Holmes takes out Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge

Plenty of spectators turned out at Morgan Park Raceway, not only to watch Australia’s biggest road racing stars in action but also the local Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge, at Round 5 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirell. Leigh Holmes (Kawasaki ZXR 400) was the class rider of the day.

Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge

Race One

Leigh Holmes (Kawasaki ZXR 400) backed up the pace he showed in yesterday’s practice sessions to take pole position for the Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge class from his time in Qualifying Two.

Holmes’s pole lap time was a 1:23.165. Holmes qualified in front of Anthony Carroll (Honda VFR 400) and Wadi Nadzri (Honda VFR 400).

Race One was a master class display by Holmes, who won by a whooping 23 seconds. Carroll would finish in second position behind winner Holmes. In third place was Nadzri, 36 seconds behind the leader.

Fourth and fifth positions were taken by Glenn Chandler (Johnny’s Wonderful Coffee & Coiffure, Yamaha TZR 250) and John Carpenter (Honda VFR 400).
Fastest lap of the race went to race winner, Holmes.

Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge Provisional Race One Results

Leigh HOLMES (Kawasaki ZXR 400)
Anthony CARROLL (Honda VFR 400)
Wadi NADZRI (Honda VFR 400)
Glenn CHANDLER (Johnny’s Wonderful Coffee & Coiffure, Yamaha TZR 250)
John CARPENTER (Honda VFR 400)
Kieran McGEOWN (Honda CBR RR 250)
Mark TORRANCE (Gold Coast Caravan For Hire, Honda VFR 400)
Damien COPPOLA (Honda CBR RR 250)
Gary DICKSON (Team.Tiger.com.au, Honda CBR RR 250)
Sarah FAIRBROTHER (Honda CBR RR 250)

Race Two

The second race for the Club Challenge was won convincingly by Holmes. This race was a master class from the rider that hails from New South Wales.

Leigh Holmes

Homes finished a very impressive 23.249 seconds in front of second place getter Anthony Carroll (Honda VFR 400). The last podium placer was Glenn Chandler (Johnny’s Wonderful Coffee & Coiffure, Yamaha TZR 250) on the lower engine capacity Yamaha.

Completing the top five was Wadi Nadzri (Honda VFR 400) and John Carpenter (Honda VFR 400). The fastest lap of the race was a 1:22.371 that was lodged by Homes.

Motorsports NT Club Challenge Race Two Provisional Results

Leigh HOLMES (Kawasaki ZXR 400)
Anthony CARROLL (Honda VFR 400)
Glenn CHANDLER (Johnny’s Wonderful Coffee & Coiffure, Yamaha TZR 250)
Wadi NADZRI (Honda VFR 400)
John CARPENTER (Honda VFR 400)
Kieran McGEOWN (Honda CBR RR 250)
Mark TORRANCE (Gold Coast Caravan For Hire, Honda VFR 400)
Gary DICKSON (Team.Tiger.com.au, Honda CBR RR 250)
Sarah FAIRBROTHER (Honda CBR RR 250)
Elliott WHIELDON (Gold Coast Caravan For Hire, Honda VFR 400)

Race Three

Homes on bike number 3 would once again win Race Three in a carbon copy of all prior races, as he took victory on his Kawasaki. The race winner would cross the line with a gap over a full 6.5 seconds, a much closer margin than the previous races. The victory handed him three out of three wins for the weekend.

Leigh Holmes

In second place was once again Carroll on the Honda. To round out the podium was Nadzri improving on his fourth place finish from the previous race. Kieran McGeown (Honda CBR RR 250) and John Carpenter (Honda VFR 400) completed the top five.

Leigh Homes, “That was awesome, although it was not as easy as it looks! I nearly high sided in the last race, so I felt I was more in control for this one. I had to conserve my tyres at times and push hard at other points. It was great to get the old girl out again!”

Anthony Carroll, “It’s been a great event with a huge following. For someone like my age, its great to get out there on the bike!”

Wadi Nadzri, “It was about as good as it gets out there for late in the day. It really has been fantastic weather and a great track. Its absolutely been worthwhile and its good to be back!”

Motorcycle Sportsmen Club Challenge Round Points