The KSF ECSTAR Suzuki Racing team are all set and ready to jump into the opening round of the 2018 Australian Supercross Championship being held in Jimboomba, Queensland this Saturday the 15th of September.
After completing their first season as the official Australian Suzuki racing team in this year’s Pirelli MX Nationals championship, the New South Wales-based outfit heads into this year’s SX championship with a strong three-rider line-up, with both Jesse Dobson and Jesse Madden contesting the SX1 class aboard a pair of Suzuki RM-Z450’s.
In the SX2 class, British racer and current European 250 Supercross champion, Gradie Featherstone will look to impress aboard Suzuki’s RM-Z250
After spending most of 2018 on the sidelines due to injury, Gold Cost based Jesse Dobson is fighting fit and ready to go when the gate drops this Saturday afternoon in Jimboomba.
Returning to riding in July after recuperating from a shoulder injury, Dobson’s sole focus has been the opening round of SX and with the 21-year-old putting in plenty of laps in readiness for what lies ahead.
“It feels awesome to be back out riding and consistently putting in laps, “Dobson enthused.” I have been waiting pretty much all year to be back healthy, and it has actually been nice to get out and do some repetition and punch out laps on the Supercross track.
“On the practice track at the moment, I can’t fault my riding, I feel strong and am happy with where I am at, the thing I have lacked of late is getting behind the gate and racing.
"I am trying not to get to ahead of myself, I know it will take a little bit of time to build back up to the level I know I am capable of and the level people expect me to be at.
“We are in a good spot heading into round one, my complete focus is on myself and putting in 20 solid laps in the final. The aim going into Jimboomba is to hit my marks every single lap and put in the best 20 laps that I know I can if I can do that the results will come.”
After racing the MX2 class for the KSF ECSTAR Suzuki team during the motocross championship, Madden has made the switch to the big bike class for Supercross and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“I have ridden the RM-Z450 a few times during the year and really like the power the bike produces, and I feel it suits the way I ride, so we have decided to make a move to the 450 class for Supercross,” Madden explained.
“Out on the Supercross track, I feel as though I have adapted to the bike well and have been working with Pro Moto to get the suspension dialled in just how I like it, I have only had a handful of rides on an SX track in the lead up to this weekend, but I feel comfortable and am looking forward to going racing.”
Spearheading Suzuki’s 250 Supercross effort will be 20-year old Gradie Featherstone.
Hailing from Chesterfield in England, Featherstone is no stranger to racing the best supercross tracks in the world, having qualified for multiple AMA Supercross main events in the 250 class across 2016 and 2017.
Gradie finished off 2017 on a high, winning the 2017 European Supercross championship in the 250 class in a one-off event held in Poland.
With the European title under his belt, Featherstone is heading down under and is looking forward to tackling the five-round Australian championship which kicks off this Saturday.
“I have been following the Australian Supercross championship for the past few years, and it has always looked like a great series, with top riders and good tracks,” Featherstone commented.
“I have been lucky enough to race Supercross across Europe and also in America the past couple of years, and it was great to be able to work with the KSF team to come to Australia to race this championship this year.”
“I have been in Australia for a couple of weeks now riding the RM-Z250, and I'm really enjoying the bike. Pro Moto Suspension has been great allowing me to ride the private track to get ready and working with me to get the suspension dialled in for round one.”
“I can’t wait to go racing this Saturday; I have no real expectations for round one, I will go out there and give it my best and see where I sit at the end of the day.”
“A big thanks to the KSF team and Suzuki Australia for the opportunity to race the Australian championship this year.”
Make sure you catch the KSF ECSTAR Suzuki racing team this Saturday the 15th of September at Jimboomba, with the team and riders on display and ready to meet all race fans from 1.30pm during the pit party before racing kicks off at 2.30pm.
