New South Welshmen Tom Armstrong and Todd Kurtz were the big winners at the 2003 Australian Junior Dirt Track Championship in Labrador (Qld) on September 27-28 – but their paths to success were immeasurably different.

While Cowra-based Kurtz whitewashed the 80cc four-stroke (8-U11 years) and 85cc (9-U11) classes as he stamped his authority on proceedings, Armstrong’s two Aussie titles – 80/100cc big wheel (11-U16) and 125cc (13-U16) – came with brilliant last-gasp efforts at the Mike Hatcher Race Park.

The 80/100cc victory was particularly thrilling, which saw Armstrong (Honda) and Kawasaki’s Glenn Scott finish equal on 61pts after the three five-lap finals, but Armstrong awarded the title on a countback – a successful championship defence for the Griffith teenager.

Scott, who won the 2002 65cc (9-U12) title, was magnanimous in defeat, as was fellow Kawasaki rider Tyson Thackeray, who finished third overall – and was an early leader after prevailing in the opening final on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Armstrong’s triumph in the blue ribbon 125cc class provided nearly as much theatre, with the teenager having to fight his way back from a tumultuous beginning – seventh in the first final around the 720-metre layout. However, Armstrong (Honda) refused to wave the white flag, and promptly won the next two five-lappers in sublime fashion; enough to outlast the gallant Damien Koppe (Suzuki) and Ryan Munns (Honda) in the final standings.

“It’s certainly been an up and down meeting, but I peaked at the right time,” said Armstrong, who is eyeing a career in speedway. “There were plenty of fast guys out there, so to win another two Australian titles is awesome.

“There wasn’t too much passing going on between the top guys this weekend, which made it all the more important to get good starts. Luckily, my last two 125cc getaways were spot-on; otherwise I would have struggled to win.”

Armstrong’s compatriot in the dual title club, Kurtz, showed little pity for his rivals, overpowering Mitchell Grant (Honda) and Reece McGill (Honda) in 80cc four-stroke (9-U11), with Kawasaki pairing Matthew Walters and Jackson Hopkins following him home in 85cc (9-U11).

Grant didn’t let the disappointment of finishing second behind Kurtz upset him too much, because he returned just a few minutes later to wrap up the 65cc (9-U12) class with 9pts (70-61) to spare over Allan Foreman. Todd Kurtz filled the last podium position to make it a Kawasaki trifecta.

In the second 65cc class, this one for the 7-U9 brigade, Queenslander Corey Schaffer (Kawasaki) improved two spots on his third place in 2002 – victory was his from KTM pairing Dean Beeks-Boss and Jack Miller. The Queensland trifecta was one of two for the sunshine state in the nine championship classes -- the other one coming with Dylan Trengrouse’s 85cc (11-U13) victory over fellow Yamaha rider Foreman and Jesse Reynen (Honda).

Amazingly, a countback was also required to crown a new Australian champion in 85cc (13-U16), with Blake Leigh-Smith (Kawasaki) getting the nod from Thackeray (Kawasaki) after they completed hostilities tied on 61pts. The deadlock ‘breaker’ was Leigh-Smith’s two victories compared to Thackeray’s one. Luke Richards (Honda) was a close third – his run at the title nobbled by a bad start in the final instalment.

Finally, Honda’s Cameron Palmer, second in the 2002 80cc four-stroke (11-U14) class, wouldn’t be denied for one more yeas as he collected maximum points to easily outmuscle Joel Muddle (Honda) and Brent Beaumont (Honda).

Results