All Sweet at Sugar City Titles

from Rob Ebzery

Karters were greeted with blue skies and mild conditions for the running of the 2010 Sugar City Titles in Mackay getting in much needed practice for the Queensland Titles to be held here July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

One hundred and thirty karters nominated for the event with multiple state title winners Scott Simpson and Cian Fothergill being amongst them. Both Scott and Cian commented on the track and facilities saying the concrete track was as smooth as hot mix circuits and only having to make minor changes in set up to adjust to a different surface on which they were used to racing on.

Above: Marshall Watson leads Senior National Heavy

With the recent sunshine the track has gained more grip with most classes recording about a reduction of 8 tenths in lap times since the running of the Qld Closed titles last September.

Midgets were first off in the finals and after an up and down run in the heat,s Quintin Slabbert led from the start to drive away with an impressive win from Declan Bloye with Brock Owen 3rd.

In the Rookies class Jordan McGregor ran away with the final ahead of Jake Downs and Connor Smith.

Sportsman Over 40s was a close affair all weekend with both Scott Armstrong and Steve Muscat recording race wins over the weekend with Armstrong prevailing in the final. Shane Worbey regaining form to outpost Steve Muscat to the chequered flag.

Jordan Page from Bundaberg had a good weekend taking out JNL after a hard fought battle with Joshua Smith from Townsville. Hayden Schneider finishing third after running wide on the first turn.

Jordan also finished a close second in JNH to Alistair Ingram with Mitchell Rye 3rd.

In the largest field of the weekend, 18 Senior National Heavy took to the track with a star studded field including Bevan (dad), Nathan and  Justin Garioch, Marshall Watson, Robert Thorburn and the young guns Luke Caputo, Jarryd Ebzery, Matt Taylor and Matt Coulson. Justin Garioch come out on top in the end ahead of a battle for second being won by Marshall Watson with Luke Caputo putting it together in the final to finish 3rd.

Above: Senior National Heavy heads into turn 1 on their 21 lap final.

Senior National Light was won by Shannon Price after out pacing Jarryd Ebzery in the final ahead of Matt Taylor 3rd. With the Supercheap series the next meeting to be held at Mackay and National being a pro class, there should be a full field of 30 on the grid.

In the Clubman Classes, Cian Fothergill won Lights with Brooke Leech pushing him all the way to the flag and Morgan Haber finishing 3rd. 

Justin Garioch showed he is in good form winning Heavies by a good margin ahead of a hard fought battle between Bevan Garioch and Shane Leahy with Bevan pre-vailing in the end.

Above: Clubman Heavy forms up

Scott Simpson and Mark Muscat had a battle royal all weekend in Super Heavies with both taking out race wins before the final with Mark starting on pole for the final. It looked like a three way battle was on the cards with Brett Cruickshanks having speed in the final only to fall back later in the race (pinching rib vest) and Simpson heading off Muscat to cross the line first.

Gary Payne took out the Leopard Heavy class ahead of Peter Bucbach and Paul Dingle with Brooke Leech winning the Leopard Light class.

Restricted 125 was taken out by an elated Malcolm Clews ahead of Quentin Edmonds and Damien Brasher. Pat Driscoll won Townsville pet class TAG100 ahead of John Still.

Above:  Scott Simpson leads Clubman Super Heavy out of the first switch-back

With just 10 weeks to the Qld State titles Mackay Kart club is expecting bumper fields for there next 2 meetings. The first is the 2nd round of the Supercheap series to be held on 15th & 16th May with the shakedown meet to be held on the Queens Birthday weekend of the 12th &13th June. See you all here.

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