RACE WEEKEND

2026 Event Program

Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October 2026 · Streets of the Cessnock CBD. Free entry for spectators.

Saturday 17 October

10:00am – 6:00pm Sign-on, scrutineering, dyno and quarantine — Peden’s Hotel, 196 Vincent St (enter the rear car park via Cumberland St). All bikes must arrive with a full tank; no refuelling in the car park.
6:00pm – 11:00pm Welcome Street Party — teams and crews meet the public at Peden’s Hotel.

Sunday 18 October — race day

8:45am Live stream begins — watch here or on YouTube.
9:00am Parade and sighting laps (x2).
9:20am Group A (36 teams) — 20-minute practice / qualifying.
10:00am Group B (36 teams) — 20-minute practice / qualifying.
10:40am PremiAir Hire Wine Country Cup (women’s race) — 15-minute practice / qualifying.
11:20am Heat One — 36 teams, 20-lap qualifying race for the Grand Prix.
12:15pm Heat Two — 36 teams, 20-lap qualifying race for the Grand Prix.
1:00pm SMW Drilling Services Cessnock Cup — up to 36 teams, one hour plus one lap.
2:30pm PremiAir Hire Wine Country Cup (women’s race) — 12 laps.
3:00pm Cessnock Mitsubishi Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix — 36 teams, 90 minutes plus one lap.
5:00pm Presentations — on track.
6:00pm – late Afterparty at the Cessnock Leagues Club — everyone welcome.

All times are subject to change. The final race order is confirmed at the riders’ briefing. Source: 2026 Supplementary Regulations (approved V1).

THE CIRCUIT

Track Map

1.45 km of closed public street through the Cessnock CBD and the TAFE grounds — Australia’s last true around-the-houses road race.

Map of the 1.45 km Cessnock street circuit used by the Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix

Tap the map to open it full size.

Length
Approximately 1,450 metres, 15 corners
Surface
Closed public road — short straights, traffic islands, gutters, off-camber corners and changing surfaces
Location
Streets of the Cessnock Central Business District and the TAFE NSW Cessnock campus
Start / finish
Inside the TAFE grounds, just west of Hall Street
Pits & paddock
Between the TAFE grounds and the Darwin Street run
Spectators
Free entry, with viewing right around the circuit

Competitors: all riders get the chance to walk and inspect the track before any on-track activity — see the Supplementary Regulations for times.