Rick Olson celebrates Superstock 600 Title
Rick overcame a slow and nervous start to the 2009 season to win every round from Queensland Raceway, wrapping up the title at Phillip Island with an emphatic win to be a clear overall Championship winner with a 70.5 points buffer over 2nd place.
Rick becomes the first Reece Bancell Scholarship winner to be an Australian Champion in the Scholarship year and showed what a future champion he will be!!
Rick commented, “To win the 600 Superstock Championship is a really proud moment for me. I would like to give a big thanks to everyone, but especially to be selected as the recipient of the Reece Bancell Scholarship, as without the Scholarship this year, it would have been so much harder for us to achieve this goal.
Congratulations to 2009 Reece Bancell Scholarship winner Ryan Dymond and best of luck in 2010.
I would also like to give a big thanks to Yamaha for producing a great bike in the R6, Marty Dowd and his team for all the hard work they put in fixing and preparing the bike as well as Frank Pons for the great suspension and tips at the tracks. My Mum and sister Jacquie, brother Matthew, Nan and Grandad for all their support, my Dad and my mechanic Jamie Plumb who has always helped me since I first started racing.
Also a special thank you to all the sponsors and supporters of the Reece Bancell Scholarship for providing me with fantastic products, equipment and support, I am so glad I have been able to re-pay everyone with this Championship – thank you all.”
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Halliday third in rookie season
Mixed weather conditions greeted riders for the final round of the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship, held at Phillip Island’s Grand Prix circuit on November 27-29.
Cru Halliday entered the weekend optimistic about his chances of a top 2 position in the AMCN Superstock 600 Championship.
Lack of rear end grip was a problem throughout the weekend for many riders. Getting the Dunlop 209 GP racer control tyres to gain traction became an early priority for the team.
Fridays first practice session was interrupted by rain after just a few laps. Switching to his spare bike for the remainder of the session, Cru was able to get some valuable wet weather track time. Completing five laps of the 4.445km circuit after the switch, he was able to see exactly how much grip Phillip Island’s surface has in wet weather conditions.
The team had a few difficulties in qualifying. The wet weather track time was very important but also meant that the dry time was shortened and Cru was behind the 8 ball with his dry weather set up. After finishing in 7th position in the first qualifying session the team made some positive changes over night ready for Saturday morning’s qualifying session two. An unforseen mechanical issue caused Cru to high side his Yamaha R6 out of MG on the out lap. Due to the single tyre rule he was not able to have his spare bike ready and the session ended without him being able to improve his time. His Q1 time stood and he had to start from 7th on the grid for the three races.
Not taking any chances the team postponed trying the new setting until Sunday mornings warm up. Cru rode a smart race in race one finishing in a solid 4th place and getting valuable points after one of his main championship rivals Mitchell Pirotta fell and finished out of the points.
As Sunday’s race two approached, rain began to fall. It was a light shower initially but nothing to serious. As teams scrambled changing wheels, having two bikes became an instant advantage. The race got nearer and the heavens opened, the choice was now clear that the wet weather bike would be used. Confident in his wet weather ability at Phillip Island after Friday’s wet practice, Cru was ready and eager for the race to get underway.
When the lights went out he got off the line well but was caught in the pack. Fighting for position on the first lap, he plucked off his competitors one by one to cross the start finish line in 3rd position with the race being reduced by one lap, Cru new that each lap had to count as he began lap two.
At the end of lap three Rick Olsen had pulled out a ten second lead. Cru being the determined young racer that he is was not about to give up until the chequered flag was waved. Finding his groove in what had developed into heavy rain Cru took up to three seconds a lap out of the YRD rider. As the two riders rounded turns eleven and twelve for the final time Cru put his wet weather set up and skill to the test. With perfect gear changes and maximum traction, Cru rode around the outside of Olsen to lead onto the straight. Rick found an extra gear and was able to out drag the #65 rider to the line, the two R6’s separated by 0.015 seconds at the flag.
Conditions had cleared for the third and final race of the weekend and championship. Cru was confident in the developments in his dry weather set up and he knew what he had to do in the final race.
If he was to finish in 2nd place and Mitchell Pirotta 10th, he would progress to 2nd in the 2009 Superstock 600 Championship. As the race got underway after a full restart, Rick Olsen and Aaron Morris got away to great start. With the two battling up front, Cru was in a strong 3rd position with Pirotta back in 16th at the end of lap two. Knowing that Mitchell would make up positions fairly easily having already charged back from 21st after a first lap mishap, the team did not get excited.
By lap three Cru’s fortunes had turned. Aaron Morris was given a 10 second penalty for a jump start. With Pirotta stuck in 13th position trading places with Amy O’Mara Cru was now in 2nd place in the race on adjusted time and in perfect position for 2nd in the championship.
On the final lap it was tense moments in the pits. Pirotta had fended off the pink #68 R6 and progressed to 10th position. Rick and Aaron had pulled a massive lead out to nearly 10 seconds. 2nd place in the championship was slipping away. As the riders crossed the finish line the leaders had pulled a 10.2 second lead. Cru was relegated to 3rd position in the race by 2 tenths of a second on adjusted time for 3rd over all in the round and a 3rd place in the championship by 3.5 points.
“I came into this round with a lot of work to do to bridge the point’s gap in the championship.
“I am very happy with how I rode this weekend. Phillip Island has been a difficult track for me and to get back on the podium in the overall for the round and pull the gap back to 3.5 points is an amazing result.
“I want to thank my team and all my sponsors for a big effort this year. I look forward to next year now with all that I have learnt this season, I can’t wait to get started at the first round.”
On Sunday evening riders and teams gathered at The Continental Hotel in Cowes for the ASBK Awards
Presentation dinner. Cru was awarded his trophy for 3rd place in the AMCN Superstock 600 Championship and much to his and the teams surprise, he also took home the Kirk McCarthy Award. The award offers the lucky recipient financial and product support through its sponsors and partners to contest the following season. Motorcycle racing is a very expensive sport and this award will help Cru a great deal to continue his dream and further his career.
“When Phil Tainton called my name out for the award I was shocked to be receiving it. To represent the Kirk McCarthy Memorial and continue Kirk’s legacy is an honour. It will help me a great deal next year to continue racing.
“I would like to thank the McCarthy family and everyone involved for this opportunity.”
Cru #65
Cru could not have achieved his goals this year and received such a prestigious award without the support of his team Bob, Geoff, Allan, Nigel, Ty, Graeme and Sandy. Also his sponsors Go Boating, Pitstop Motorcycles, Yamaha Race Development, Pope Building Services, G.M.D Computrack, Belray Oils, Shark Helmets, Berik Leathers, Dragon Tyre Warmers, bike-photos.com, Xsportz.com.au and Chris Watson Motorcycles-Yamaha.
A special thank you this week goes to Craig White from Whites Racing Products for ensuring that we had enough wet weather tyres for this week’s event.
