Kiwis Keep Pro Tour Best For Last
| 5 October 2016 |
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Pukekohe teenager Matthew Payne spearheaded a 'best-till-last' performance from the 12-strong Kiwi team at the Grand Final round of this year's Rotax Pro Tour at Dubbo in rural New South Wales over the weekend.
The 14-year-old mastered tricky track conditions to top the time sheets in the Junior Max class in qualifying then went on to finish second in the first heat and sixth and fourth respectively in the other two before fighting his way back from seventh in the Pre-Final to third in an all action and particularly hard-fought Final.
Above: Matthew Payne was the top finishing Kiwi at the Grand Final round of Australia's Rotax Max Pro Tour
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Fast Company/Coopers Photography
Next best in the results stakes was fellow Pukekohe racer Emerson Vincent. The eight-year-old also topped the time sheets in his class, Micro Max, and ended up fourth in the Final after fourth, third and second placings in the heats and another second place in the Pre-Final.
Fast-rising female racer Rianna O'Meara-Hunt, 15, from Wellington was another to enjoy the best finish of her 2016 Pro Tour campaign with fifth in the Junior Max Final.
Above: Rianna O'Meara-Hunt, Junior Max
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Fast Company/Coopers Photography
Sixth was a popular result, meanwhile, for the three Waikato-based members of the Kiwi squad, with Connor Davison, 12 finishing sixth in Mini Max, Fynn Osborne, 13, sixth in Junior Max Trophy and Andy Schofield sixth in Rotax Light.
Aucklander Stuart Marshall also had a good result in his class, finishing a weekend best seventh overall in the DD2 Masters Final.
The Stewart sisters from Wellington found themselves a little behind the eight ball after qualifying but both improved through the Rotax Light heats and Finals with Madeline finishing 10th overall, Ashleigh 13th.
Above: Andy Schofield, Rotax Light
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Fast Company/Coopers Photography
The other Kiwis enjoyed mixed fortunes and results at the meeting with Jaden Ransley from Christchurch ending up 12th in the Junior Max Final after qualifying eighth quickest and a best result of eighth through the heats.
Samuel Wright from Auckland, found the step up from the Junior Trophy class to Junior Max a big one, qualifying and finishing the Final in 18th place. Finally, Palmerston North ace Brendon Hart held his own through the Rotax Heavy heats and Pre Final but had a dnf (did not finish) in the Final.
Above: Emerson Vincent (#10) in Micro Max
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Fast Company/Coopers Photography
