Race Reports
RACE REPORT MEDIA RELEASE
for immediate release
IT WAS ACTION PLUS for Round 1 of the Rilusi Motorcycles WA State Road Racing Championships at Barbagallo Raceway on the weekend.
The two day meeting saw close exciting racing and another new Superbike local lap record.
Several riders and machines came to grief, but we are glad to report no major casualties, though lots of bike repairs needed before Round 2 (May 18th) .
Saturday saw qualifying action with Superbike rider Ben Stronach (Drilling & Grouting/Lloyd Chapman Suzuki) setting the scene braking his own lap record for the 2nd time in a month.
Starting from pole position with a 0:56.6390 in qualifying he officially recorded a 56.8150 in Race 1 and then went on to do a 0:56.8140 in Race 2, taking a commanding lead in all three races to take out a perfect score of all three race wins on the day.
2007 reigning State Champion Matt Battista (BHS Engineering R1) was riding hard and fast getting into the 57 sec.’s but had no answer for Stronach, having to settle for three 2nd placings. Chris Galbraith (Weld West Suzuki) and Mark Schnierer had some close duals with Rilusi Motorcycles rider Schnierer grabbing the third placing in race 1 , but it was Galbraith who took the next two third placings. Ben Henry (Allect Steelblue R1) , Jamie Boland (Savage Suzuki) and Kevin Boulton (Rick Gill Honda) also rode challenging races to take out a place in the top 7. Albany based Shane Martin was the best of the C grade Superbikes on the day coming in 9th overall.
Points standings Steelblue Superbikes after round 1 :
B Stronach 75pts, M Battista 60, C Galbraith 53, M Schnierer 50, B Henry 48, J Boland 47, K Boulton 41, P Grasser 40, S Martin 33, L Maclou 31.
In the BHS Engineering Supersport Championship it was Adam Senior who made a strong start to the season by taking all three race wins from Wil Hough (Causeway Kawasaki) who scored two 2nd’s and a 3rd with new BHS Racing team member Tommy Hatton grabbing 2nd overall in race 2 and two 3rds placing him just two points behind Hough. Bunbury based Josh Trigwell had a slow start to the weekend managing a only an 8th in Saturday’s race but came back on Sunday to take out two 4ths and fourth overall in the Championship tied with C grader Jason Cawthorne (Comleck Yamaha) placing 5th overall. Ex motocrosser Jarrod Hockley have his first season of road racing rode well to come in 8th overall .
Points standing BHS Engineering Supersport: A Senior 75pts, W Hough 58, T Hatton 56, J Trigwell 47, J Cawthorne 47, G Hopkins 46, B Pratt 42, J Hockley 34, T Simmons 33, J Walker 30.
West Coast Honda Superstock 600cc racing was fierce and competitive with Kalgoorlie based Chris Gilmore (Sportspower Yamaha) taking the first race win on Saturday from Ray Anset (CCS Suzuki) with Prestige Honda’s Andrew Skinner coming in 3rd, but Sunday saw Anset fired up taking both class wins from Gilmore, Skinner 3rd, Gavin Cunningham fourth overall from Martin Mott and Peter Stirrat.
Points after rd 1 West Coast Honda Superstock: R Anset 70pts, C Gilmore 65, A Skinner 54, G Cunningham 47, M Mott 46, P Stirrat 42, P Castling 40, R Gradidge 33, P Hammond 25, B Lawrence 16.
The Ultra Fast Karts Sidecar State Championships produced some great three wheeled action with brothers Darren and Neal Walker reigning supreme taking all three race wins from Lindsay and Anthony Fagan . Warren Thompson and Justin Winchester (Ultra Fast Karts ) grabbed a 2nd in race one from Fagan and finished 3rd in the remaining two races. Boddington team Rob Hair and Chris Burrows had a lucky escape following a spectacular crash. With a flat rear tyre coming down the back straight into Turn 7 they have lost control and ended up infield. Both driver and passenger suffered no major injuries and should return for round 2.
Points standing after round 1 Ultra Fast Karts Sidecar Ch’p: D Walker/N Walker 75 pts, L Fagan/A Fagan 58; W Thompson/ J Winchester 56; P Pinfold/B Thomson 51; T Clyma/P Brider 48; M Robbins/ K Dore 45; R Walker/A Walker 42; P Brown/ D Jenkins 26 ; D Harvey/K Webb 25.
KTM Formula two class saw Ric Steele riding the Motomax TZ250 Yamaha take three race wins from SV Suzuki rider Colin Rose from Anthony Robson (125 Honda) and John Petrie (TZ 250Yamaha). Young Matt Shaw had his first race meeting as a Senior rider finishing a creditable 5th overall on the day.
Point standing KTM Formula Two : R Steele 75pts, C Rose 60; A Robson 52; J Petrie 50; M Shaw 48; I Wilkins 40; M Roach 37; W Fuller 33; B Kneale 33; J Coyle 29; I Scott 25.
Two Wheel Wreckers Clubman racing saw huge fields of riders front the starter in both Club 600cc and Club 1000cc races. In the Club 1000 it was new season competitor Cameron Gore (Kawasaki 1000) take a commanding lead winning all three races of the round. Matt Fathers (Wayne Patterson Ducati1098) looked set to be runner up on the day with a race 1 second placing, but in race 2 on Sunday his rear wheel was hit from behind by El Haren (Yamaha 1000) bringing them both down in a spectacular fall. Both were lucky to escape serious injury. Rob Wasley (Superbikesupply Honda) took a 5th, 2nd and 3rd in each race to come in second overall just one point ahead of Wally Mulik (Top End Audio Yamaha) who had a 6th, 3rd and 2nd placing. Richard Watson (Suzuki 1000) was 4th overall from Wanneroo Motorcycdles Matt Gould.
In the Club 600 races it was C grader Gavin Cunningham who took the round win overall with two hard fought firsts and a 2nd from D grader (soon to be C grader) Brett Lawrence who took two 3rds and a race two win. W.T.F. Racing Yamaha rider Tim Simmons rode very well to finish with two 2nds and a 3rd. Mart Mott was very consistent finishing 4th overall with three fourth placings on the day , Jason Mooney (Diesel Motors Kawasaki finished 5th overall.
D grade first time novice riders shoot out saw newcomer Richard Watson take out both race wins, Brett Lawrence two 2nds with Craig Anderson 3rd in race 1 and Barak Dvir 3rd in race 2.
The Junior road racers were guests of the Motorcycle Racing Club for this opening state round with two races on the Sunday programme. Aidan Hopkins (BHS Racing Moriwaki 80cc) took a first and second placing, Jarrad Gardner (Wedgetail Haulage Honda 150) a 2nd and 3rd and Zane Mattaboni ( Honda 150) a 3rd and 4th placing.
Four rounds remain in the 2008 Championships :
RD 2 MAY 18 - RD 3 JUNE 29 - RD 4 AUG 10 - RD 5 SEPT 14th
Full race results and lap times go to www.natsoft.com.au/results