Aussie Jed Metcher on track to win Euro Superstock title

While the World Superbike, World Supersport and Superstock 1000 titles were all decided at Magny-Cours, the Superstock 600 championship is very much alive. Heading into the season finale at Portimao, Portugal, Metcher leads the championship by 19 points.

After making his Euro Superstock debut at Magny-Cours last year - and winning - Metcher scored a full-time ride with the MTM-RT Motorsports Yamaha team for 2011. Despite only winning one race so far this season, consistency has been the young Victorian's strength, finishing on the podium no less than seven times. Metcher has also scored pole position 3 times.

In the penultimate round at Magny-Cours, a thrilling 12-lap race saw Metcher move further ahead in the championship battle by taking second place behind race winner Michael Van der Mark (Ten Kate Junior). This was the Dutch Honda rider's third win of the year and puts him third overall in the championship rankings, 25 points behind Metcher but with a better win ratio, which may be crucial at the final round in Portugal. Polesitter at Magny-Cours, Joshua Day (Revolution Racedays Kawasaki) was third in the race. The American returned to Superstock this year full time after a handful of races in the class in 2008.

With one round remaining, Metcher leads Day in the championship, 137 points to 118. Van der Mark is third on 112 points.

Metcher's local racing history goes back to 2005, when he started racing 50cc MiniMotos. In recent years, Metcher scored a 125cc wildcard ride at the 2008 Australian MotoGP, and made a mark in Aussie Supersport before heading overseas in 2010 to compete in the German Supersport and Superbike championships.

If victory goes his way in Portugal, Metcher may be the next Aussie to step up to World Supersport or Superbike competition.