An American-style supercross is in the gun-sights for Waikato motocross ace Luke Temple tonight.

The 19-year-old, an apprentice aircraft engineer for Air New Zealand, is hoping he can make a few high-flying passes on the Australasian superstars who are entered for the sixth round of seven in the Monster Energy Australasian Super X Championships, set for inside Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium tonight.

He will ride his Yamaha YZF450 in the open class, lining up beside such big-name Australians as Jay Marmont (Yamaha) and Chad Reed (Kawasaki).

Marmont leads the series after the five rounds thus far, albeit only by one point from two-time former American supercross champion Reed.

Temple, from the small town of Ngatea, does not expect to challenge these two series leaders but he does expect to gain experience from the event, the biggest of its kind to be staged in New Zealand.

The former New Zealand junior 125cc two-stroke and 250cc four-stroke motocross champion has been racing the bigger Yamaha YZF450 in more recent times and he achieved a national ranking of ninth overall when the motocross championships wrapped up near New Plymouth last weekend, just two points behind fellow Yamaha rider Adrian Smith, of Mokau.

“I wasn’t really happy with that and I don’t think it reflects my ability at all,” Temple said. “I had too many DNFs (non finishes) due to crashing and I also had to fight back from last place in two of the series’ 12 races — fighting back to 17th after a crash in Timaru and all the way back to 11th after a crash in Rotorua.

“I was just pushing too hard and my feet slipped off the pegs. But that’s the way racing goes sometimes.

“But I’m really looking forward to tackling a true American-style supercross track this weekend. It’s going to be very exciting.”

As for Super X championship leader Marmont, Saturday night’s Kiwi experience could be crucial to his title hopes.

“As we enter the business end of the championship, being out in front is where I really want to be at the moment and it will be crucial for me to get another good result this weekend in Hamilton to ensure the best possible result at the conclusion of the championship,” Marmont said.

“I’m really looking forward to going over to Hamilton.  It has been some time since I last raced in New Zealand and it will be great to meet with the fans as New Zealanders are extremely passionate about their dirt bike racing.”

The public gates open at Waikato Stadium at 4pm this afternoon, with racing due to kick off at 6.30pm.

Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com