AUSTRALIAN SUPERMOTO CHAMPIIONSHIIPS 2007.
Rounds Three and Four. Newcastle NSW.
Toby Summers Report:
Left New Zealand in the middle of monsoon season, arrived in Sydney to 37degrees! Luckily it was one a one off and was slightly cooler up at Newcastle. The track 80% asphalt and 20% dirt was fast and flowing with tight corners. The dirt section as always had only one line with a step up, 2 table tops and a 2 burms. This time my YZF450’05 was ready. The engine had been rebuilt, the head ported and skimmed, it had a Vortex ignition and full motard suspension. I still had to fit my front wheel and brake that I’d brought over from NZ, fit new handlebars and some hand guards and then run it in but not as much work as last time which was good! Spent Friday’s practice day familiarising myself with the track and trying to pick up some lines off the faster guys.
After fitting a new set of Bridgestone’s for qualifying Saturday morning, I only managed 12th place, 3 seconds of the pace. After only 2 sessions my back tyre was shot - gutted! Couldn’t afford to buy anymore so I went on the scrounge. All the factory guys were running new Michelins for each qualifying session and race so I grabbed the best of their throw outs. Angus Reekie got through 10 rear Dunlop’s for the whole weekends racing; he was running 2 classes but even still!
Round 2 Moto 1:
I started on the inside of the 3rd row. Angus Reekie, Rodney Taplin, Craig Anderson and Linden Magee making up the front row. Unable to use the hole shot button because it wasn’t working, I seemed to go backwards on the start and then got blocked at the first corner by pretty much the whole field, then 2nd to last going into the 2nd corner, this wasn’t going to be my finest race! Made up a few places over the next few laps and then people started crashing. The dirt section was very slippery where they’d watered the track; a lot of people were struggling. I only managed to pull up to 10th place. Angus Reekie won on the KTM 450 SX-F.
Round 2,Moto 2:
Moved to the middle of row 3 on the grid. Made another terrible start, I never realised how valuable a hole shot button was. Again I managed to make up some places but the front guys had already pulled away. I finished 10th in the race and 10th overall on the day. Angus Reekie continued his winning streak.
After a disappointing Rd2 on Saturday, I seriously wanted to improve for Rd3. I spent some time Sunday morning and managed to fix the hole shot button, then went straight out and qualified 10th, a whole second quicker than the day before.
Round 3 Moto 1:
Couldn’t believe it, with the hole shot button working I reached the front row by the first corner, knocking bars with MX champ Craig Anderson, but then ran wide. I stayed with the leaders for a couple of laps maintaining a better pace throughout the race and managed to finish 7th place, my best result yet. Reekie won.
Round 3 Moto 2:
More determined than ever and now starting on the 2nd row I was prepared for another handlebar banging first corner. This time I held my line and was 6th coming out of the first corner, however once again the power of the factory bikes saw them all pull away. I pushed hard but made a mistake in the dirt and the stalled the bike – gutted, about 4 riders got by. I chased hard and managed to make up a place then 2 riders went down. My 2nd hand Michelins now starting to disintegrate made the rear end slide out of every corner, very exciting but not ideal. A lap short of passing another rider the chequered flag came out. I finished 9th in the race and 9th overall for the day. Angus Reekie took his 4th S2 win of the weekend to increase his championship lead.
The next round is in Queensland in 5 weeks time, I didn’t think I would be able to go as I’ve seriously run out of money but after finishing in 7th place I’m now hungry for more – you gotta do what you gotta do right? I would like to thank gofastfilms.co.nz for their constant support and great photos, Yamaha NZ for making a great motorcycle, MNZ for all their help, Mark at Proshield for my cool number boards, Gavin at House of Travel, Papakura for sorting out our last minute flights and my trusty 2nd hand Michelins for lasting all weekend.
