Toby Summers takes in a round of the Aussie Nats.

 

Summers chatting with Supermoto sensation Herfoss.

AUSTRALIIAN SUPERMOTO CHAMPIIONSHiPS,
Cameron Park, NSW, RDS 2/3, March 11th/12th

Race Report.

Fri 10th:

Arrived in sunny Sydney at 10am. Picked up a Ssangyong Rexton from
Ssangyong’s Sydney office and drove to Newcastle in style. Went straight to Cameron
Park and met Mark Avard (event promoter), he was leasing me his spare bike for the
weekend and it needed to be prepped. Changed the oil, filters and brake setup. Avard’s
bike a 450 YZR ‘04 already had motard suspension, a GYT-R pipe and had been tuned.
Sat 11th: Gates opened at 7am. No practice so first qualifying session was my first time
on the bike. With 58 horsepower the bike definitely felt quick. The track was awesome.
The dirt section had a step-up and two table tops and although very slippery was a lot of
fun. Took me a few laps to get used to though and in lap four I crashed on the dirt.
Second qualifier I ran better but a few laps from the end the exhaust fell off, luckily
Avard had a spare.

After waiting all day in the 33c heat S2 finally got their first race about 5pm. Before the
race I fitted a new set of Bridgestone tyres, soft compound, as recommended by Avard. A
problem with the transponders meant no times had been recorded, so as a newcomer I
had to start at the back. Quick off the lights I managed to move up several places by the
first corner, by the end of the first lap I’d moved into 11th place. It was a difficult track to
pass on especially in the dirt where there was only one line. After 12 laps I finished in 8th
place. Ben Grabham won.

After another good start in race 2 I was 6th by the first corner, rubbing handlebars with
the pros. It felt good and I managed to hold my position for half the race. I wasn’t quite
quick enough on the tarmac though and was soon passed by Herrick and Cunningham. A
few laps from the end Herfoss crashed breaking his clutch lever; he managed to carry on
and was soon on my tail. With one lap to go he had only gained a bit but then at the end
of the long straight my front brake over heated forcing me to skid off the track, Herfoss
got by and I finished in 8th place. Adam Cini won.

Sun 12th: Another scorcher of a day and I really could have done with a new back tyre,
all the top guys had new rubber. I qualified 9th with a time of 1.13.95. Eager as ever on
the start, my wheels started moving just before the lights went out, giving me a 15sec
penalty! I couldn’t believe it and knew I needed to ride harder to make up for the lost
time. I followed Avard round for several laps but soon grew tired in the heat and
dropped off the pace. I finished in 10th place. Adam Cini won.
Still on the 3rd row in race 2, I was so conscious of making a false start that I made a
terrible start and lost out quite a few places. With my back tyre sliding all over the place
I managed to pull back a few places, finishing in 10th place. Troy Herfoss won.
A great weekends racing, learnt loads. One thing is for sure I am definitely keen to go
back for more. I know I can go faster and with the valuable experience gained this
weekend and some practice time here in New Zealand I’ll hopefully be ready to go back
for another round in 6 weeks time. I would like to thank Russell Burling at Ssangyong for
the use of the Rexton, it was so hot in Oz a comfortable air-conditioned ride was a must,
Sports Pro for the Shift Motard leathers, NJ Wood for a set of tyres and Mark Avard for
all his help setting me up with a ride.

Look out for Summers in up coming rounds.

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