Jed Metcher: the pressure's on

Australia’s Supersport World Championship rookie Jed Metcher won’t be using 2012 as a risk-averting dress rehearsal for bigger things down the track – he’s going to be opening his shoulders from the opening bounce at Phillip Island on February 26.

“My goal for 2012 is to finish in the top eight of the championship,” said Metcher who hails from Eltham in Melbourne. “In this financial climate a rider cannot lack results if they want to stay at the top and progress through the ranks.”

And Metcher, who will ride for the European-based, Russian-backed Team Rivamoto outfit in 2012 on a Yamaha YZF-R6, was anything but passive in 2011 as he produced a sizzling campaign to win the European 600 Superstock title. Metcher finished on the podium in seven of the 10 races, which included a victory at Aragon in Spain.

Now he moves onto the even more competitive world Supersport frontier, joining compatriot Broc Parkes on the massive 32-bike grid.

“2012 will be the biggest challenge of my career, but I know I have the right people around me to achieve my goals and I am fully prepared to take on the challenge,” said the 21-year-old Melbourne rider.

“I want to be a regular front runner. I enjoy just about all the tracks on the calendar, although Assen, Aragon and Imola are standouts.

“And Phillip Island of course! That will be our first real challenge with a completely new package. I am super excited about it, but we will have to wait and see how it all pans out. I know that the home crowd will be strong and I can’t wait to impress them.”

Rivamoto will be managed by former GP star Jeremy McWilliams (who recently won the International Island Classic historic event at Phillip Island) and Metcher will have two Russian teammates alongside him.

“I am very excited about being involved with a developing team,” said Metcher. “The idea of exposing our sport on Russian soil is the underlying objective of the Rivamoto team, but in the process my goal is to impress as much as possible.”

Metcher will shortly embark on an intense three-track, eight-day testing schedule in Spain before heading to Phillip Island for an official test on February 20-21, the week before the championship commences back at the seaside circuit.  He arrives home to Melbourne, from Europe, February 15.

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