Hard Fought Wins At Queensland Championships
AKA press release
The action came thick and fast during the Queensland Karting Championships presented by Dunlop Kartsport in Mackay across the weekend.
With 301 entires across 16 categories, there was non-stop action across all classes. With Clubman Heavy being billed as the ‘premier’ class of the event today’s final lived up to all expectations.
Above: Sunshine Coast racer Shay Mayes came out on top of an intense battle in the Clubman Heavy final. Here Mayes leads Justin Garioch and Brendan Nelson.
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
The intensity of the 21-lap championship final was highlighted by the fact that there were no less than 19 lead changes throughout the race, including two on the final corner.
In the end it was Sunshine Coast racer Shay Mayes crossed the line side-by-side with Sydney driver Jason Hryniuk to take out his first state championship.
Mayes led the way aboard his Australian-made Arrow kart during the early laps before Toowoomba’s Brendan Nelson moved to the front on lap four. The leading duo were joined at the front of the pack by Hryniuk and local driver Justin Garioch to make it a four-way battle at the front.
The action was hard fought all throughout the race, unfortunately for Garioch it was a little too close and he spun out of contention with a handful of laps remaining.
Entering the final turn in third spot Mayes used a ‘never say die’ attitude to take full advantage of Nelson and Hryniuk squabbling for position to claim the win.
Hryniuk crossed the line second half a kart length clear of Nelson with Kris Walton and Jason Price rounding out the top five.
“I’ve been racing for five years now and this is undoubtedly the best day of my karting career,” said Mayes.
“It was a great race, with all of us swapping the lead over it was a lot of fun. When I saw JH (Jason Hryniuk) and (Brendan) Nelson come together on the final turn and I somehow manage to sneak in front of them to take the win.
“It was a huge relief to cross the line first, especially against such quality drivers. It has been a great event and I think all of the karters have thoroughly enjoyed their time here.”
Above: Close action was the name of the game. Todd Hazelwood leads Anton De Pasquale (86), Jarred Lane (2) and Aiden Wright (10) in Junior Clubman.
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
The Senior National category has traditionally produced some close racing, and the final of Senior National Heavy was one of the best in a long time.
During the later stages of the race the top 12 drivers raced nose-to-tail and side-by-side. The likes of Darren Harris, Ashley Quiddington, Marshall Watson, Todd Stevens and Justin Garioch all shared time at the front of the field.
In the end it was Garioch who snared the win by less than half a kart length over Watson, who led going into the final turn, and Stevens to make it an all Mackay podium.
Two of the rising stars in the sport, Tyler Greenbury and Chris Hays, lined up on the front row with Jason Burns and Cian Fothergill on row two of the highly competitive Clubman Light category.
Unfortunately for Hays his race was over almost before it began when he fell victim to a turn one incident.
The young and the old (Greenbury and Burns) swapped the lead on a number of occasions throughout the race before being joined by Cairns’ Lydon Dodge aboard his CRG mid race in the battle for the front running.
Greenbury moved his Tony Kart to the front entering turn one with three laps remaining and drove a defensive line over the remainder of the race to claim the win.
Above: Toowoomba's Tyler Greenbury on his way to victory in the Clubman Light category, here ahead of Jason Burns.
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
Dodge took advantage of Burns’ attempt at a race-winning pass on the final corner to claim second spot.
After failing to finish the pre-final yesterday Ben Stewart was the hard charger of the race manoeuvring his way from 27th place on the grid to fourth at the finish.
Other victories went to Reece Sidebottom (Victorian), Jonathan Venter (Formula JMA), Ben McKinlay (Rotax Heavy), Bevan Garioch (Clubman Over 40s), Shannon Price (Senior National Heavy), Liam McLennan (Rookies), Joseph Mawson (Junior Clubman), Scott Simpson (Clubman Super Heavy), Jeremy Landt (Junior National Heavy), Daniel Stein (Leopard Heavy), Josh DeMaio (Rotax Light), Luke Lane (Leopard Light) and Lachlan McHugh (Junior National Light).
To view various other pieces of behind the scenes information from Sunday's notebook please Click Here
2010 QUEENSLAND STATE KARTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
presented by Dunlop Kartsport
Midgets
1. Reece Sidebottom (Vic)
2. Zane Morse (ACT)
3. Quintin Slabbert (Qld)
4. Josh Wood (WA)
5. Declan Bloye (Qld)
Race Notes:
Declan Bloye got the jump from the outside of the front row in the Midgets final, however, by the end of the first lap polesitter Reece Sidebottom found his way into the lead. The Victorian quickly extended his lead ahead of Quintin Slabbert in second place who was followed by a train of karts led by Canberra’s Zane Morse.
By mid race Sidebottom had opened a gap of almost the length of the main straight while Slabbert and Bloye battled for second and third. At the same time Morse, fastest qualifier Josh Wood and Zane Goddard were running in close proximity for the fourth, fifth and sixth spots.
Later in the race it became a four-way battle for the minor spots with Morse taking the runner-up placing behind Sidebottom.
Above: Reece Sidebottom dominated the Midgets category
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
Formula JMA
1. Jonathan Venter (NSW)
2. Hayden Cooper (Qld)
3. Pierce Lehane (NSW)
4. Joseph Mawson (NSW)
5. Dale Corbett (NSW)
Race Notes:
New South Wales driver Joseph Mawson looked to open an race wining lead during the opening few laps of the Formula JMA final while Hayden Cooper and Jonathan Venter battled for second and third.
However, he his opposition had other ideas.
Mawson was chased down by the TopGun Racing Kosmic kart of Jonathan Venter and with five to go Mawson was relegated to second place, soon to be third when Cooper followed Venter through on the next turn.
Venter went on to claim the win clear of Pierce Lehane, who passed Mawson for third place on the final lap.
Above: Jonathan Venter crossing the line for victory in Formula JMA
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
Rotax Heavy
1. Ben McKinlay (Qld)
2. Kel Treseder (Qld)
3. Lane Moore (Qld)
4. Daniel Stein (NSW)
5. Trent Moore (Qld)
Race Notes:
Toowoomba’s Ben McKinlay and Bundaberg’s Kel Treseder had an intense battle during yesterday’s pre-final in the Rotax Heavy class – a trend that was expected to continue in today’s 21-lap Final.
McKinlay got the jump off the start to open a handy buffer but Treseder remained in striking distance should McKinlay make a minor mistake. Despite Treseder edging closer over the final stages McKinlay was never seriously pressured on his way to victory.
Gold Coaster Lane Moore got the better of a race long battle with Daniel Stein for third place.
Clubman Over 40s
1. Bevan Garioch (Qld)
2. Remo Luciani (Vic)
3. Steve Muscat (Qld)
4. Peter O’Neill (NSW)
5. Julian Laws (Qld)
Race Notes:
Fifty-time State Champion Remo Luciani grabbed the lead from local driver Bevan Garioch at the start of the Clubman Over 40s final, however, his time at the front was shortlived with Garioch taking over the front running on lap two.
The Kart Torque Mackay-backed Monaco driver showed superior pace for the remainder of the journey to claim a convincing victory over Luciani. Steve Muscat crossed the line third ahead of Peter O’Neill and Julian Laws.
Senior National Light
1. Shannon Price (Qld)
2. Jarryd Ebzery (Qld)
3. Todd Stevens (Qld)
4. Luke Caputo (Qld)
5. Mitchell Fry (Qld)
Race Notes:
After 12 years of trying Shannon Price was determined to make this year’s State Championships held on his home track a success – and he did in the Senior National Light category.
Starting from pole position in the 21-lap Championship Final Price grabbed the lead through turn one and never looked back. The 19 year-old powered his way to victory aboard his Australian-made Arrow kart while Jarryd Ebzery and Luke Caputo battled intensely for second and third place.
Ebzery and Caouto were joined by fellow locals Mitchell Fry and Todd Stevens over the closing stages to make a four-way battle for the minor placings. Ebzery took second place courtesy of a pass going into turn one on the final lap while Stevens moved into third with two corners remaining to claim the final spot on the podium.
Above: Local driver Shannon Price on the way to victory in Senior National Light
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
Rookies
1. Liam McLennan (Vic)
2. Brock Boley (WA)
3. Jake Downs (Qld)
4. Joshua Rogers (Qld)
5. Jamie Grohman (Qld)
Race Notes:
Local driver Jordan Mcgregor led the early running of the Rookies final ahead of Victorian Liam McLennan, polesitter Jake Downs and Western Australian Brock Boley.
With five laps remaining it was a four way battle at the front of the field but when local drivers McGregor and Downs came together it dislodged Mcgregor’s exhaust pipe effectively ending his race and dropped Downs out of contention for the win.
Mclennan crossed the line clear of Boley for the win. Third across the line was Downs followed by Joshua Rogers and Jamie Grohman.
Clubman Light
1. Tyler Greenbury (Qld)
2. Lydon Dodge (Qld)
3. Jason Burns (Qld)
4. Ben Stewart (Qld)
5. Mitchell Fry (Qld)
Race Notes:
As has come to be expected in the Clubman Light category the action came thick and fast in the 21-lap Championship Final.
Two of the rising stars in the sport, Tyler Greenbury and Chris Hays, lined up on the front row with Jason Burns and Cian Fothergill on row two. Unfortunately for Hays his race was over almost before it began when he fell victim to a turn one incident.
The young and the old (Greenbury and Burns) swapped the lead on a number of occasions throughout the race before being joined by Cairns’ Lydon Dodge aboard his CRG mid race in the battle for the front running.
The leading trio left Brenton Simonds, Brandon Doolan, Mitchell Fry and Nicholas Ellen to battle behind them.
Greenbury moved his Tony Kart to the front entering turn one with three laps remaining and drove a defensive line over the remainder of the race to claim the win.
Dodge took advantage of Burns’ attempt at a race winning pass on the final corner to claim second spot.
After failing to finish the pre-final yesterday Ben Stewart was the hard charger of the race manoeuvring his way from 27th place on the grid to fourth at the finish.
Junior Clubman
1. Joseph Mawson (NSW)
2. Todd Hazelwood (SA)
3. Jarred Lane (Qld)
4. Lucas Ward (Qld)
5. Aidan Wright (Qld)
Race Notes:
Reigning National Champion Joseph Mawson has been the pacesetter all weekend in the Junior Clubman category and today was no different.
The New South Wales teenager added another State Championship to his ever-growing resume with a convincing victory in today’s final.
Despite some early pressure from Toowoomba’s Luke Lane it was South Australian Todd Hazelwood who finished well clear in second place while Lane was forced to fend of some serious challenges from Aidan Wright and Lucas Ward to claim the final spot on the podium.
Above: National Champ Joseph Mawson was victorious in the Junior Clubman category
pic: Paul Carruthers/kartx.com.au
Clubman Super Heavy
1. Scott Simpson (Qld)
2. Mark Muscat (Qld)
3. Ryan Fulcher (Qld)
4. John Rowley (Qld)
5. Ben McKinlay (Qld)
Race Notes:
Over the past few years the honours in the Clubman Super Heavy category have generally been split between Scott Simpson, Ben McKinlay and Ryan Fulcher. In today’s final in Mackey, the leading trio were joined by Mark Muscat and John Rowley in a five-way battle for the title.
Muscat started on pole position and exchanged the lead with Simpson, a four-time National Champion, on a number of occasions. With eight laps remaining the pair were running nose to tail and had opened a gap over third placed Fulcher.
The local driver moved to the lead entering turn one on the final lap but Simpson used all of his experience to regain the front position on the final turn to claim the victory.
Fulcher held on for third ahead of Rowley.
Junior National Heavy
1. Jeremy Landt (Qld)
2. Matthew McLennan (Vic)
3. Macauley Jones (NSW)
4. Anton De Pasquale (Vic)
5. Simon Hodge (SA)
Race Notes:
South Australian Todd Hazelwood was joined on the front row of the grid for the Junior National Heavy final by defending Queensland Champion Macauley Jones.
At the green light Hazelwood jumped into the lead as Jones slid back after being caught out wide on the tricky turn one. Hazelwood was joined at the front of the pack by fellow Arrow kart drivers Matthew McLennan and Jeremy Landt.
By mid race Hazelwood had opened a handy buffer but McLennan was determined to fight back and closed in on the race leader. With five laps remaining the pair were running nose to tail and swapping the race lead.
Mclennan made a last lunge for the lead on the penultimate corner which forced the two leaders wide and allowed Landt to come through and take the win ahead of McLennan.
Jones crossed the line third while Hazelwood’s race ended on the exit of the final turn after an attempted pass on Jones went wrong.
Leopard Heavy
1. Daniel Stein (NSW)
2. Matt Dicinoski (Qld)
3. Elle Brydon (Qld)
4. Gaven Whitmore (Qld)
5. Denis Butler (Qld)
Race Notes:
New South Wales driver Daniel Stein started on pole position for the Leopard Heavy final and after getting through the opening turn cleanly he left his opposition to battle for the minor positions.
Gladstone’s Mike Powe held down second for the opening half of the race before Matt Dicinoski moved into the runner-up spot.
Elle Brydon, competing in her third different category in her third different state in a matter of three weeks, shadowed Dicinoski for the entire race before crossing the line third.
After being excluded yesterday due to a mechanical issue Brendan Nelson started from the back of the pack in today’s final but his charge came to an end seven laps from home.
Rotax Light
1. Josh DeMaio (Vic)
2. Troy Bretherton (Qld)
3. Damien Ward (Qld)
4. Luke Baldry (Qld)
5. Kyle Ensbey (Qld)
Race Notes:
CC Racing pilot Josh DeMaio led the early running of the Rotax Light Final followed by Gold Coaster Troy Bretherton as rising star Tyler Greenbury was on the charge from the rear of the field.
By mid race Greenbury, who lost a wheel in yesterday’s pre-final, had manoeuvred his kart through the field to be in second spot to set up an intriguing battle for the victory.
DeMaio, Greenbury and Bretherton ran in close proximity to each other around the 762-metre circuit and when Greenbury ran up the back of DeMaio his nosecone came adrift with a few laps remaining.
In the end it was DeMaio who crossed the line first ahead of Greenbury and Bretherton. However, with Greenbury was later excluded due to the loss of his nose cone elevating Bretherton to second place and lead a trio of Pacific Kartsport drivers.
Senior National Heavy
1. Justin Garioch (Qld)
2. Marshall Watson (Qld)
3. Todd Stevens (Qld)
4. Norm Trost (Qld)
5. Nicholas Ellen (Vic)
Race Notes:
The Senior National categories has traditionally produced some close racing, and today’s final of Senior National Heavy was one of the classics.
During the later stages of the race the top 12 drivers raced nose-to-tail and side by side. The likes of Darren Harris, Ashley Quiddington, Marshall Watson, Todd Stevens and Justin Garioch all shared time at the front of the field.
In the end it was Garioch who snared the win by less than half a kart length over Watson, who led going into the final turn, and Stevens.
Leopard Light
1. Luke Lane (Qld)
2. Cian Fothergill (Qld)
3. Rhett Noonan (WA)
4. Fergus Symes (NSW)
5. Brandon Beaumont (Qld)
Race Notes:
Current Pro Light (KF1) Championship leader in the CIK Stars of Karting Series Cian Fothergill got the jump from pole position in the Leopard Light final.
Not wanting Fothergill to get a break, Luke Lane moved to the front aboard his Zanardi kart in the opening laps – a position he held for the majority of the race.
After shadowing Lane’s every move throughout the race Fothergill made a move for the lead with four and a half laps remaining before Lane found a way back past on the final turn to take the win.
Rhett Noonan made his trip from Western Australia worthwhile to finish third ahead of Fergus Symes.
Junior National Light
1. Lachlan McHugh (Qld)
2. Trent Grubel (NSW)
3. Cameron Hill (NSW)
4. James Foster (Qld)
5. Jordan Page (Qld)
Race Notes:
New South Wales driver Cameron Hill took advantage of his pole position at the start of the Junior National Light final to lead the field through turn one of the 21-lap final before Arrow driver James Foster moved to the front on lap two.
As Lachlan McHugh, Jake Klein, Trent Grubel and Hill battled for the minor spots it allowed Foster to open a handy buffer between himself and the second placed runner.
With a handful of laps remaining McHugh closed in on the back of Foster’s kart and moved into the race lead on lap 18. When Foster was forced to fend off a challenge by Grubel it allowed McHugh to open a race winning lead.
Despite crossing the line in second place Foster was relegated to fourth following a post-race stewards hearing for an incident early in the race with Hill.
Clubman Heavy
1. Shay Mayes (Qld)
2. Jason Hryniuk (NSW)
3. Brendan Nelson (Qld)
4. Kris Walton (Qld)
5. Jason Price (Qld)
Race Notes:
Clubman Heavy was set to be the ‘premier’ class and today’s 21-lap final certainly lived up to these expectations.
With no less than 19 lead changes throughout the race, including two on the final corner, the action kept everyone on their feet before Shay Mayes crossed the line to take out his first state championship.
Mayes led the way aboard his Arrow kart during the early laps before Toowoomba’s Brendan Nelson moved to the front on lap four. The leading duo were joined at the front of the pack by Jason Hryniuk and local driver Justin Garioch to make it a four-way battle at the front.
The action was hard fought all throughout the race, unfortunately for Garioch it was a little too close and he spun out of contention with a handful of laps remaining.
Entering the final turn in third spot Mayes used a ‘never say die’ attitude to take full advantage of Nelson and Hryniuk squabbling for position to claim the win.
Hryniuk crossed the line second half a kart length clear of Nelson with Kris Walton and Jason Price rounding out the top five.
To view the full results please Click Here
