Richards and Brook standouts at Dirt Track Champs

Luke Richards and Jarred Brook standouts at Senior Dirt Track Champs

The 2016 Chris Watson Motorcycles Yamaha Australian Senior Dirt Track Championships, supported by the Port Stephens Council, lived up to expectations as the nation’s best riders turned on  two days of superb action at the Barleigh Ranch Raceway over the weekend.

Two standout performers emerged – one the most dominant performer in recent years and the other a teenager destined for many more successes.

Luke Richards from Singleton added another two class wins firstly defending his Pro Open class ahead of Hunter veteran Paul Caslick, while Kurri’s Brody Nowlan snatched third from Canberra rider Ian Hamilton on the line.

Richards then had to wait for the last race when he regained the premier Pro 450 class by holding off Mildura rider Nicholas Waters, Gunnedah surprise packet Daniel Wicks and Nowlan.

In between North Brisbane teenager Jarred Brook won his first senior title but turned it in to a triple treat before racing finished.

Brook started with the Pro 250 class heading Adelaide rider Ty Lynch, local Lachlan Ellis and Waters.

The most satisfying victory for Brook came in the MX Open where he led home Richards, another former champion Marty McNamara of Gunnedah and local teenager Max Croker.

Brook not surprisingly won the Under 19s class from Central Coast 16-year-old Hayden Spinks, defending champion Lynch, and Croker.

PRO 450

1. Luke Richards
2. Nicholas Waters
3. Daniel Wicks

PRO 250

1. Jarred Brook
2. Ty Lynch
3. Lachlan Ellis

MX OPEN

1. Jarred Brook
2. Luke Richards
3. Marty McNamara

PRO OPEN

1. Luke Richards
2. Paul Caslick
3. Brody Nowlan

UNDER 19s

1. Jarred Brook
2. Hayden Spinks
3. Ty Lynch

WOMENS

The biggest field ever assembled for the Womens class added to the quality action with Kurri teenager Keegan Pickering taking the honours ahead of defending champion Briony Hendrickson of North Brisbane, Coffs Harbour’s Amy Wedd and Leanne Nelson of Canberra.

1. Keegan Pickering
2. Briony Hendrickson
3. Amy Wedd

SIDECAR

The sidecar class was decided by a final which included four previous champions.

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Maryborough rider David Grainger is back on top 12 years after his previous win with passenger Trevor Gaze by beating Canberra duo Corey Banks and passenger Ian Hamilton, another Maryborough duo Jack Weston and Matthew Doyle and Brisbane brothers Adam and Graham Liebke.

1. David Grainger / Trevor Gaze
2. Corey Banks / Ian Hamilton
3. Jack Weston / Matthew Doyle

ATV PRO

Honours were shared in the two ATV classes with Hunter rider Matthew Griffiths successfully defending the Pro class ahead of Ayr rider Daniel Craig, but Craig reversed the placings in the Open class, both times with Adelaide rider Mel Brandle in third place.

1. Matthew Griffiths
2. Daniel Craig
3. Mel Brandle

ATV OPEN

1. Daniel Craig
2. Matthew Griffiths
3. Mel Brandle

Three junior support classes gave fans a look at some of the up-and-coming stars and the youngsters got a close look at what lies ahead for them.

Kurri riders won each class – Cameron Dunker, Ryan Smith and Billy Van Erde. Oliver Bayliss was second in his class by finishing all races and not falling – something his world champion father Troy did not do with several falls on Saturday leading to his withdrawal from the final round.

65cc 7 – Under 10s

1. Cameron Dunker (Kurri Kurri)
2. Zane Kinna (Harley, Vic)
3. Harrison Voight (Gold Coast)

85cc 2str/ 150cc 4str 9 – U13yrs

1. Ryan Smith (Kurri Kurri)
2. Oliver Bayliss (Gold Coast)
3. Harrison Voight (Gold Coast)

200-250cc 4-str 13 – U16 yrs

1. Billy Van Erde (Kurri Kurri)
2. Max Whale (North Brisbane)
3. Mackenzie Childs (Kurri Kurri)