Post by Trackman on Dec 15, 2008 0:52:28 GMT
Qld Champs Again! - Posted 15 December, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
Having won the twice postponed 2008 Queensland Sidecar Title just ten weeks
ago, Jason Aldridge and Duane Dennis extended their reign as champions by
winning the 2009 crown. For Dennis, it was a hat-trick of wins, having collected the
2007 trophy riding with Gary Moon. A very large crowd witnessed a programme of
cut-and-thrust, spectacular and pulsating sidecar and solo action, on a well-
prepared track which was partially flooded the previous day. There was scarcely a
race without passing.
Wayne Munck and his petite passenger, Yolanda Wilken, scorched through the
heats unbeaten. Aldridge dropped one point and that was to Munck who forced
an inside pass on Aldridge, who had taken the lead in their first race of the night.
Joining them in the thrill-a-second final, was Scott Christopher / Trent Koppe and
Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell. After a false start which saw Munck first into the
turn, Aldridge led the charge from the tapes, from Christopher, Munck and Wilson.
The latter three bumped and shoved their way through pits bend with Munck
coming out best and diving under Aldridge at the end of the first lap. Then
followed three laps of awesome racing as the front runners passed and repassed
each other. With Aldridge emerging first out of the final turn, Munck made a
sensational outside run, but was denied the win in a very close finish.
Heat 1 produced an explosive start to the event, setting the scene of thrills and spills. With Gary Moon/Mick Ing leading into the second lap, Jodie Donovan/Hamish Fairbrother rode high, hit the fence and flipped as Christopher swept under them. Jeff Barth/Dave Oliver collided with Donovan's outfit and almost rolled as well. Moon led the rerun, with Christopher coming through from third to take the flag.
Moon appeared to have engine problems after the start of his fourth ride, but claimed a red light on an infield photographer's camera caused him to stop. His protests for a rerun only brought him an awarded point for third, behind the only two finishers. Ross Brown and Bill Sewell suffered terminal engine problems in their first outings.
Two sidecar passengers, the Newman brothers Daniel and Andrew, were taken to hospital after a coming together of their respective outfits in their last heat. Daniel was reported to have a broken arm and Andrew a shoulder injury. Daniel was also involved in an earlier skirmish. Riding with his father Paul, the Newman trike blew a back tyre at the completion of a race, spun and was slammed by Bob Hill/ Nick Bain who were up-ended and ruled out of the meeting.
Picture shows twice World Solo Champion Jason Crump, who presented the trophies to Dennis (left) and Aldridge (right).
Heat Points: Wayne Munck/Yolanda Wilken 15, Jason Aldridge/Duane Dennis 14, Scott Christopher/Trent Koppe 12, Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell 12, Gary Moon/Mick Ing 11, Jodie Donovan/Hamish Fairbrother 9, Scott Davies/Andrew Newman 8, Jeff Barth/Dave Oliver 7, Paul Newman/Daniel Newman 7, Glen Vercoe/Chris Lewis 6, Anthony Schofield 4, Ben Cooper/Ryan Spann 4, Bob Hill/Nick Bain 3, Gary Schofield/Ben Schofield 2, Peter Wilken/Kelly Cooper (res) 2, Bill Sewell/Kim Laycock 1.
Final: 1. Jason Aldridge, 2. Wayne Munck, 3. Scott Christopher, 4. Robbie Wilson
Ward Wins Gold! - Posted 15 December, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
The phenomenal rise of 16 year-old Darcy Ward continued with his dynamic win of
the Ivan Mauger Golden Helmet.
Again it was a battle with Josh Grajczonek for the honours, having beaten him in
the recent Qld U-21 title, but coming second to Grajczonek in the Qld Solo
Championship. It was Grajczonek who got away smartly in the Golden Helmet final,
but Ward rocketed to the lead with a burst of speed down the back straight.
Trent Leverington was third and Taylor Poole fourth.
The contest lost some of its appeal when Scott Smith was unfortunately not
allowed to compete because he arrived 20 minutes late, having been at work all
day. Yet he arrived an hour and forty minutes before them meeting started.
Grajczonek started the night with a win over Ward in the opening race, then
Trent Leverington took a point from Ward in the second round. Ward answered
with a win over Leverington next time out. Grajczonek pulled off a great save
when he and Sam Taylor were caught up in heavy dirt on pits bend and both
almost ended up in the fence. Taylor went on to win. A broken chain in his last
heat found Grajczonek's chances of a place in the final depending on a first
or second in the semi-final. Mitchell Davey had mixed fortunes with a fall, a win
and engine failure after working his way into second place in his last heat.
Taylor Poole was very impressive. The 16 year-old NSW speedster rattled off five second places to earn his spot in the final.
Heat Points:Trent Leverington 11, Darcy Ward 10, Taylor Poole 8, Sam Taylor 7, Josh Grajczonek 5, Mitchell Davey 4, Harley Horwood 1.
Semi-final: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Taylor Poole, 3. Sam Taylor, 4. Mitchell Davey.
Golden Helmet Final: 1. Darcy Ward, 2. Josh Grajczonek, 3. Trent Leverington, 4. Taylor Poole.
Pictured from left to right: Taylor Poole, Trent Leverington, Darcy Ward, Ivan Mauger, Josh Grajczonek.
Nick Again! - Posted 15 December, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
The hotly contested junior events during the equally hot and humid afternoon
resulted in another trophy on Nick Morris's shelf.
The Queensland Under 16 Champion again went through the card unbeaten,
leading home Tyson Snow, Ellis Perks and Zaine Kennedy in the final.
The overall racing on a soft, heavy track was highly entertaining and well
supported with 16 riders. Ellis Perks was the big improver of the day, finishing
second in the heat points. 13 year-old New Zealander Anthony Knowles made
his debut under the watchful eyes of Ivan Mauger, however the youngster was
far more impressive in his 350cc demonstration rides on the big track.
Tyson Nelson and Nick Morris had wins in the 350cc races, which included
Jake Moore and North Queenslander Dylan Blain. However, the heat and quick
succession of events caused Morris and Moore to
miss some of their races.
Junior Heat Points: Nick Morris 15, Ellis Perks 12, Tyson Snow 9, Zaine Kennedy
9, Robert Gottardi 9, Tori Bellamy 9, Matthew Day 9, Dylan Blain 9, Jake Moore 8
(3 rides), Harley Brigden 8, Bryce Brigden 6, Anthony Knowles 5 (4 rides),
Scott Schofield 5, Michael Detenon 4, Jake Hinchliffe 3, Brandon Coglan 2.
Final: 1. Nick Morris, 2. Tyson Snow, 3. Ellis Perks, 4. Zaine Kennedy.
by Gavin Elmes
Having won the twice postponed 2008 Queensland Sidecar Title just ten weeks
ago, Jason Aldridge and Duane Dennis extended their reign as champions by
winning the 2009 crown. For Dennis, it was a hat-trick of wins, having collected the
2007 trophy riding with Gary Moon. A very large crowd witnessed a programme of
cut-and-thrust, spectacular and pulsating sidecar and solo action, on a well-
prepared track which was partially flooded the previous day. There was scarcely a
race without passing.
Wayne Munck and his petite passenger, Yolanda Wilken, scorched through the
heats unbeaten. Aldridge dropped one point and that was to Munck who forced
an inside pass on Aldridge, who had taken the lead in their first race of the night.
Joining them in the thrill-a-second final, was Scott Christopher / Trent Koppe and
Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell. After a false start which saw Munck first into the
turn, Aldridge led the charge from the tapes, from Christopher, Munck and Wilson.
The latter three bumped and shoved their way through pits bend with Munck
coming out best and diving under Aldridge at the end of the first lap. Then
followed three laps of awesome racing as the front runners passed and repassed
each other. With Aldridge emerging first out of the final turn, Munck made a
sensational outside run, but was denied the win in a very close finish.
Heat 1 produced an explosive start to the event, setting the scene of thrills and spills. With Gary Moon/Mick Ing leading into the second lap, Jodie Donovan/Hamish Fairbrother rode high, hit the fence and flipped as Christopher swept under them. Jeff Barth/Dave Oliver collided with Donovan's outfit and almost rolled as well. Moon led the rerun, with Christopher coming through from third to take the flag.
Moon appeared to have engine problems after the start of his fourth ride, but claimed a red light on an infield photographer's camera caused him to stop. His protests for a rerun only brought him an awarded point for third, behind the only two finishers. Ross Brown and Bill Sewell suffered terminal engine problems in their first outings.
Two sidecar passengers, the Newman brothers Daniel and Andrew, were taken to hospital after a coming together of their respective outfits in their last heat. Daniel was reported to have a broken arm and Andrew a shoulder injury. Daniel was also involved in an earlier skirmish. Riding with his father Paul, the Newman trike blew a back tyre at the completion of a race, spun and was slammed by Bob Hill/ Nick Bain who were up-ended and ruled out of the meeting.
Picture shows twice World Solo Champion Jason Crump, who presented the trophies to Dennis (left) and Aldridge (right).
Heat Points: Wayne Munck/Yolanda Wilken 15, Jason Aldridge/Duane Dennis 14, Scott Christopher/Trent Koppe 12, Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell 12, Gary Moon/Mick Ing 11, Jodie Donovan/Hamish Fairbrother 9, Scott Davies/Andrew Newman 8, Jeff Barth/Dave Oliver 7, Paul Newman/Daniel Newman 7, Glen Vercoe/Chris Lewis 6, Anthony Schofield 4, Ben Cooper/Ryan Spann 4, Bob Hill/Nick Bain 3, Gary Schofield/Ben Schofield 2, Peter Wilken/Kelly Cooper (res) 2, Bill Sewell/Kim Laycock 1.
Final: 1. Jason Aldridge, 2. Wayne Munck, 3. Scott Christopher, 4. Robbie Wilson
Ward Wins Gold! - Posted 15 December, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
The phenomenal rise of 16 year-old Darcy Ward continued with his dynamic win of
the Ivan Mauger Golden Helmet.
Again it was a battle with Josh Grajczonek for the honours, having beaten him in
the recent Qld U-21 title, but coming second to Grajczonek in the Qld Solo
Championship. It was Grajczonek who got away smartly in the Golden Helmet final,
but Ward rocketed to the lead with a burst of speed down the back straight.
Trent Leverington was third and Taylor Poole fourth.
The contest lost some of its appeal when Scott Smith was unfortunately not
allowed to compete because he arrived 20 minutes late, having been at work all
day. Yet he arrived an hour and forty minutes before them meeting started.
Grajczonek started the night with a win over Ward in the opening race, then
Trent Leverington took a point from Ward in the second round. Ward answered
with a win over Leverington next time out. Grajczonek pulled off a great save
when he and Sam Taylor were caught up in heavy dirt on pits bend and both
almost ended up in the fence. Taylor went on to win. A broken chain in his last
heat found Grajczonek's chances of a place in the final depending on a first
or second in the semi-final. Mitchell Davey had mixed fortunes with a fall, a win
and engine failure after working his way into second place in his last heat.
Taylor Poole was very impressive. The 16 year-old NSW speedster rattled off five second places to earn his spot in the final.
Heat Points:Trent Leverington 11, Darcy Ward 10, Taylor Poole 8, Sam Taylor 7, Josh Grajczonek 5, Mitchell Davey 4, Harley Horwood 1.
Semi-final: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Taylor Poole, 3. Sam Taylor, 4. Mitchell Davey.
Golden Helmet Final: 1. Darcy Ward, 2. Josh Grajczonek, 3. Trent Leverington, 4. Taylor Poole.
Pictured from left to right: Taylor Poole, Trent Leverington, Darcy Ward, Ivan Mauger, Josh Grajczonek.
Nick Again! - Posted 15 December, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
The hotly contested junior events during the equally hot and humid afternoon
resulted in another trophy on Nick Morris's shelf.
The Queensland Under 16 Champion again went through the card unbeaten,
leading home Tyson Snow, Ellis Perks and Zaine Kennedy in the final.
The overall racing on a soft, heavy track was highly entertaining and well
supported with 16 riders. Ellis Perks was the big improver of the day, finishing
second in the heat points. 13 year-old New Zealander Anthony Knowles made
his debut under the watchful eyes of Ivan Mauger, however the youngster was
far more impressive in his 350cc demonstration rides on the big track.
Tyson Nelson and Nick Morris had wins in the 350cc races, which included
Jake Moore and North Queenslander Dylan Blain. However, the heat and quick
succession of events caused Morris and Moore to
miss some of their races.
Junior Heat Points: Nick Morris 15, Ellis Perks 12, Tyson Snow 9, Zaine Kennedy
9, Robert Gottardi 9, Tori Bellamy 9, Matthew Day 9, Dylan Blain 9, Jake Moore 8
(3 rides), Harley Brigden 8, Bryce Brigden 6, Anthony Knowles 5 (4 rides),
Scott Schofield 5, Michael Detenon 4, Jake Hinchliffe 3, Brandon Coglan 2.
Final: 1. Nick Morris, 2. Tyson Snow, 3. Ellis Perks, 4. Zaine Kennedy.