBK (Australian Superbike) series promoters are introducing the new Supermono – Supermoto RR for ASBK – class, to be run on  bitumen only.

The series are based around the most popular competition bike in Australia,  the 450cc MX/enduro model. Minimal technical changes are allowed ensuring that racing will remain cost effective and on a level playing field.

Entrants in the AFX-SBK or ASBK supermono road race series could also win cash plus a brand new YZ450F!

There is a minimum tyre/wheel size of 17in, but there is no maximum limit. Gearing changes are also allowed, but very little else can be altered. This means that anyone with a 450cc single cylinder MX or enduro bike can front up and race… with minimum outlay.

The AFX-SBK series is set at three rounds and the ASBK series set at two rounds. Both series are sponsored by Yamaha Motor Australia who will offer brand new YZ450Fs to the winners of both series.

“It makes a lot of sense to run a series using the most popular competition motorcycle in the country – the 450cc single cylinder 4-stroke motocross and serious enduro models. Most manufacturers sell them, and thousands are sold each year. Keeping the barriers to entry low should introduce a host of new riders to road racing. Plus the limited changes are designed to reward talent rather than the rider who spends the most money on his bike,” says YMA Motorsports Manager Ray Howard.

An AASA or MA licence is required to compete in the AFX-SBK series, whereas a MA licence is required for the ASBK series. In order to further promote this new class of racing, AFX-SBK Supermono competitors entry fees for the two days of each round will be offset by sponsorship from Yamaha. So competitors in the class – no matter what brand of motorcycle they enter on – will only pay $95 entry fee per round.

Cash prizes and a brand new YZ450F will be on offer for the series winner. The venues and dates are:

2011 Yamaha Australian Supermono Championship Calendar
Rnd 1 Eastern Creek Raceway NSW, 2 and 3 July
Rnd 2 Wakefield Park Raceway NSW, 8 and 9 October
Rnd 3 Winton Raceway VIC, 16 and 17 December (Day/Night)

All rounds are televised on SBS Speed Week and Fox Speed TV For more information on the inaugural 2011 Yamaha sponsored Supermono Championship please contact the series promoter Terry O’Neill on 02 4823 5711 in business hours and or email admin@aus-superbikes.com.au

The ASBK venues and dates are as follows:

2011 Yamaha Australian Supermoto RR Championship Calendar
Rnd 1 Queensland Raceway QLD, 3 to 5 June
Rnd 2 Phillip Island VIC, 18 to 20 Nov

Both rounds will be televised. For more information, visit http://www.asbk.com.au

Should you wish to enter either series, Yamaha Race Developments (YRD) is offering two kits to suit your level of involvement as follows:

* Kit 1: 17in wheels only. Cost approximately $1000
* Kit 2: 17in wheels, 17in tyres, front brake, front guard, gearing set. Cost approx $2500

Plus YRD can offer kitted YZ450Fs, price on application. Contact John Redding at yrd@bigpond.com