Adam Christie takes SA Superbike Title while Juniors display ‘stars of the future’ status
Adam Christie clearly showed he was in charge by taking out the SA Superbike Championship at Mallala Raceway Sunday 22nd November. The 2008 national Superstock 600cc runner up had an impressive day by winning the Superbike , 1000cc Superstock and Master of Mallala crowns on his Honda CBR1000 ahead of Sean McKay (Suzuki GSXR1000) and Graham Snaith (Yamaha R1). Christie did not get it easy though with the lead changing lap by lap throughout the races.
The 600cc Supersport Championship was also a close battle with Ashley Manual (Yamaha R6) taking the title just ahead of Adam Dawes (Suzuki GSXR600) with Scott Christie third (Yamaha R6).
However, the highlight of the meeting was the junior racing with 20 juniors from all Australian states as well as NT contesting the SA Junior Road Racing Championships and Master of Mallala in the 70cc, 80cc, 150cc and 125cc classes. The 125cc championship exploded as expected with major tussles between SA Red Bull Rookie Cup star and Australian Under 16 Speedway Champion Arthur Sissis, 2009 national MRRDA champion Daniel Falzon (SA), WA Champion Ben Millington and Royce Rowe (SA). Race one had Millington take the lead with lighting starts but unfortunately crashed out on the first lap leaving Sissis and Falzon to run wheel to wheel for the entire race with Rowe slightly back. Sissis held the lead until bike problems slowed him on the final lap letting Falzon take the top points.
Second race was like the first with Millington displaying his lighting start pace but was eventually overhauled by Sissis and Falzon. Places swapped lap after lap with neither racers letting up. Sissis took the break into the northern hairpin on the final lap and took the race win by two tenths of a second.
Combined racing classes 70cc, 80cc and 150cc classes also provided some of the best junior road racing ever seen is SA. Mitch Levy (NSW) and Josh McGrath (Qld) took the lead from the start in both races but were closely followed by Corey Schaffer (Qld), Corey Snowsill (NSW) and Zac Zanesco (NSW). Levy and McGrath swapped positions lap after lap while other placegetters chased for their class title positions. Levy won the first while McGrath won the second race giving McGrath the title. Corey Snowsill taking third place honours with a strong display coming 3rd and 4th in the races.
Zac Zanesco on his 70cc Metrakit showed his why he is also a star of the future by placing 4th and 5th overall against the faster 80cc and 150cc machines. Zac once again winning the 70cc SA Championship crown ‘back to back’.
Current junior lap record holder Corey Schaffer (Qld) displayed his skill with his enormous cornering speed and hard braking to take out the 150cc championship aboard his Honda CBR150R ahead of Stephen Craig (NSW) and first time road racer, Aaron Hart (SA).
Phoenix Motorcycle Club are grateful to our sponsors: Ducati Adelaide, Bridgelands, GC Motorcycles, Boltons Kawasaki, Revolution Motorcycles and Yamaha Word. Also Shingleback Wines, DA Motorcycles and Superbike Performance.
Final 2009 Championship Results
2009 SA Road Racing Championships
Class results
Unlimited 1200cc Solo Championship
1 Sean McKay SA Suzuki GSXR1000
2 Adam Christie SA Honda CBR1000
3 Graham Snaith SA Yamaha R1 1000
Superbike Championship
1 Adam Christie SA Honda CBR1000
2 Sean McKay SA Suzuki GSXR1000
3 Graham Snaith SA Yamaha R1 1000
600cc Supersport Championship
1 Ashley Manual SA Yamaha R6 600
2 Adam Dawes SA Suzuki GSXR600
3 Scott Christie SA Yamaha R6 600
1000cc Superstock Championship
1 Adam Christie SA Honda CBR1000
2 Graham Snaith SA Yamaha R1 1000
3 Adam Laube SA Honda CBR929
600cc Superstock Championship
1 Ashley Manual SA Yamaha R6 600
2 Fernando Vantagiato SA Honda CBR600RR
3 Trevor Fitzgerald SA Kawasaki ZX6RR
125cc GP & 250cc Mono Championship
1 Daniel Falzon SA Honda RS125
2 Arthur Sissis SA Yamaha TZ125
3 Royce Rowe SA Honda RS125
Junior 125cc GP & 250cc Mono Championship
1 Daniel Falzon SA Honda RS125
2 Arthur Sissis SA Yamaha TZ125
3 Royce Rowe SA Honda RS125
Junior 70cc Championship
1 Zac Zanesco NSW Metrakit 70
Junior 80cc Championship
1 Josh McGrath Qld Metrakit GP80
2 Mitch Levy NSW Moriwaki MH80R
3 Corey Snowsill NSW Metrakit GP80
Junior 160cc Championship
1 Corey Schaffer Qld Honda CBR150R
2 Stephen Craig Nsw Honda CBR150R
3 Aaron Hart SA Honda CBR150R