THE 6 HOUR:

With just hours remaining until the start of Australia’s most anticipated return of two-wheeled Endurance racing, The 6 Hour, Oran Park can expect explosive action right from the opening practice session. The big guns from home and abroad have come to the peaceful district of Camden with Aussie Superbike stars being pressured by a World Champion, a British Superbike hotshot, a World Supersport renegade, a newly crowned Dutch Superbike Champion and the tough men from the Endurance World Championship.

Leading the home based charge is Factory Yamaha hard man Daniel Stauffer. Dan lines up this weekend alongside fellow ASBK stars Grant Hay and Zac Davies. It’s a formidable combination with their weapon being a very familiar Yamaha YZF1000R1 armed with Dunlop tyres. If those guy’s look threatening, what about this trio… Fellow Australian Superbike charger Craig ‘Cannonball’ Coxhell, globe-trotting Gareth Jones and the raging Russell Holland who makes a welcome return to Australian racing. Their Honda CBR1000 will be lurking close to the front equipped once again with Dunlop tyres.

Firing out of the box on bike number 1 will be the brothers in arms pairing of Damian and Alex Cudlin. The Taree boys have been a force in the Endurance World Championship for several years and bring a wealth of speed and experience to the Bel-Ray 6 Hour. Another Yamaha YZF1000R1 but this time with Pirelli tyres.

One man who needs no introduction to this class of racing is none other than Australia’s very own two times Endurance World Champion, Warwick Nowland. Motorcycling’s marathon man is heading back into competition after taking the season off for the birth of his son. Joining Warwick aboard the official ‘6 Hour’ entry will be British Superbike star Dave Johnson and Australian Superbike racer James Spence. Once again an almighty Yamaha will be used with Dunlop tyres. The forceful trio won’t be happy with anything less than a podium finish.

What about team green? Never fear the mighty ZX10 Kawasaki will be in the very capable hands of Goulburn’s Jason Kain. Jason would no doubt be one of Australia’s most under rated racers and will have the strength of Mark Hatch and Rodney Taplin as team mates. The boy’s in green have chosen Pirelli tyres for their attack.

The Kawasaki challenge continues with young guns Jamie Aitken, Michael McMillan and Murray Clark aboard the number 96 ZX10 with Jamie’s father Paul taking up the role as Team Manager. A team of experience and youth that may well see them close to front.

The Japanese manufacturers are far from alone this weekend with an XR1200 Harley Davidson making an appearance in the hands of David Butler and Dave Fuller. I think the message is clear… don’t mess with the hog!

Not only are the American’s here at Oran Park with their growling V-Twin but we also have the very impressive KTM 990. The Austrian machine may not be at the front early on but don’t under estimate the experienced team led by Jim Archer.

Along with the Harley Davidson and the KTM, a Benelli TNT will grace the starting grid. The aggressive looking street-fighter will add glitz and glamour as only Italian machines do.

With 31 entries the 2.6 kilometre circuit will be frantic to say the least as practice gets underway at 9.40am. That will be followed by 2 more free practice sessions before the start of serious matters with Saturdays qualifying and Superpole sessions.