From a press release issued by series organizers:

SAASC Supersport Showdown hots up at Eastern Creek

The battle for the 2004 Shell Advance Australian Supersport Championship begins at Eastern Creek Raceway over March 12-14, with a number of privateer teams threatening the distributor-backed squads on the road to championship glory.

The much-fancied factory-backed brigade is headed by Castrol Honda guns Josh Brookes and Adam Fergusson, Nikon Yamaha star Brendan Clarke, and the fast and experienced Team Kawasaki Australia duo of Robbie Baird and Jamie Stauffer.

Whilst anyone of these riders has a shot at the championship, their cause will be made all the more difficult by a number of hungry privateers eager to break into the factory-backed ranks.

Heading the charge will be the spectacular and fearless Glenn Allerton, who heads Sydney City Motorcycles’ DataDot Yamaha YZF-R6 squad alongside teenage sensation Josh Waters.

“My objective for this year is to win the championship, and I believe I have the team to do it with,” said Allerton, 23, who was the top-running Supersport privateer in 2003.

“The testing we’ve done has been really good, and the whole set-up with Sydney City [Motorcycles] is unreal – I couldn’t be happier.”

With a gaggle of factory bikes to contend with, Allerton sees just one obstacle in front of him.

“Josh Brookes and Honda – that is combination that I have to beat,” he declared.

“I’ve worked with Josh and I even went to school with him, so I know how good he is, but I beat him a few times last year so that gives me confidence for this year.”

Allerton also didn’t discount his own 17-year-old team-mate, Josh Waters, as a threat.

“I just can’t believe how fast Josh has been going in testing. He’s only a baby really in terms of experience but he definitely has a big future. I wish I started road racing that young,” said the ex-motocross gun.

Other promising challengers include former Team Kawasaki Australia rider Russell Holland (Action Motorcycles Honda CBR600RR), who will be out to prove a point in his bid to regain a distributor-backed seat for 2005; newcomers Caleb Stalder (Taree Motorcycles Honda CBR600RR) and Jai Curtis (Steve Wise Yamaha YZF-R6); and rising stars Josh Forster (troycorser.com/Peels Honda CBR600RR), Mark Stanley (Lismore Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R6) and dual Australian dirt track champion Chris Seaton (Floyd Parkes Kawasaki/Castrol ZX-6RR).

In addition to the 47 Supersport entrants, the Superstock class for C&D graders has attracted 38 entries, who will be going all out to progress to the Supersport ranks in the future.

The Nakedbike category sees the return of wheelie king Matt Waldron (Mycontrolroom.com.au Yamaha FZ-1) while previous Nakedbike champ John Allen (Aluma-lite Aprilia Racing Tuono) and teammate Benn Archibald are sure to battle it out, with two newcomers adding to the mix.

Former Supersport star Simon Rattenbury (Australian Security Concepts Yamaha FZ-1) and former leading Superstock punter Sam Maclachlan (Australian Motorcycle News Kawasaki Z1000) will both make their Nakedbike debuts at Eastern Creek, while one of the category’s stalwarts, Graeme Wilshaw (Procycles BMW), will make his debut in the NK-Lites on a BMW1100 S.