Motorcycle racing has returned in earnest to Barbagallo Raceway Wanneroo on Sunday 10th March with the running of the first motorcycle race day since 2016. The Monday prior riders participated in a Training/ Tuning Day which was held in extreme conditions with temperatures in the low to mid 40’s. The addition of the ‘Chicane’ proved to be incident free and many riders said that “It adds something to the track”.
A very enthusiastic field of riders took to the track in near perfect conditions on the race day and for the first time in a long time the Period5/Period6 competitors from the Historic Competition Motorcycle Club of WA (HCMCWA) joined the modern classes for Sidecars, Production including 125GP, C, D, Novice Clubman and A, B, select C class. The final race for each class was a reverse grid formation.
All eyes were on the ‘Chicane’ to see how the new section of track, which allowed motorcycle racing to return, played out under race conditions and it proved to not be an obstacle with competitors able to negotiate it without incident.
With just a five-minute practice and one five-minute qualifying Ben Stronach put down a 59.1 second lap to secure pole for the three races. In the A, B, select C class the top three, Ben Stronach (Yamaha R1), Cameron Stronach (Ducati Panigale) and Adam Senior (Yamaha R1) each scored a win, second and a third to tie on points at the end of the day with 63 points, and by virtue of his last race win Cameron Stronach won the round. Ben won the first race and briefly held the new lap record with a 58.8 second lap. It lasted until Adam Senior pulled off a stunning last lap last corner pass in the second race going on to win the race with a 58.5260 second lap. Tommy King (Yamaha R6) the only 600cc machine in the field, did everything to stay with the 1000cc bikes and managed to take three fourth placings with a best time of 1:00.7060 seconds. That is just 3.5 seconds outside Sam Clarke’s lap record for Supersport set on a Kawasaki ZX-6 on the 5th June 2016. Seniors best lap time is around 3 seconds slower than the old lap record set by Daniel Falzon on a Yamaha R1 on the 5th June 2016. But I think it is fair to say that once the boys get themselves and their bikes sorted the lap record will tumble a little.
The C, D, and Novice Class of 600 and 1000cc machines saw 16 bikes take to the track and it was newcomer Darren McGrath (Suzuki GSX-R1000) who won the first two races before he finished fourth in the final race, Callum O’Brien (Kawasaki ZX-6) was second in each of the first two races before winning the final race on what was his first ride aboard the ZX-6 machine. Kenric Ebsary (Kawasaki ZX-10) was third in each of the first two before finishing back in the field in the final race. McGrath won the day from O’Brien with Bronson Pickett (Yamaha R6) was overall third.
The Production class (incorporating 125’s) saw Dave Manson (Honda RS 125) win the day with two first places and a second place. Second overall was Bronson Pickett (Yamaha R3) with two second places and a third. Michael King (Yamaha R3) took the final podium place with two fourth places and a third place.
In the Sidecars Jero Joyce/Corey Blackman (RHR Kawasaki ZX-10) took the overall win with two wins and a second. Second overall were Graeme Evans/Jarrod Scott (RHR Kawasaki ZX-10) with veteran Mickey Robbins/ Karen Dore (Kawasaki ZX-6) overall third. Joyce/Blackman set the fastest lap with a 1:04.5480 second lap in race 1
Joyce/Blackman’s time is just 5 seconds of the old record set by Steve Abbott/Jamie Biggs (Elf/LCR) set on 29th May 2005. Dillan McDermott/Paul Matthews (LCR Kawasaki ZX-10) took their maiden win in the sidecars in race 2.
The Period5/Period6 (bikes of the 80’s era) saw Anthony McFadden (Suzuki GSX-R750) win the day with wins in the first two races and a second place in the reverse grid final race. Second was Paul Joshua (Suzuki GSX-R750) with two second places and the win in the final race. Whilst Adam Senior (Yamaha TZ750) with two second places and a third took the final podium place.
The Motorcycle Racing Club of WA is now in its 63rd year having competed at the Wanneroo Raceway since the opening of the circuit in 1968. With activity limited to the Collie Circuit in the past two years, competitive numbers are low, and the club has a challenging year ahead in rebuilding both the competitor base and the training activities offered to street riders. The Club will celebrate its commencement of the 2019 Hydroquip State Road Racing Championship Series over 5 rounds this year, commencing at Barbagallo on June 2nd long weekend.
Further info at www.mcrcwa.com.au
Or contact Denise Stronach
MCRCWA Events admin@mcrcwa.com.au
Photo’s courtesy innesphotografix