Race Report - Round 1: Hughes Limousines WA State Road Racing Championships. Words & Photography: John Innes
The 2016 racing season got underway with a two day meeting held over the 30th April – 1st May at Barbagallo Raceway.
Sadly as the result of a high speed crash at Turn 7 in the first Superbike race Daniel Chadbund lost his life, and a large contingent of MCRCWA members attended his funeral on the 6th May.
The new naming right sponsor for the State Road Racing Championships – Hughes Limousines has also become the sponsor for the state’s premier class of racing the Superbikes.
Hughes Limousines Superbike Championship
The Hughes Limousines Superbike Championship was held over three races, and in a break from tradition they were held over 12 laps rather than the normal eight laps, to help the riders adjust to the upcoming ASBK meeting which will run longer races.
Ben Stronach (Swift Windscreens Kawasaki ZX-10) took the win in the race which was ‘red flagged’ following the crash and was “declared” following the lengthy delay. Ralph Mammoliti (Trakdayz Kawasaki ZX-10) was second with Adam Senior (Consent 2 Go Yamaha R1) third. Adam Chambers (Kawasaki ZX -10) rounded out the top five. Half points were allotted to this race as the lead riders only completed five laps.
In the second race Stronach again came out on top after the nine laps but it was not without a fight, Mammoliti stretched him to the max before he won by just under half a second with Chambers filling the minor podium place. Senior was fourth and Scott Pettit (Pro Twin Yamaha R1) rounded out the top five. The race was called at nine laps as the result of Raj Sarin (BMW S 1000RR) crashing on the exit of T7 with the bike on the track.
The final 12 lapper got underway and again it was the same five riders fighting it out at the front of the field. Stronach again prevailed by just under two seconds from Chambers, with Mammoliti third, Senior was again in fourth place and Pettit rounded out the top five.
The Superbike Points Table sees Stronach leading on 63 with Mammoliti second on 48, Chambers third on 47, Senior fourth on 43 and Pettit fifth on 40 points.
In the ‘C’ Grade Series Keith Harrison leads with 63 points from Tim de Bruyn in second place on 48 and Anton Jones third on 46 points.
Hydroquip Supersport Championship
The Hydroquip Supersport Championship saw Sam Clarke (Banhams WA Kawasaki ZX-6) hand out a masterclass display of riding in the first two races. In the first race he absolutely blitzed the field to win by 15.5 seconds from Leigh Boujos (JB Racing Yamaha R6) with Rhys Clay (CGS tyres Kawasaki ZX-6) third. Tommy King (Yamaha R6) was fourth and Matt Price (Joondalup Carpet Court Honda CBR600RR) was fifth.
The second was a repeat as far as Clarke was concerned with another win this time by 13.5 seconds with Tim Boujos (JB Racing Kawasaki ZX-6) coming home in second place ahead of older brother Leigh in third place. Fourth was Daniel Wilson (Yamaha R6) with Jake Pruiti-Ciarello (Flashpoint Motorsports Triumph Daytona 675) fifth.
The final race once again saw Clarke set the pace but an off-track excursion at around one third race distance saw Tim Boujos inherit the lead which he held to the finish from older brother Leigh and King who was third. Price was fourth with Clay fifth. Clarke re-joined the race finishing in seventh place gaining valuable points towards the championship and even managed to set the fastest lap at 58.6930 seconds on lap seven.
The Supersport Points Table sees Clarke on top with 64 points second is Leigh Boujos on 58 and third is Rhys Clay on 48 points.
In the ‘C’ Grade Price leads on 66 points, second is Andrew Biffen on 55 and third is Pruiti- Ciarello on 54 points.
Fastline GP Racing 125GP Championship
In the Fastline GP Racing 125GP Championship we saw two different winners over the four races. David Manson (Fastline GP Racing Honda RS 125) took out the first race from the returning Scott Pettit (Fastline GP Racing Honda RS 125) with Mark Laing-Hughes (Fastline GP Racing Yamaha TZ 125) in third place.
The second race saw Pettit go one better taking the win from Manson and Laing-Hughes again taking the minor placing. In the third race it was again Pettit who crossed the line first, with Manson ahead of Laing-Hughes. The final race and for the third consecutive time Pettit greeted the chequered flag from Manson and another returning multi state champion in Tommy Hatton (Tom Hatton Racing Honda RS 125) in third place.
The 125GP Championship Points Table sees Pettit out on top with 95 points second is Manson on 85, third is Hatton on 68 points. Defending champion David Doughty is still well in contention on 50 points.
Coded Welding Sidecar Championship
In the Coded Welding Sidecar Championship it didn’t all go the way of the defending State champions Jero Joyce/Corey Blackman. The weekend got off to a good start with the pair winning the first of the four races from multi-state champions Murray Stronach/Steve Marshall with Phil Brown/Michelle Clarke in third place.
In the second race Joyce/Blackman only managed two laps before machine woes hit the pair leaving the veterans Stronach/Marshal to chalk up the win from Graeme Evans/Darren Mercer with Brown/Clarke again taking the minor podium place.
Race three and Joyce/Blackman were back and took the win by 1.5 seconds from Stronach/Marshall with Lance Baylis/Evelyne Scholz third.
The final race over the six lap journey was won by Joyce/Blackman with Stronach/Marshall again runners-up and Evans/Mercer taking third place.
The Sidecar Championship Points Table sees Stronach/Marshall on top with 85 points, 10 points clear of Joyce/Blackman on 75 and Baylis/Scholz on 67 points in third place.
Helmet House Production Series
The Helmet House Production Series had four races over the weekend with 36 starters in each race and the crowd was treated to some of the most exciting and close racing of the round. With several different capacities in the class there were races within the race which kept the crowd on their toes.
One man stood out above the rest – Ray Tschorn (KTM West KTM RC390) raced to four consecutive victories over the weekend to establish himself in overall top spot.
In race one Lachlan Hickey (JB Racing Kawasaki 300) rode to a brilliant second place followed by former National 250 Production Champion Jessica Boujos (Panik Racing Kawasaki 300).
The second race saw Jonah Sita (Chain Reaction Motorcycles Kawasaki 300) take second place with Hickey finishing third. Races three and four were the same finishing order as race two and the two 300 riders really put on a great show for the public. These guys along with Lachlan Keogh are the future of the sport in WA and it looks like it is in good hands. Another rider to watch out for is Krystal Biffen, this young lady has improved out of sight and will surely trouble the front runners as the season progresses.
The Production Points Table sees Jonah Sita with 87 points, Lachlan Hickey is second on 85 and Krystal Biffen is third on 69 points in the – “UP to 300cc Series.” “In the over 300cc Series Ray Tschorn leads on 100 points, second is James Smith on 76, third is Aari Simpson on 70 points.
Cully’s Yamaha Clubman 600
The Cully’s Yamaha Clubman 600 saw two winners over the four races. Terry Teo (Yamaha R6) won the first two with Lee Cairns (LRC Engineering Yamaha R6) second and Jakob Kelsall (Suzuki GSX-R600) third in the first race.
In the second race Teo again took the chequered flag but this time it was Eddie Kirrane (KForm Contracting Suzuki GSX-R600) who followed him over the line in second place with Cairns third.
Race three and it was the same three riders as race two but this time it was Kirrane winning from Teo and Cairns. In the final race it was again Kirrane taking the win from Kelsall and Teo in third spot.
The Clubman 600 Points Table sees Teo on 88 points, Kirrane second on 87 and Kelsall third on 70 points.
Chain Reaction Clubman 1000
In the Chain Reaction Clubman 1000 we had three different winners over the four races. Scott McCue (Kawasaki ZX-10) won the first two races. In the first race Max James-Beatsonbel (Yamaha R1) was second with Enzo D’Alessandro (SKB Honda CBR1000RR) third.
The second race saw McCue cross the line first from James-Beatsonbel and Kristo Ramm (SBC Racing Honda CBR 1000RR). Race three it was Aaron Edwards (Yamaha R1) who greeted the chequered flag from James Beatsonbel and McCue.
The final race James-Beatsonbel broke through for the win with Edwards second and Toby Bassett (Ducati 1000) took the minor podium position.
The Clubman 1000 Points Table sees McCue leading with 77 points second is James Beatsonbel on 73 and third is Edwards on 64 points.
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