MICK Doohan has achieved the highest possible honours in motor sport but admitted he still feels all the ups and downs when watching his son race.

Doohan's 13-year-old son Jack is taking part in the opening round of the Australian Karting Championships, which began on Friday at Dubbo's Lincoln County Raceway and conclude on Sunday.

Jack Doohan won the national KA4 title last year and will be contesting the higher KA2 division this year and his father, who won five consecutive 500cc motorcycle world championships during the 1990s, said the same emotions he experienced when racing reappear while spectating.

"The emotions are high and low," he said.

"When he's having a bad day I'm having a bad day and vice-versa, we all like to see out kids do very well and there's people just here helping out so it's always good to share those experiences.

"That's all part of it, he's got a good group of guys here in the whole team here and we have great support and everyone gets involved and we try and put on the best show and the best race but keep it clean too."

The Raceway was packed on Friday, as the record number of entries were put through their paces during the practice sessions.

A number of local hopes were also in action, taking the best Australia, New Zealand and even Europe have to offer.

While the younger Doohan may have one of Australia's greatest motor sport athletes in his corner, Mick insists the weekend will be an incredibly challenging one and the main thing for him is for his son to enjoy the sport.

"It's a new class for my son so it's a bit of an unknown step but it's good and exciting," he said.

"He won his division and this is now KA2, he was KA4.

"It's still juniors but it will be a bit tougher and faster kart, a bit stickier rubber and probably a higher level of competition, not that the competition was poor last year but it's just an older competition."

Jack Doohan is racing in the 12-15 years category and he and his father have visited Dubbo numerous times in recent weeks to get a feel for the track.

Mick, who has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal and also been inducted in to the Sports Australia Hall of Fame, stated his son would race everyday if he could.

While Doohan remains a key part of his son's successful team, he said the future and how far Jack wants to take his motor sport is entirely up to him.

"I'm not so much a teacher, I try to guide him a bit but at this stage it's more about fun," he said.

"Sure, he wants to win which is good, especially if you're travelling as much as we do.

"It's good to see that he's putting in the effort but at the end of the day he's just turned 13 last month so I definitely don't want to push him to the point where it becomes a chore."

The qualifying begins at 8.30am on Saturday with heats taking place on Saturday afternoon and continuing on Sunday before the afternoon's finals.