MotoGP 2005 - Phillip Island - Australian Support Events

The Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team shines as they take the overall win at the support races for the 2005 Polini Australian Moto Grand Prix.

Three action packed Supersport races kept the large crowed entertained at the Polini Australian Moto Grand Prix that was held over the weekend of 13th – 16th October. With Mark Aitchison (Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team) taking his first pole position, and solid race results of 6th race 1, 2nd race 2, and a 1st in the final race saw Mark secure enough points to take the overall round win.

The single 30 min practice session held on Thursday afternoon was the first time that the Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team had been back to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit since the World Superbike round back in April. So it was a bit of a surprise to see Mark Aitchison at the top of the time sheet.

Qualifying was also a single 25 min session that again saw Mark Aitchison head to the top of the leader board on lap 3, and then he was able to better that lap time by .4 sec the following lap. This enabled Mark Aitchison and the Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team to take there first pole position for the year.

With it being Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary the Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team decided to change the colour scheme of their bike to the famous yellow, black and white colours for the 3 races and with starting from pole position it was sure to attract some attention.

Race 1 Mark got off to a good start but lost one position into turn 1 with Bryan Staring taking the lead, as they headed into turn 4 (a tight right hand turn commonly know as Honda corner) Mark regained the lead by only momentarily as Adam “Krusty” Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda) miss judged the turn and ran in with so much speed that he hit the back of marks bike forcing him off the track and onto the grass, both riders were lucky not to crash and were able to rejoin the race, when Mark came past the start finish line for the first time he was in 29th position with only 7 laps remaining Mark was going to have to ring the neck of the Fraser Motorcycles Yamaha R6 to force his way back towards the front, Mark had the bit between the teeth passing 8 riders on lap 2, 5 on lap 3, Mark was able to keep passing riders to finally finish in 6th setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Race 2 will be talked about for years to come as it was probably one of the best domestic races that have been seen for a long time. Right from the start the top 5 riders were nose to tail and the lead changed several times over the 8 lap journey, with several big screens around the track the crowd was able to see the action unfold before them and they were treated to some close racing with no rider over committing and spoiling the action. It was all going to come down to the run on to the main straight and the drag race to the flag.

With Half a lap to go Mark Aitchison moved into the lead with a forceful move under brakes into Honda Corner, he then led the rest of the field around the last sections of the track and had the lead coming onto the front straight but Josh Brookes (Joe Rocket Honda) was being towed along by Marks Yamaha R6 and as they approached the finish line Brookes pulled up alongside Mark and they hit the finish line together and the winning margin was 0.001 of a second which is as close as you are going to get other than a dead heat, the win went to Josh Brookes, followed by Mark Aitchison, Bryan Staring (Allect Racing) rounded out the podium.

Race 3 was shaping up to be another ripper, again the top 5 riders cleared out from the rest of the field but this time it was not as hectic, but it was eventful, Bryan Staring (Allect Racing) crashed out on lap 4 while in the lead, this left the 2 Joe Rocket Honda’s of Adam Fergusson and Josh Brookes fighting for the lead with Mark Aitchison (Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team) and Josh Waters (Team Kawasaki Australia) half a second behind. As the leading duo headed into the tight MG corner Adam Fergusson tried to dive under Josh Brookes to take the lead but unfortunately both riders collided and crashed, handing the lead to Mark Aitchison who was able to hold off Josh Waters and take his second race win for the season, his race win also gave him enough point to win the round. “This has been a great weekend for the team, we came here with a simple goal of preparing ourselves for the last round of the national championship which is to be held here in 3 weeks, so to come away with the round win is a bonus” commented Mark post race.

The Fraser Motorcycle Yamaha Team go into the last round of the championship in 3rd position, Mark is also leading the privateers championship. The last round is to be held at the Phillip Is Grand Prix circuit on the weekend of the 11th, 12th, and 13th of November. If this weekend is anything to go by then it should be some great racing, hope to see you there.