NSW-based Yamaha rider Joel Brown goes into round two of the Australian Freestyle Motocross Championships as a strong favourite. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

A course touted as the biggest and toughest ever created in the country will confront a lineup of 20 riders participating in this weekend’s second round of the Australian Freestyle Motocross Championships (AFMXC) at Coonabarrabran.

Established professionals and a range of exciting amateur riders will duke it out at the JetPilot Invitational in rural New South Wales.

With the opening round on the Sunshine Coast cancelled due to inclement weather last month, the riders are eager to open their points accounts on what is described as an ‘X Games-style’ freestyle motocross compound.

Yamaha rider Joel Brown heads into the event as favourite after ramping up his training program and preparations in 2013.

The New South Wales-based rider has taken the opportunity to ride with newly-crowned 2013 Red Bull X-Fighters World Champion Tom Pages in a number of overseas trips.

Overcoming the opposition will be no easy task, however. To win he’ll need to hold out the likes of esteemed rider Matt Schubring, round one lead qualifier Luke McNeill, and the versatile Pat Bowden, amongst others.

Showtime FMX rider Brad Burch returns to the AFMXC billing at Coonabarrabran, and names like Harry Bink, Jake Smith, Aaron Guthrie and Callum Shaw are all well in the mix.

The AFMXC Jetpilot Invitational is closed to the public and organisers will release a highlights reel post-event to showcase the top action.

Coonabarrabran is the second of four rounds on the 2013 AFMXC calendar. Events in Boonah (QLD) and Mackay (QLD) will round out the season in September and October respectively.