Round 2 SA Road Race Championships 5th June 2016
It was a wet and windy start to the second round of the South Australian Road Racing
Championships. Sunday morning felt like a blizzard had rolled into Mallala with the rain streaking
sideways across the fields and over Mallala Motorsport Park. Wet tyres were a must if competitors
wanted to keep their bikes shiny side up although there were a number of people that succumbed to
the conditions.
Riders came together after qualifying to help one another get their bikes back together and
scrutineered for the races later in the day. It goes to show how close knit the competitors are with
many scrambling for parts and with zip ties in hand emergency repairs were carried out just in time
for the start of racing.
Auldana Foundations: Over 600cc:
By the time the big over 600cc boys came out to
play the track was showing some signs of clearing
up but a quick shower saw that the conditions
continued to be slippery and tricky to navigate. Pole
sitter Roy Ankan (SA
Motorcycles/Motionlogics/Radskills) tried his
hardest to stay up the front but there was a
champion performance amongst the pack with
William “Struggie” Strugnell (Lee’s Spot On
Motorcycles/Woolich Racing/Wingfield Metal
Finishers) Kawasaki ZX-10R taking out all three
races in fine form.
William “Struggie” Strugnell dominated
the competition all weekend
Strugnell sliced through the pack of riders after some forgettable starts to take commanding wins all
day. Second places were shared between the up and coming C grader Alex Pavlenko (SA
Motorcycles/Motionlogics) and Veteran Evan Byles (SA Motorcycles) on their Kawasaki ZX-10R’s.
Consistency was not on their side and would show at the end of the day. Topping off the podium
sharing a day of third places was Graham Snaith (DA Motorcycles/Lobethal Bierhaus Yamaha R1) and
the Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Ducati 959 of Howard Sabey. Overall Standings for the day were
Strugnell followed by a very consistent Sabey and Snaith taking out third.
Industrial Medic Services (IMS) 600cc:
Next out was the Industrial Medic Services (IMS) 600cc class who also faced the slippery track
conditions of the stormy morning but came up with some close but fair racing throughout the field.
Riders showed their skills in the wet conditions slipping and sliding around in the first race with
many commenting on the lack of grip and some close moments.
Royce Rowe heads in after another 600cc victory.
Pole sitter Lachlan Hill (Ron Angel Classic Racing
Kawasaki ZX-6R) was a front runner behind eventual
overall winner Royce Rowe (Les Rowe and Associates
GSX-R600) before having technical issues and being
forced to sit out the remainder of the day. Royce
Rowe showed considerable skill and a level head in all
conditions to lead the way home followed intently by
the fast and furious style of Mark Hoey (Complete
Plumbing & Gas/Motionlogics ZX-6R). Coming home
for an excellent third place for the day was the Allan
Rigby Motorcycle Services Suzuki GSX-R600 mounted
Aaron Rigby.
Shingleback wines: C20 and GC Motorcycles C20+:
The combined classes of Shingleback wines: C20 and the
GC Motorcycles C20+ were the first ones out to test the
track under race conditions and full wet tyres were
absolutely needed.
If Donald Duck was a motorcycle racer he would have
been in his element as the rain teemed down and the
visors fogged up all riders made it home safely in
treacherous conditions albeit with lap times to match.
C20+ rider Graham Snaith pushes hard on his
way to another win
Graham Snaith was on pole position for all races and
managed to stay out in front of the competition
throughout the day on his DA Motorcycles/Lobethal Bierhaus Supported Yamaha R1 comfortably
clear of Kym Bolto (Coast Yamaha – Adelaide Plastic) Yamaha R6 and John Chiodi (Japanese
Motorcycle Dismantlers) GSX-R1000.
Darren Hansberry was the sole competitor on the immaculate Racebike Services/TBR GSX-R750 for
the C20 class and had great tussles in the field for most of the day with Motionlogics Ducati
Mounted veteran Rob Vikuckis.
Les Rowe & Associates Limited
&
Peter Stevens Motorcycles Juniors:
With a very diverse bunch of riders and bikes the Limited class mixed in with some very talented
junior riders was always going to be exciting. Royce Rowe again enjoyed success piloting his jewel
like custom Les Rowe and Associates supported Ducati 650. He was followed closely in second place
by another custom Ducati racer Paul Van Der Heiden (BJR Products/Aqua7Bathrooms Ducati 650)
and a tenacious Michael Villani (Villani Jewellers Kawasaki ER6) whom shared third places with
Gareth Deacon on another Kawasaki ER6.
Joel Bell showed maturity beyond his years in tricky conditions as the only junior brave enough to
head into the wintery conditions to mix it up with rivals on much faster machinery and take out the
junior class.
Steve Martin/Peter Kerr Cup:
There wasn’t a rider that could get in front of Strugnell’s 99 machine all weekend. He dominated every class he entered.
William “Willie” Strugnell capped off a fantastic weekend by taking out the A & B grade Steve
Martin/Peter Kerr Cup in wet conditions. Again showing that he has what it takes to lead and set the
pace Strugnell (Lee’s Spot On Motorcycles/Woolich Racing) on his Kawasaki ZX-10R in front of an onsong Howard Sabey (Adelaide Motorcycle Centre Ducati 959) and Roy Ankan (SA
Motorcycles/Motionlogics/Radskills) riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Reece Bancell Trophy:
The Reece Bancell Trophy is always hotly
contested and this was no acception with
the talented Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted
Alex Pavlenko (SA
Motorcycles/Motionlogics) coming home
on the top step after riding a smart race
from the front. Kieran Hurrell kept
Pavlenko honest aboard his Honda
CBR1000RR coming in a close second
followed to the flag by a very fast Mark
Hoey. Hoey (Complete Plumbing &
Alex Pavlenko leads the pack in the C & D Grade Reece
Bancell Trophy.
Gas/Motionlogics) supported Kawasaki ZX-6R rode
the wheels off of his 600cc bike amongst his 1000cc
peers and impressed with speed and courage after
having a qualifying fall.
Mark Hoey slides through Mallala’s sweeping turn two on his
way to a podium finish.
Peter Steven Motorcycles: Brackets:
Bracket racing has long been a fantastic way for riders to get introduced into the South Australian
Road Race Championships. Riders compete on level terms in accord to their relative speed by only
racing their own four competitors placed and staggered across the grid. Sean Fletcher (Suzuki GSXR1000), Bonn Watson (Kawasaki ZX-6R), Roger Ireland Honda (Honda CBR600RR) and Michael Villani
(Villani Jewellers Kawasaki ER6) all won their respective Brackets.
Once the sun come out the lap times dropped and the racing heated up