Excitement is building as the national supercross series creeps closer to Auckland and a first-time visit to Manukau's TelstraClear Events Centre.
Round two of the four-round series is this Saturday night in Tokoroa, on New Zealand's original purpose-built stadium motocross circuit, established in 1989.
While the action willbe typically hot under the glare of the stadium lights, it is the following round at Manukau on February 16 that's really got the riders keyed up.
Supercross has not been seen in Auckland since the Carlaw Park rugby league facility was turned into a motocross moonscape in 1989.
Manukau event organiser Carl Sorenson says he has confirmed entries from top Australian riders Tye Simmonds, Todd Waters, Ryan Marmont and Troy Carroll and he expects they will put the acid on the top Kiwis competing.
A grandstand would also be constructed, expected to hold up to 10,000 spectators.
Kiwi international Daryl Hurley (Suzuki) leads the open class after dominating round one of the series near Motueka a fortnight ago, with fellow Suzuki rider and Kiwi international Scotty Columb (Queenstown) second in the standings.
"No disrespect to Motueka or Tokoroa, the Manukau event is just what this sport needs, taking supercross to a major population centre," said Hurley. "It will be an untried circuit, freshly built, and that won't give anyone any advantage.
"But these are the sorts of events we must produce to bring the sport to wider attention and to sharpen up our young riders."
The fourth and final round of the supercross nationals is at Wanganui's Cooks Gardens arena on March 1.
