Image: Supplied.

A preliminary calendar has been released for the 2022 Australian Supercross Championship, set to make a highly-anticipated return with a five-round schedule that will span through January next year outlined by series organisers.

While the state, venue and date remain all to be confirmed for the season-opener, round two will take place in New South Wales on 26 November, followed by round three also in NSW on 3 December.

Round four of the season will head to Western Australia on 14 January 2023, with the finals to be held in South Australia on 21 January, effectively making 2022 AUS Supercross a summer series. Venues for each round are yet to be announced, while Fox remains naming-rights partner entering the new series.

The confirmed dates mark a significant calendar shift for domestic supercross after the most recent 2019 championship spanned from mid-October to late November. It was already confirmed that the AUS-X Open won’t continue this year, with at least one of the rounds instead expected to double alongside the FIM Supercross World Championship under the organisation of Gold Coast-based company SX Global.

“We are excited to roll out a new direction for Australian Supercross after taking an opportunity to reset,” explained AME Group general manager of events and commercial, Ben Williams.

“The Australian Supercross Championship is one of the most credible, respected and hard-fought on the planet. It’s important we re-establish the series post-covid and give our riders the platform to catapult more Australian stars into the global spotlight.

“Off the track, we believe the series has an important role to play in its connection with grassroots participation getting more riders on dirt bikes, as well as establishing a stronger engagement with our younger fan base.

“Moving into the summer months, we hope, will give the championship more clean air in the Australian sporting landscape, as well as attract new spectators more motivated to attend events on warmer nights.”

Motorcycling Australia (MA) CEO Peter Doyle commented: “Supercross is an integral part of motorcycle competition within Australia. At Motorcycling Australia, we’re looking forward to seeing what the AME Group have in store for this season, as the championship makes its triumphant return to Australian venues.”

The 2022 Australian Supercross calendar outline is a refreshed approach for the sport after the previous two seasons were cancelled altogether due to the pandemic. Honda’s Justin Brayton is the most recent SX1 champion, as Chris Blose was the latest to be crowned in SX2 during 2019.

2022 Australian Supercross Championship calendar:
Rd1 – TBC – TBC
Rd2 – 26 NOV – TBC, NSW
Rd3 – 3 DEC – TBC, NSW
Rd4 – 14 JAN 2023 – TBC, WA
Rd5 – 21 JAN 2023 – TBC, SA