Southern Downs SuperMotard Challenge - Stanthorpe

The second and final round of Queensland’s inaugural supermotard series was again held at Carnell Raceway, Stanthorpe, under fine but very cold skies.

As this discipline of motorcycling grows we continue to see well known riders from other categories come and try their hand at it. The Stanthorpe and District Sporting Car Club have again made improvements to the track, including adding a table top. The surface of the dirt is now much more durable too.

The juniors were back this time, competing in the N.G.K. challenge in which Ryan Munns did a clean sweep of the day winning four races. Jim Mee and Tom Robson shared the minor placings, with the fifth leg abandoned when red flagged after Robson fell heavily in turn one.

The N.G.K. Clubman class (for dirt bikes with standard wheel rims) was a close fought event throughout the day between Casey Rice and Mick Cook, with Cook taking three wins from Rice’s one. Cook showed plenty of his M.X. flair with the most spectacular jumps of the day. Third was fought out between Corey Glock and Peter Rettke with Rettke dominant in the end. The series, however, was taken out by Rice, from Stuart Clark and Michael Heath.

The Sport class, sponsored by Dunlop Motorsport, was heavily subscribed and so run in heats, and a final. Heat wins went to Mark Willis and Josh Houwen, with one also going to Kent Neilsen. Willis won the final. Second went to Houwen and third to Rice. Neilsen took out the series from Kim Gross and Houwen.

The Motorcycle Sportsmen Prestige class was dominated by Anton Lafforgue with Tim Hocroft taking second in each leg and Daniel Vaughan being rewarded for consistency with third. The series went to Lafforgue from Ricketts and Hocroft.

The Honda Australia Challenge was also run in heats, with plenty of close racing and a variety of riding styles displayed. The final went to Mark Willis with Kent Neilsen second and Kym Gross third. Willis then treated the enthusiastic crowd to a display of stunt riding to celebrate.