Sidecar MX Champs crowned at Horsham
Team Anthony have been crowned The 2014 bulk Nutrients Australian official elite sidecar cross Australian champions at horsham this weekend .
Sidecar teams from all over Australia Teams qualified for the gate on sat after 2 practice sessions, fastest in the heats where #7 robinson/anthony with a track speed around horsham’s full circuit of 2 min 6 second to put them into the no1 spot going into the 1st round of 5 15 min motos.
Something really special on the line for race one with plenty of sidecars revved up to become Aussie #1, after a perk up from the national anthem all teams where chaffing at the bit to get out the gates and calm the nerves in the first moto.
First moto’s holes shot of the weekend went to #8 team brooks who lead for many laps and posted the fastest time but then were reeled in by #12 team Anthony who went on to cross the line first. Fastest qualifiers #7 team robinson/anthony, stayed on pace but later in the race developing a gremlin in the bike, came infield to a stop on more than one occasion, some really bad luck for the guys campaign, but they did finish the race and collect some points.
Moto two again saw the brooks bike storm into the hole shot and set off at a cracking pace and never to be caught, fastest lap time was set by #7 robinson/anthony but again bike issues saw them drop a lap during the race and cross in 9th place. A slowing #12 bike of team Anthony sprouting coolant was nursed across into 2nd place.
Quiet achievers #44 Team dobie stayed out of trouble all weekend and just kept consistently ticking off the laps with consistent a consistent 3rd.
All women’s teams #417 Schultz/plowman and #41 team wedge, put in a massive effort all weekend to show that they are no slouches on an outfit and with never give up attitude. First season passenger Eliza wedge was sporting massive blisters and cramping hands for day 2, not used to these elite 15 min plus 1 moto’s, every rider had to step up to another level and liza’s credit she did just that got back on the bike for every race.
Day 2 was panning out to be a risk vs reward decision, with teams trying to work out strategies to advance or hold ground in the title race. No such decision for fastest qualifiers #7 team Robinson/ Anthony who after a heart breaking day 1, fired up on there spare outfit moto 3 and took it out on the track.  Closely followed by #team Anthony who did mange to hang with them, they shot off like a scalded cat and ticked through the laps together putting 26 sec between them and the rest of the field at the line and #7 taking the line.
Australian speedway ace Dave Bottrell #19Q travelled all the way from Queensland to compete in his first Sidecar cross event and with some great pace for the early laps showed he was just as good behind these bars, but more used to speedway’s 1 min races Dave and son Chris both searched for that extra fitness required for these very taxing and complex races during the weekend.
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Moto 4 saw a repeat performance with team robinson /anthony #7 taking off with team anthony to fight it out and again cross the line 1-2, the fast pace found on the soft track on day one by the #8 team brooks was not quite there with the front runners, but still kept banking away the points.  Team #wedge had also been flying under the radar all weekend and stock piling points away with consistent finishes in all races.
Moto 5 final race of the championship was the focus of the event with any winner possible from the top 4 and some fast charges in the pack collecting points, strategy and track positions would be key in the outcome, a DNFÂ a disaster for any off them.
But in true form team anthony #12 took it to the field, first place in the points they didnt play it safe and still put it to field, going toe to toe with the leading pack for the entire race but Triumphantly crossing the line for the win just .5 of a second ahead of the fast chargers.
IN a fitting ending to a great Australian title event all competitors crossed the line and got to see the chequered flag in the final moto. the top 3 had certainly put a show on all weekend, with the body of the racers fighting closely with each other to hold or gain spots all weekend for a coveted spot in the National top 10.
Highest placed all women’s team #417 shutlz/plowman had a great result over strong and competitive field, as did the last minute entry of #270 maloney/geritts who pushed his beautify presented Rephased XS750 pre 85 yamaha rig to a top 8 place in the final standings ! what an awesome effort against really trick modern machinery.
