Newcastle hosts final round of epic Supercross season

The Newcastle Showgrounds will host the final stanza of a thrilling and tightly-contested series of Championship battles that could well rage until the dying stages.

Hometown hero Chad Reed is the name on everyone’s lips following his dominant run of results at Phillip Island and Toowoomba – despite missing the opening round, he finds himself with a genuine shot at the title as he heads to the event in third outright.

It will be Reed’s first race in front of his home crowd under his own TwoTwo Motorsports banner – he last competed here in 2010, riding to a resounding win in a one-off appearance.

He returns with a renewed confidence and customary speed, but will need luck to fall in his favour if he is to topple the Carlton Dry Pro Open points leader, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jay Marmont.

Leading by 7 points, Marmont is on the verge of back-to-back titles and knows exactly what he needs to do when the gates drop this weekend.

"My aim is to finish within the top three, that would see me win the title no matter where Daniel (McCoy) or Chad (Reed) finish,” said Marmont.

"I had a little practice crash last week and jarred my thumb, it pulled up a bit sore after Toowoomba so I have had a light week.

"I got in a ride yesterday and felt really good and have been keeping up my normal off bike training drill to prepare.”

Marmont admitted the conditions at the Toowoomba mudbath made for some tough going and looked forward to more a more consistent track on Saturday night.

"The thing that made it hard to adapt to for me in Toowoomba was that the track and conditions were constantly changing,” he said.

"There are plans in place to cover the track ahead of Saturday so we will have a dry track to start on come Saturday afternoon.”

Marmont’s closest challenger, CDR Yamaha’s Daniel McCoy, said he would put himself in the best possible position to challenge and take every opportunity that presented itself.

"Ideally to get it done I need to win the race and Jay needs to finish down the order - having Chad there makes it hard but not impossible,” said McCoy.

"I need to just concentrate on my own race and what I have to do and hope the rest falls into place.

"I need to put myself in the best position possible in terms of gate picks and finish in front of Jay to make anything happen.

"I rode safe in Toowoomba and didn’t take any risks – this is the last round and now I just have to go for it.”

McCoy has an 8-point advantage over a trio of riders sharing equal third place.

Reed, Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Todd Waters and McCoy’s factory Yamaha teammate Lawson Bopping all come into round four on 50 points, setting up an entertaining battle.

Positions 3-8 are separated by just 10 points, with the likes of Moss, Simmonds and Boyd all waiting to pounce when the 20-lap Main Event gets underway.

Looking to make his way into the top 10 will be outgoing hometown favourite Craig Anderson.

The event will be Anderson’s final Supercross outing as he retires from the sport following a long and successful career.

The Terex Pro Lites title race tightened up following Ryan Marmont’s win in Toowoomba.

The JDR Motorsports KTM rider pegged back points on Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Gavin Faith, with just 9 points separating the pair ahead of Saturday’s final 15-lap Main Event.

US import Faith finished last year’s Championship in second place and wants to go one better this year.

"I definitely want to win this title, it’s unfinished business for me,” said Faith.

"I felt that I didn’t really ride to my potential in Toowoomba - I settled for third as the track was getting really tricky.

"I won’t be doing anything really risky on Saturday but I will still be going for the race win.

"It would be nice to finish the series with both the final race win and the title all going to plan.”

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kade Mosig and Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Steve Clarke are the only other riders remaining in the frame for the Lites class title.

Hayden Mellross and Aaron Tanti take respective Under 19 and Junior Lites class leads into Newcastle, both on target to wrap up the titles following consistent front-running performances.