Mayor Blundell hails ASBK as a huge success

Southern Downs Mayor Peter Blundell has given an overwhelming thumbs up to the second round of the 2015 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli, after it visited Morgan Park in Warwick over the weekend.

The event, which ran from Friday through to Sunday, helped generate significant economic benefit into the region, and the event was wholeheartedly embraced by the entire local community.

Speaking from the track, Cr Blundell expressed his delight at seeing the 5,000 strong crowd at the track, and acknowledged the significance the event and facility plays in the region.

There are a lot of people here – I was in a queue for a long time to get in the gate this morning, and all these people are not only here to watch and enjoy the racing, but also to prop a few dollars into the community,” he said.

“That’s why the community recognises the importance of it, and it’s great to hear from people that they feel like they have been given a warm welcome and been embraced here. “

Cr Blundell said that motorsport plays a huge part in the community, and reckognises the benefit that the event has contributed to the economy.

“We’d like to think that we are known as the horsepower capital of Australia with both horses and motorsport are the backbone of this complex,” he said.

“It’s a fabulous complex that injects a lot of economy into this region – it is not just for Warwick itself it is for the region, and further afield there are things like accommodation and other things to do.

“Many people come and watch the racing that’s on but then go and have a look around at what else is on offer so its really important, and this is a very important part of the Southern Downs.”

Blundell stated that as well as the facility being a success in terms of drawing high-level events such as the ASBK to the area, it is also a success from a planning point of view.

“It’s a huge success for the people who have organised Morgan Park as a racetrack, and as you can see, it is a great complex that encompasses a number of different things.

“It’s also a success of planning – if you look at the planning here and the recognition that you need buffering between other developments and a motorsport precinct, that’s been done well too I believe, so all in all it’s a great asset to the community.”