Date: 1/10/2005 09:50:05 +0800

From: "Trevor Hedge - MCNEWS.COM.AU" <mcnews@westnet.com.au>

To: "&#39;Deej&#39;" <deej@perthstreetbikes.com>

Subject: Multiple World Superbike race winner and Bathurst legend Michael Dowson to contest KTM/Husaberg WA Supermoto Cup at Cockburn this weekend

Multiple World Superbike race winner and Bathurst legend Michael Dowson to
contest KTM/Husaberg WA Supermoto Cup at Cockburn this weekend

Michael Dowson is WA&#39;s most successful ever road racer and one of the most
successful riders ever to compete at Bathurst. He has scored race wins and
held lap records across every major class on both two and four-stroke
machinery on the mountain. In fact Dowson held the outright motorcycle lap
record at Bathurst for six years.

One of his more famous victories came in 1988 when he teamed with Mick
Doohan to pilot a Yamaha FZR1000 to victory in the Arai 500.

Two years earlier Dowson had partnered Kevin Magee to second place in the
prestigious World Endurance Championship Suzuka 8-Hour race behind Wayne
Gardner and Dominique Sarron. Another big name gracing the podium at Suzuka
that year was Kevin Schwantz who brought home third place with Satoshi
Tsujimoto. Other major long distance wins to Dowson&#39;s credit include a trio
of wins in the Castrol 6-Hour.

But Dowson was not just a long distance expert, he also has an Australian
Superbike Championship under his belt. In fact Dowson was the last West
Australian to take out the premier title in Australian road racing.

Dowson now owns and operates a Yamaha and KTM dealership in Bunbury and last
year was an inaugural inductee to the South-West Sports Hall of Fame.

Things won&#39;t be easy for Dowson though as the best six Supermoto racers in
Australia are coming to WA for the event. Graham Cheney (Husaberg - NSW),
Stuart Bennett (KTM - NSW), Shannon Johnson (Yamaha - VIC), Mark Willis
(Honda - QLD), Mark Avard (Yamaha - NSW) and Adam Altham (Yamaha - VIC) are
all making the trip west for the big event.

Motorex KTM&#39;s Stuart Bennett has Australian Motorcycle Championships to his
credit across an incredible three disciplines. Supercross, Supermoto and
Enduro are all facets of motorcycling where Bennett has taken #1 plates.

Yamaha&#39;s Shannon Johnson also has multiple Australian Championships under
his belt on both tarmac and dirt with the highlights including an Australian
Supersport Championship in 2002 and Australian Supermoto Championship in
2004.

Even more talent comes in the shape of Brisbane rider Mark Willis. He also
has proven talent across all styles of motorcycle racing with victories in
the prestigious Spa 24 Hour and Bol D&#39;Or World Endurance events along with a
multitude of titles in dirt track and dozens of starts at the highest level
of motorcycle competition, the 500cc GP World Road Racing Championships.
Willis also took out the inaugural Australian Supermoto Championship in
2003.

Another rider who is spectacularly sideways at every opportunity is Mark
Avard. He has returned from a successful season in America where he recorded
excellent top ten finishes in the AMA Supermoto Championship. He will be
joined by Victorian Supermoto specialist and 2003 runner-up Adam Altham. Ben
Brookes has also confirmed his entry to the event, the Sydneysider is an
accomplished motocross rider and brother of factory Honda rider Josh
Brookes.

Heading up the WA challenge alongside Dowson are a number of local experts
from both road and dirt based disciplines. Five Star Yamaha have entered
2004 WA Road Race Champion Russell Nash along with current WA Motocross
Champion Ben Hothersall and 25-time WA Champion Matt Battista. The Honda
Shop have also got right behind the event and are entering Australian 125cc
GP Road Race Champion Bryan Staring. The fight for state honours at the WA
Supermoto Cup will be a hard fought affair.

The event is the first of its kind ever staged in Western Australian and
will be showcased at Cockburn International Raceway on January 16. The
venue is located in Gemma Road, Henderson. Adult entry is $15, children
10-16 $5 and under 10 free. Excellent viewing of the whole track is
available from any vantage point and a cooling afternoon breeze comes
courtesy of the Fremantle Doctor. Shaded areas and limited seating is
available while canteen and bar facilities are provided. More details on
the event can be found at www.wasupermoto.com .

Background on Supermoto - Supermoto is a burgeoning sport which now has an
extensive Europe based World Championship competition along with national
championships now being held in Australia, America, Italy and Britain. The
sport features motocross based motorcycles fitted with road based tyres and
brakes competing on tight tracks, normally go-kart circuits, that are around
80% bitumen and 20% dirt with a few jumps also thrown in to provide yet
another dimension to the challenge.

SEE &#39;IN THE LOOP&#39; FOR MORE DETAILS