The Super X Revolution

Ian Hancock

The 2011 Monster Energy Super X Championship is now official and there have been some big changes. Based on feedback from riders, spectators and the industry, Super X has gone under the knife with revamps made to race formats, classes and ticket prices.

The race format gets an exciting new addition for 2011. Super X organiser, Global Action Sports (GAS), has brought back the traditional 20-lap race for the Queensland finale (15 laps for the Lites class). GAS Managing Director, Michael Porra, said, “More than anything the decision was a collaboration with the industry. They were keen to make sure there was at least one 20-lapper. In fact there was some pressure to make all the races 20-lappers, which I resisted as much as I could. I think we have made great strides forward in the last few years with exciting formats and exciting races and I don’t think 20-lappers are the way of the future. We agreed on one 20-lapper and we felt the best event for the new format was the last round because if the championship is still alive it will be a good way for it to end.”

The other rounds of the series will see the return of the Double Header, the Triple Challenge and the Survival formats – Survival being an elimination-type format where 20 riders compete over four five-lap races with the last five riders getting removed each heat. The opening round in Melbourne, Vic, on October 22 will see both Opens and Lites classes compete in the Double Header format. The Opens will race two 10-lap heats, while the Lites compete in two eight-lap circuits. On October 29, in Wollongong NSW the Opens class will contest in the Survival format. The Lites will race the Triple Challenge, comprised of three six-lap races. On November 5, Sydney, NSW, will get the roles reversed and the Opens will have the Triple Challenge format, while the Lites battle for Survival. The penultimate round in Maitland, NSW, on November 12 will see both classes racing the Triple Challenge. Brisbane’s finale will take place on November 19 where both classes will be racing the Traditional format.

When asked what international riders would be making their way down under to compete with the Australian SX regulars GAS’s PR Manager, Jaime Mortimer, told us those details haven’t been finalised yet. What we’ve heard is that reigning Super X Champ, Josh Hansen, could be back to defend his title. And USA’s Chris Blose will be riding for the Australian Hart & Huntington team in the series. However, whether we see the return of Justin Brayton or Kevin Windham, who raced in the 2010 SX series, is another story. And for those fans that were hoping to see Aussie legend Chad Reed racing, you’ll be disappointed. Reed has categorically said he won’t be competing in the 2011 Super X – he confirmed that in our recent interview from Unadilla.

Global Action Sports have a vested interest in the continual growth of the sport and, a first for the championships history, they’ve added an Under 19s class to the mix. The Under 19s will race one eight-lap moto at every round. “Giving the juniors a platform to race the Super X is really important,” Porra explained when asked about the new class. “It’s important to grow the sport. The Under 19s class worked really well at the events last year; there was some great racing and I think it adds to the spectacle of the event.”

As well as the changes to the classes and formats, GAS has changed its pricing strategy. Promising a more affordable pricing package, there’s a noticeable reduction of ticket prices across the range compared with last year. “The average ticket pricing has been dropped by 20-25 percent across the whole series, as we want to make it more affordable for people to come to the events,” says Porra.

Tickets from the 2011 Monster Energy Super X Championship can be bought online via the official Super X website, www.superx.com.au, or through official ticket sellers (who can be found on the Super X website).