Miller masters flat track racing to win WA Title

Report by Grant Woodhams

WA 500cc rider Brian Miller made his temporary conversion to flat track racing look easy when he comfortably won the second running of the WA Flat Track Title held at Pinjar Park.

Miller saw off the challenges of South Australia’s Sean Chapman and defending Champion Matt Marson to score a popular win.

A field of twenty-six riders contested twelve heats to qualify for the Championship. South Australian Sean Chapman went through the heats undefeated. Others to impress included fellow SA visitors Sean Curtis and Roy Prout.

Of the West Aussies Miller, Marson and Brook Lawson, on his 1964 BSA, looked the goods. Such was the quality of the field that noted flat trackers Brandon Coombe, Dean Condren and Mick Godbold were forced to qualify through the B Final.

The final was an all Miller affair as he bolted from the gate aboard his bike that only had two hours on the clock. Chapman chased but was unable to get near Miller, while Marson looking to repeat couldn’t get near either of them. Sean Curtis botched the start and was last out of the gate, while Prout feeling the damage from a crash earlier in the night was somewhat tentative. Dean Condren made up for some poor heats with a strong fourth. Brook Lawson was set for a podium finish but dropped his bike a lap from home.

There were several spills in heat racing, the most serious of which involved SA’s Roy Prout who was forced to the fence and crashed heavily on the main straight. He was substantially shaken, and went to hospital after the meeting. In the rerun of this heat he finished second.

The title was a great advertisement for flat track racing. If the fields were as big at every meeting, the popularity of flat track racing would soar.

Ryder Mathews-Taylor goes five for five to win WA Junior Flat Track Title

Ryder Mathews Taylor made one of his rare forays to Pinjar Park pay dividends when he cleaned house against a strong field of Pinjar’s regular 110cc field.

He went through his four heats undefeated and then was unchallenged to take out the final and the WA Championship. Phoenix Elliott rode hard all night in an endeavour to stay with Mathews-Taylor and was rewarded with second place in the final. Mason Robins’ great consistency was rewarded with third. Just missing out on the podium was the much-improved Coby Robson. Ollie Corbett, Pace Sturmfels, Connor Myers and Connor Zahra-Frost were prominent in heat racing but were unable to match the four boys who topped qualifying.

Luke Killeen best in Senior Solos (500cc’s)

A small field was on hand, but the racing was of a very high standard and those in attendance were privileged to see the debut of Luke Killeen on a 500. His skill and determination were exceptional. His only loss of the night coming at the hands of State Champion Matt Marson who chose to only run two 500 races on the night. Killeen’s lap times were some of the best ever seen at Pinjar. His win in his second heat of 61.95 sec a treat to behold. Killeen’s opponents on the night included his brother Declan, returning after nearly a year off after an injury and the recently graduated Jack McDiarmid. All three, under twenty years of age, will bear watching as their careers progress.

500cc B Grade was dominated by veteran Nigel Flatman who is so far undefeated in this division at Pinjar this season. Two returnees joined Flatman in B Grade, Lincoln Worroll and Nathan Eastcott.

Mitchell McDiarmid wins 250cc Final

A massively good set of four heats that provided three separate winners promised a great final and Mitchell McDiarmid who was the top qualifier on the night made the most of an excellent start to canter away to victory. Linkin Metcalf who won the WA 250 Title at the last meeting was stranded at the gate with engine issues and from thereon it was all Mitchell McDiarmid. The hugely improved Colby Mason finished second. His brother Hunter third.

Earlier in the night Alex Prall and Trevor Dossett were sidelined with engine problems.

Senior Sidecars sees Nash/Shield turn on fireworks

Spectacular, fast and fabulous are three ways to describe the current state of WA sidecar racing. Each meeting at Pinjar throwing up some superb racing. Current State Champs Darren Nash/Ash Shield epitomise the division with hard charging racing that grabs your attention.

In winning the final they saw off the challenge of three of the best teams in WA in Reece Liptrott/Jesse Thomas, Russell Mitchell/Drew Lock and Jeff Bishop/Juston Winchester. In a no beg pardons battle they came out on top in the sort of event that the Pinjar patrons love. While Nash and Shield were taking the chequered flag Liptrott/Thomas were lucky to escape a serious incident when their rear tyre exploded as they chased them to the finish on the main straight on the last lap. Both held on while the bike veered across the track with Russell Mitchell/Drew Lock neatly avoiding them.

With these four outfits in the final it may have been a case of cream rising to the top but the other teams entered on the night were equally impressive in their qualifying heats. New teams Rock Bryan/Courtney Heft, Bob King/Daniel Wallis, Troy Craig/Matt Young and Stephen McMurray/Jason Williams continue to make life difficult for the established stars.

Linkin Metcalf takes final as big Fields continue to showcase 125cc Solos

Linkin Metcalf continues to campaign both a 125cc Solo along with his 250cc bike. So too does his main rival in both divisions Mitchell McDiarmid. These two boys providing some ding dong battles. Along with Phoenix Elliott and Hunter Mason they are well established A grade riders at this level. In the 125cc B’s Axel McCarthy scored a welcome win over the rapidly improving Noah Sandilands. Regan Dossett like Sandilands is a rider on the improve as too is Jake Corbett who also qualified for the B Final. Pint sized Dom Colmore was back racing and looked to be set for a big night but was sidelined with engine problems after a first up win in his heat.

50cc Starter Division continues to enthuse

While there are no winners, no points are given and no chequered flag shown, there is plenty of excitement with the boys and girls of the 50cc’s. Usually around two minutes are on the clock for each event and riders like Johnathan Forrest, Blake Colemore, Rylan Smith, Chayse Brown, Braxton Sutherland, Jy Robson, Kaden Keen, Indi Sutherland and Kaiden Allen get to strut their stuff in front of an appreciative Pinjar crowd. There may be no trophies or titles, but rest assured there are bragging rights!