Post by Sue on Nov 17, 2008 21:56:48 GMT
Josh and Nick are Qld Champs! - Posted 17 November, 2008
by Gavin Elmes
Josh Grajczonek and Nick Morris (pictured) won the Queensland Solo
Championships at senior and junior levels respectively at Brandon on Saturday
night. Grajczonek also holds the Qld Under 21 crown - a title which he defends
two kilometres up the Bruce Highway at Pioneer Park on 29 November. After a hot,
dusty afternoon practice session, the track was unfortunately over-watered and
refused to dry out when the sun and breeze both dropped. Conditions were
difficult for the first round, and the track was then totally re-graded and brought
back to racing standard.
Darcy Ward was the standout performer in the qualifying heats, racing away to
maximum points. His duel with Grajczonek in their heat was superb, and the two
crossed the line together. However, there was no second chance for Ward in the
final, where the two were joined by defending champion Scott Smith and Mitchell
Davey. The four finished in the positions they gated, maintainig the same
distance apart from each other for the four laps - Ward a very creditable second,
over Smith and Davey.
The meeting had its controversial moments, due mainly to some questionable
decisions by the referee. Scott Smith was caught unawares at the tapes second
time out and remained on the track, causing the other riders to shut off quickly as
they came around to complete the first lap. Smith was reinstated for the rerun.
This time, sixteen year-old English visitor, Kyle Newman (pictured), was obstructed
by a starting official still on the track as the tapes rose. Newman's appeals for a
rerun fell on deaf ears.
His bad luck didn't end there. He burnt out two clutches and broke two chains.
But he did give glimpses of his capabilities in the two races where he finished
second.
Steven Reid found himself in the hot seat quite literally when his bike caught
fire on the starting line. By the time an extinguisher arrived, the bike was blazing
fiercely. Damien Koppe was lucky not to have been excluded for cutting pits corner
and sending up a cloud of dust. As the track was so damp, it was a bit difficult to
avoid noticing. Koppe had early engine problems and missed his second outing.
Heats Points: Darcy Ward 15, Josh Grajczonek 14, Scott Smith 13, Mitchell Davey 12, Ashley Cathcart 9, Ricky Barney 9, Steven Reid 7, Harley Horwood 7, Damien Koppe 6, Kurt Palmer 5, Mitchell Weismantel 5, Kyle Newman 4, Chris Ferguson(reserve) 4, Roy Stout 3, Ryan McManus 3, Matt Pilcher 3, Wes Jenkins 1.
Final: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Darcy Ward, 3. Scott Smith, 4. Mitchell Davey.
Both front runners in the Under 16 Final, Nick Morris and Clinton Dennis, looked to have damaged their chances, when each fell in his first race and later dropped another point. However, they scraped into the race that mattered behind Dylan Blain and Matthew Day. Blain was away smartly when the tapes flew, followed into the first bend by Morris, Day and Dennis. Dennis made an inside pass on Day at the end of the first lap then put Morris under pressure. Morris squeezed under Blain on the last lap. Dennis did the same and pushed Morris to the tapes in a close finish.
Heat Points: Dylan Blain 14, Matthew Day 12, Nick Morris 11, Clinton Dennis 11, Jayden O'Malley 11, Glen Squires 8, Jack McLean 8, Jake Moore 8, Zaine Kennedy 7, Harley Brigden 7, Tyler Moon 6, Hayden Barr 5, Scott Schofield 5, Michael Detenon 4, Robert Gottardi (reserve) 3, Brandan Coglin 1, Brodie Oats 0.
Junior Final: 1. Nick Morris, 2. Clinton Dennis, 3. Dylan Blain, 4. Matthew Day.
Taken from goldcoastspeedway.com/
by Gavin Elmes
Josh Grajczonek and Nick Morris (pictured) won the Queensland Solo
Championships at senior and junior levels respectively at Brandon on Saturday
night. Grajczonek also holds the Qld Under 21 crown - a title which he defends
two kilometres up the Bruce Highway at Pioneer Park on 29 November. After a hot,
dusty afternoon practice session, the track was unfortunately over-watered and
refused to dry out when the sun and breeze both dropped. Conditions were
difficult for the first round, and the track was then totally re-graded and brought
back to racing standard.
Darcy Ward was the standout performer in the qualifying heats, racing away to
maximum points. His duel with Grajczonek in their heat was superb, and the two
crossed the line together. However, there was no second chance for Ward in the
final, where the two were joined by defending champion Scott Smith and Mitchell
Davey. The four finished in the positions they gated, maintainig the same
distance apart from each other for the four laps - Ward a very creditable second,
over Smith and Davey.
The meeting had its controversial moments, due mainly to some questionable
decisions by the referee. Scott Smith was caught unawares at the tapes second
time out and remained on the track, causing the other riders to shut off quickly as
they came around to complete the first lap. Smith was reinstated for the rerun.
This time, sixteen year-old English visitor, Kyle Newman (pictured), was obstructed
by a starting official still on the track as the tapes rose. Newman's appeals for a
rerun fell on deaf ears.
His bad luck didn't end there. He burnt out two clutches and broke two chains.
But he did give glimpses of his capabilities in the two races where he finished
second.
Steven Reid found himself in the hot seat quite literally when his bike caught
fire on the starting line. By the time an extinguisher arrived, the bike was blazing
fiercely. Damien Koppe was lucky not to have been excluded for cutting pits corner
and sending up a cloud of dust. As the track was so damp, it was a bit difficult to
avoid noticing. Koppe had early engine problems and missed his second outing.
Heats Points: Darcy Ward 15, Josh Grajczonek 14, Scott Smith 13, Mitchell Davey 12, Ashley Cathcart 9, Ricky Barney 9, Steven Reid 7, Harley Horwood 7, Damien Koppe 6, Kurt Palmer 5, Mitchell Weismantel 5, Kyle Newman 4, Chris Ferguson(reserve) 4, Roy Stout 3, Ryan McManus 3, Matt Pilcher 3, Wes Jenkins 1.
Final: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Darcy Ward, 3. Scott Smith, 4. Mitchell Davey.
Both front runners in the Under 16 Final, Nick Morris and Clinton Dennis, looked to have damaged their chances, when each fell in his first race and later dropped another point. However, they scraped into the race that mattered behind Dylan Blain and Matthew Day. Blain was away smartly when the tapes flew, followed into the first bend by Morris, Day and Dennis. Dennis made an inside pass on Day at the end of the first lap then put Morris under pressure. Morris squeezed under Blain on the last lap. Dennis did the same and pushed Morris to the tapes in a close finish.
Heat Points: Dylan Blain 14, Matthew Day 12, Nick Morris 11, Clinton Dennis 11, Jayden O'Malley 11, Glen Squires 8, Jack McLean 8, Jake Moore 8, Zaine Kennedy 7, Harley Brigden 7, Tyler Moon 6, Hayden Barr 5, Scott Schofield 5, Michael Detenon 4, Robert Gottardi (reserve) 3, Brandan Coglin 1, Brodie Oats 0.
Junior Final: 1. Nick Morris, 2. Clinton Dennis, 3. Dylan Blain, 4. Matthew Day.
Taken from goldcoastspeedway.com/