• 

  The seven-round SuperX series begins in Launceston on October 17 and ends in Brisbane on December 5.

Australia's richest motorsport star will go head to head with America's Supercross champion in a grudge race in Brisbane in December.

Australia's richest motorsport star will go head to head with America's Supercross champion in a grudge race in Brisbane in December. Chad Reed and American James 'Bubba' Stewart will compete in the Australian SuperX final, the first time the pair have competed against each other outside the US.

Stewart this year wrestled the American and World Supercross title from Reed with just a four-point margin in a spiteful series where the two former mates ended bitter enemies. Both are two-time American and world title holders and a win in Brisbane would provide a mental advantage and confidence boost leading into the 2010 AMA series.

"This is going to be huge for the series," said Stewart. "There will definitely be some fireworks happening."

Incidents in this year's American supercross series which caused the riders to become enemies include Reed hitting Stewart from behind, Stewart's teammate trying to take Reed out by hitting his front tyre and Stewart dangerously bumping Reed in mid air.

Stewart said he hoped the Brisbane race would help rebuild his relationship with Reed.

"We both know what the reason behind this (his invitation to race) is," he said. "It will put the event on the map a little bit. But hopefully we can put our differences aside.

"I think it will be intense for both of us; for him especially because it's a home town race. "I just hope the crowd undertands that I'm not coming down there to beat Chad on his home turf, I'm just coming down there for the fans.

"Here (in the US) they kind of cheer both guys, but it will be different there. "I think there will be more pressure on Chad because if he would not want to lose any race this would be it."

Stewart said he agreed to come to Australia for the one-off race as a preparation for next year's supercross season and to give his new Yamaha a trial run. "Everyone wants to know what's new on the bike," he said. "I would love to tell you what it is but I'd get fired. I can just say I'm starting over."

Stewart said he was aiming for back-to-back titles next year.

"This year was a really big struggle. This championship took me a while to get comfortable," he said. "Yamaha finally came around for me and I got a few races in a row. Next year I hope I get a bit of a better start."

He said there would be no advantage in Reed competing in the current American motocross series.

"The guys who do well outside (motocross) don't necessarily do well inside (supercross)," he said. "I don't think it transitions over. I think his whole decision came off not winning the supercross championship."

Fellow American supercross star Jeremy McGrath has also been confirmed to return for three rounds of the SuperX season and other American riders are being courted to compete.

The seven-round SuperX series begins in Launceston on October 17 and ends in Brisbane on December 5. It will be broadcast live on Fox Sports with delayed telecasts on Network Ten.

SuperX Series

Rd 1, Auroro Stadium, Launceston, October 17 Rd 2, Skilled Stadium, Geelong, October 24 Rd 3, Burswood Dome, Perth, October 31 Rd 4, Canberra Stadium, November 7 Rd 5, Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, November 14 Rd 6, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, NZ, November 21 Rd 7, QSAC, Brisbane, Devember 5