McIlveen On Pole At Morgan Park
from Mark Jones
Seven time Australian Champion Warren McIlveen reminded everyone of the reason he has won so many titles, lapping the 3.0 kilometre circuit with a lap time of just 1:13.2988. The Soundy's Retravision/Mac's Marine Stockman-Honda has been a class apart throughout the weekend.
Second fastest fell to Gary Pegoraro, much improved after spinning off the track in the first qualifying session. More dramatic than the spin was the reason for it. The BRC engine had failed, sending the team in a frantic engine change to an engine borrowed from the Zip BDH team running Ilya Harpas and Mark Hanson. Pegoraro struck back to secure a front row grid position to be seven tenths behind McIlveen.
Young Queensland driver Jason Smith has surprised the paddock qualifying third in the Fuji Xerox/Middleton's Printing Anderson-FPE with a 1:14.2 lap, just three tenths slower than Pegoraro. After having to travel back to Brisbane last night to repair a broken gearbox, the team are very happy with the turn around today.
Reigning champion Sam Zavaglia (Sam Zavaglia Racing Stockman-Yamaha) qualified fourth fastest, improving in the second session. Darren Hossack stopped on his outlap in the second qualifying session. His time from the first session good enough for fifth on the grid just ahead of another young local driver, the Coach Design Stockman-Honda of Russell Jamieson.
Ilya Harpas (Internode/Davtec Zip-BRC) was seventh fastest ahead of Kristian Stebbing who had to travel to Tamworth and back overnight to repair the braking system on the Suburban Accounting Stockman-Honda. Chryss Jamieson (Coach Design Anderson-Honda) and Jason Laker (Top Torque Engines Stockman-Honda) completed the top ten.
The 250 National class has remained a battle of fractions all weekend. Martin Latta (Viper Racing UK/MJR Bricklaying Anderson-Honda) has maintained the smallest of gaps over his championship rival Luke May (Marron Excavations Stockman-Yamaha). Less than a tenth of second separates the pair, with Latta's pole time a 1:18.3088. Third fastest has been a remarkable result for Anton Stevens in the STR Truck Bodies Stockman-Kawasaki, having to learn a kart with completely different clutch and a gear lever that operates in the opposite direction. Brendan Luneman (STR Truck Bodies Anderson-Yamaha) was fourth fastest ahead of Paul Snaith (Eliminator-Honda).
Steven Tamasi took pole position in the 125cc class in the Domain Prestige Homes Stockman-Honda, holding a 1.3 second gap over the Broadbent Compressor Services Topkart-Honda of series points leader Darren Dunn. Jeff Reed (Cycle City Stockman-Honda) qualified third just two tenths behind Dunn. Tim Philp was fourth fastest in the Floth Engineering Avoig-Honda ahead of Brad Stebbing (Suburban Accounting Stockman-Yamaha) and Lindsay Jamieson (Linra Properties Group Stockman-Honda).
Driver Quotes:
Pole Position 250 International: Warren McIlveen (Soundy's Retravision/Mac's Marine Stockman MR2-Honda) "We had a couple of good laps there and didn't get held up. It was all in to get that lap time. I think I'll be able to hold Pegoraro at bay, but he'll probably be quicker again since he's still learning the track."
Third 250 International: Jason Smith (Fuji Xerox/Middleton's Printing Anderson Maverick-FPE) "We had a gearbox drama yesterday and that stuffed everything up in practice. I didn't get to learn the track. We didn't do badly this morning. Into the qualifying sessions we got a bit faster each time. In the second session we ended up third overall so I can't complain at all."
Pole Position 250 National: Martin Latta (Viper Racing UK/MJR Bricklaying Anderson Maverick-Honda) "It is very close, I was quite surprised, I was running 1:19s on old tyres. We put on a new set for the second qualifying session. It was a little bit better but I got baulked by a fair few Internationals and some 125s which slowed me down, but it's good to see Luke May up with me for pace. We'll see how we go in the first race."
Pole Position 125cc: Steven Tamasi (Domain Prestige Homes Stockman MR2 Honda) "We were pretty down and upset after what happened at the last race at Phillip Island. Dad (Daniel Tamasi) has put in a lot of time and effort getting the kart up to scratch and I'm driving as hard as I can possibly drive. It's a lot of hard work, but we're happy."
