The popular event was officially launched on Wednesday at Cessnock’s Chris Watson Motorcycles and the grand prix grid girls helped kick proceedings off.

Also present at the launch were Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent, rider Kane Robinson and event director Dave Robinson.

There will be no shortage of great action on the day either, with more than 120 riders already signed up to test their skills.

One rider to watch will surely be World Superbike Championship veteran and 2009 World Endurance Champion Steve Martin. who will be riding with Wayne Russell’s Go Karts Go Team.

This year will mark the first time in Australia and arguably the world that there has been a dedicated all-female street race.

“It’s a big thing for us, and it’s fantastic to see such positive ground being broken in Cessnock,” Mr Robinson said.

As testament to the popularity of the inaugural race Mr Robinson added that the race has attracted a full field of 26 women. 

Further, Motorcycling NSW has come on board to fund the day licences for female riders while major sponsor SMW Drilling services has funded the entry fees for all female participants.

The ambassador for the female race is Karina Bailey - lauded Cessnock rider and daughter of Cessnock motorsport icon Robert “Beetle” Bailey.

Speaking to Fairfax Media in August, Ms Bailey said that she was taking her ambassadorship quite seriously.

“I was pretty excited and also a little nervous,” she said. “I pretty much started training right away and stopped eating all of the junk food.”

In keeping with the theme of gender equality, Mr Robinson added that while the grid girls would be a feature of the event, the guys would have a chance to impress, too.

“There will be some grid boys on the day who will be wearing pink T-shirts and raising money for breast cancer research,” Mr Robinson said.

The Cessnock Mitsubishi Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix is on Sunday, November 18.

  Visit www.cessnockmotorcycleclub.com.au.