Touring cars, Supercars and now superbikes make it a motorsport bonanza for Tasmania in 2021

Tasmania is becoming a motorsport mecca with Touring Cars, Supercars, Targa, and now superbikes revving their way to the state this year.

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THE fastest riders on two wheels will converge on Symmons Plains later this year for Tasmania’s first round of the Australian Superbikes championship since 2015 and will bring with them 1000 riders and support staff and hundreds of interstate fans.

Just like it does for the Supercars, the state government backed the motorcycle equivalent with $150,000 in a bid to bring top-level sport to the state along with travelers to stimulate the state’s economy.

The Supercars are worth around $9 million to local business, and the Superbikes are also expected to generate millions for local coffers.

Announced today by Tasmanian Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events, Sarah Courtney, and Motorcycling Australia’s operations manager, Martin Port at Symmons Plains, the Tasmanian event will be round seven of the national series on November 4-7.

Alex Lowes riding the #22 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki leads Jonathan Rea on the final lap as he wins at Phillip Island, Victoria, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour)

Port said the ASBK Championship event would see Australia’s fastest two-wheel riders go head-to-head in Superbike, Supersport, Supersport 300, R3 Cup and Oceania Junior Cup classes on Tasmania’s premier circuit racing venue, which will host the opening round of the Australian TCR series for two-litre touring cars, opener wheelers and Mustangs from Sunday to Tuesday.

The last time the Superbikes held a round at Symmons Plains, the event attracted about 4000 two-wheeled fans.

“This event will receive great exposure for Tasmania as it will be televised across Australia and into Asia via Foxsport and SBS,” Ms Courtney said.

“The Australian Superbikes championship is another example of how the Government and Tasmanian event organisers are working together to support and safely reactivate the event sector in line with the Safe Events and Activities Framework to ensure Tasmanians can keep doing the things they love.”

Port was joined for the announcement by Victorian young gun Tom Bramich, a former World Supersport 300 rider and 2021 ASBK Supersport competitor.

“The Australian Superbike championship is the premier national road racing championship, and it is very exciting for Tasmanians to again have the opportunity to see them racing here,” Port said.

“It is anticipated that nearly 1,000 participants and support crew will travel to Tasmania to participate in races across categories, from the Oceania Junior Cup, for riders aged between 11 to under 16 years, through to the Australian Superbike category featuring some of the largest capacity motorcycles currently available on the domestic market.

“We are thrilled to be coming back to Tasmania, expanding the national footprint of the championship; providing world class racing to our national and international audiences as well as showcasing what an amazing destination Tasmania is to visit.

“With critical Championship points on the line in each class, Tasmanian fans are guaranteed to see scintillating racing action and we can’t wait to see them at the track.”