Pioneer Park - Nov 25th

[Bryn]

Veteran Kiwi Mitch Shirra showed that, on occasions, there's no substitute for experience on his way to recording his second successive victory at the North Queensland venue of Pioneer Park.

 

Having seen young Mitch come over to the UK as a teenager, and ride last Saturday night, tis hard to believe he'll be 48 next birthday!

 

Anyway Mitch dropped just one point in the heats when beaten by John Oliver who was having his first meeting at the track since returning from his successful season with King's Lynn in the UK.

 

In that heat Oliver just got the edge at a hard fought first bend to take the chequered flag despite Shirra pushing him hard for the entire race.

 

Earlier Oliver, testing out a new GM, had to be content with second places in his first two rides being surprisingly headed home by firstly Mitchell Davey and then Jon White.

 

White took the third qualifying place in the final but Davey faded after his opening ride win and it was Scotty Mckenna, despite not recording a race win, who took the fourth slot.

 

The final proved a disaster for Oliver who was left stranded at the tapes when his engine dropped a valve and that led to Shirra leading from start to finish to take the honours although White pushed him all the way to the flag.

 

Speaking afterwards Shirra said, "I'm really enjoying my racing and there's no real pressure on me like there is on some of the youngsters. If I win great, if I don't well life goes on. I'm having fun!"

 

QUALIFYING SCORES: Mitch Shirra 11, John Oliver 10, Jon White 10, Scotty McKenna 7, Mitchell Davey 5, Michael OÇonnor 5, Ashley Cathcart 5, Roy Stout 5. Shane Oats 2, Tim Chilcott (reserve) 0.

 

FINAL: Shirra White, McKenna, Oliver (ret).

 

In the sidecar division, the brothers Aldridge raced to an untroubled victory, with Cohen/Shaw stopping with a mechanic problem. In the earlier heats there had been some great racing with Cohen/Shaw providing some stiff competition.

 

1st J Aldridge/J Aldridge

2nd R Laycock/K Laycock

3rd J Sinnott/H Golding

Cohen/Shaw DNF

 

In the Junior Solo Final, which as is always the case was a hard fought affair, Jonathon Lewis took a deserved win as he stormed past Clinton Dennis in a move which also saw Nick Morris sneaking through on the inside through for second after he had made what can only be described as a woeful start. He used his head though, cut to the inside line from gate 3 and, as I said, eventually got through for second.

 

1st Jonathon Lewis

2nd Nick Morris

3rd Clinton Dennis

4th Jack McLean

 

 

Finally, I've managed to work out how to creatye a blog so go to:

 

http://brynboy.blogspot.com/

 

And keep up to date with my latest Aussie trip.