ACTION returns to McNamara Park this weekend with the annual Mac Park Easter Cup.
The cup will be run in conjunction with round two of the South Australian State Championship Series, along with the BEARS National Challenge.
Strong fields are set to contest all classes, which should provide exciting racing.
Last year’s winner and current state championship leader William Strugnell will again be the rider to beat.
He is chasing his fourth straight state title and will want to keep his momentum going after his round one win at The Bend.
Strugnell also has the 2016 and 2017 Master of Mac Park wins to his credit and will certainly be a tough contender.
Paul Van Der Heiden will be another to watch, with his current Australian Superbike experience and a recent class win at the legendary Isle of Man circuit.
Former Master of Mac Park winners will also be on the pace, including 2008 and 2009 winner Graham Snaith, plus 2006 winner Carl Schmidt who heads all the way down from Darwin.
Add to that 2018 three-hour winner Kym Grosser, plus Royce Rowe and there is certainly no shortage of talent in the field.
However, several “local” riders will also be in the mix and will look to use their home-track knowledge to their advantage.
McNamara Park regulars Darren Trotter and Rusty Crane will line up on their 1000cc superbikes, along with Australian Superbike Championship supersport contender Dallas Skeer.
Now in his second year in the national supersport championship, Skeer will look to go one better than his runner-up position in 2018.
Bordertown duo Gordon and Oliver Hensley will line up in the Limited class and will also look for a stronger showing than last year.
The BEARS National Challenge – for British, European and American machinery – will see last year’s chief protagonists Rowe and Van Der Heiden start as favourites, but with large fields and close racing the class will again provide plenty of action.
Qualifying will take place tomorrow morning, with racing to start around midday, then continue all day Sunday, finishing with the Easter Cup feature race.
As usual, the canteen is open all day with bar facilities available in the afternoon.
Entry is $10 each day or $15 for the weekend.
