2016 South Australian Road Race Champs – Round Two – Mallala
It was a wet and windy start to the second round of the South Australian Road Racing Championships. Sunday morning felt like a blizzard had rolled into Mallala with the rain streaking sideways across the fields and over Mallala Motorsport Park. Wet tyres were a must if competitors wanted to keep their bikes shiny side up although there were a number of people that succumbed to the conditions.
Riders came together after qualifying to help one another get their bikes back together and through scrutineering for the races later in the day. It goes to show how close knit the competitors are with many scrambling for parts and with zip ties in hand emergency repairs were carried out just in time for the start of racing.
Auldana Foundations: Over 600cc
By the time the big over 600cc boys came out to play the track was showing some signs of clearing up but a quick shower saw that the conditions continued to be slippery and tricky to navigate. Pole sitter Roy Ankan (SA Motorcycles/Motionlogics/Radskills) tried his hardest to stay up the front but there was a champion performance amongst the pack with William “Struggie” Strugnell (Lee’s Spot On Motorcycles/Woolich Racing/Wingfield Metal Finishers) Kawasaki ZX-10R taking out all three races in fine form.
Strugnell sliced through the pack of riders after some forgettable starts to take commanding wins all day. Second places were shared between the up and coming C grader Alex Pavlenko (SA Motorcycles/Motionlogics) and Veteran Evan Byles (SA Motorcycles) on their Kawasaki ZX-10R’s. Consistency was not on their side and would show at the end of the day. Topping off the podium sharing a day of third places was Graham Snaith (DA Motorcycles/Lobethal Bierhaus Yamaha R1) and the Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Ducati 959 of Howard Sabey. Overall Standings for the day were Strugnell followed by a very consistent Sabey and Snaith taking out third.
Industrial Medic Services (IMS) 600cc
Next out was the Industrial Medic Services (IMS) 600cc class who also faced the slippery track conditions of the stormy morning but came up with some close but fair racing throughout the field. Riders showed their skills in the wet conditions slipping and sliding around in the first race with many commenting on the lack of grip and some close moments.
Pole sitter Lachlan Hill (Ron Angel Classic Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R) was a front runner behind eventual overall winner Royce Rowe (Les Rowe and Associates GSX-R600) before having technical issues and being forced to sit out the remainder of the day. Royce Rowe showed considerable skill and a level head in all conditions to lead the way home followed intently by the fast and furious style of Mark Hoey (Complete Plumbing & Gas/Motionlogics ZX-6R). Coming home for an excellent third place for the day was the Allan Rigby Motorcycle Services Suzuki GSX-R600 mounted Aaron Rigby.
Shingleback wines: C20 and GC Motorcycles C20+
The combined classes of Shingleback wines: C20 and the GC Motorcycles C20+ were the first ones out to test the track under race conditions and full wet tyres were absolutely needed.
If Donald Duck was a motorcycle racer he would have been in his element as the rain teemed down and the visors fogged up all riders made it home safely in treacherous conditions albeit with lap times to match.
Graham Snaith was on pole position for all races and managed to stay out in front of the competition throughout the day on his DA Motorcycles/Lobethal Bierhaus Supported Yamaha R1 comfortably clear of Kym Bolto (Coast Yamaha – Adelaide Plastic) Yamaha R6 and John Chiodi (Japanese Motorcycle Dismantlers) GSX-R1000.
Darren Hansberry was the sole competitor on the immaculate Racebike Services/TBR GSX-R750 for the C20 class and had great tussles in the field for most of the day with Motionlogics Ducati Mounted veteran Rob Vikuckis.
Les Rowe & Associates Limited & Peter Stevens Motorcycles Juniors
With a very diverse bunch of riders and bikes the Limited class mixed in with some very talented junior riders was always going to be exciting. Royce Rowe again enjoyed success piloting his jewel like custom Les Rowe and Associates supported Ducati 650. He was followed closely in second place by another custom Ducati racer Paul Van Der Heiden (BJR Products/Aqua7Bathrooms Ducati 650) and a tenacious Michael Villani (Villani Jewellers Kawasaki ER6) whom shared third places with Gareth Deacon on another Kawasaki ER6.
Joel Bell showed maturity beyond his years in tricky conditions as the only junior brave enough to head into the wintery conditions to mix it up with rivals on much faster machinery and take out the junior class.
Steve Martin/Peter Kerr Cup
William “Willie” Strugnell capped off a fantastic weekend by taking out the A & B grade Steve Martin/Peter Kerr Cup in wet conditions. Again showing that he has what it takes to lead and set the pace Strugnell (Lee’s Spot On Motorcycles/Woolich Racing) on his Kawasaki ZX-10R in front of an on-song Howard Sabey (Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Ducati 959) and Roy Ankan (SA Motorcycles/Motionlogics/Radskills) riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Reece Bancell Trophy
The Reece Bancell Trophy is always hotly contested and this was no acception with the talented Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted Alex Pavlenko (SA Motorcycles/Motionlogics) coming home on the top step after riding a smart race from the front. Kieran Hurrell kept Pavlenko honest aboard his Honda CBR1000RR coming in a close second followed to the flag by a very fast Mark Hoey. Hoey (Complete Plumbing & Gas/Motionlogics) supported Kawasaki ZX-6R rode the wheels off of his 600cc bike amongst his 1000cc peers and impressed with speed and courage after having a qualifying fall.
Peter Steven Motorcycles: Brackets
Bracket racing has long been a fantastic way for riders to get introduced into the South Australian Road Race Championships. Riders compete on level terms in accord to their relative speed by only racing their own four competitors placed and staggered across the grid. Sean Fletcher (Suzuki GSX-R1000), Bonn Watson (Kawasaki ZX-6R), Roger Ireland Honda (Honda CBR600RR) and Michael Villani (Villani Jewellers Kawasaki ER6) all won their respective Brackets.
