With no decision if this is the last year of racing at the track. The 2017 Open Sports Nationals will go into the history books as one of the best. With three days of glorious weather and no oil downs, there was time for an extra qualifying session, making seven over the two days of qualifying.
Funny Bike.
There were only three bikes entered and championship points leader Allan Davies was the number one qualifier 7.272-179.15. He did run a personal best speed of 181-01.in a earlier run. Reigning ACU Funny Bike Champion Phil Crossley borrowed a rear tyre off Stuart Crane, which improved his handling issue and ran 8.045-139. Dave Peters damaged his transmission at the Bulldog Bash and repaired 1
st and 2
nd gear. But found third gear had been slightly damaged during qualifying and ran a best of 8.472-123.
Davies had a bye to the final. Crossley beat Peters 7.682 to 10.850. In the final Crossley had a problem after doing his burnout and shut the motor off. Leaving Davies to solo to the winner’s circle and extend his points lead.
Comp Bike.
Sean Mills led a very competitive field, which saw six of the nine bike field in the seven-second bracket. Mills was the number one qualifier with 7.814-177.45 just ahead of former champion and making his first appearance in 2017, Kevin Osman who ran 7.836-185.15. Dave Batcheler ran his first seven-second pass in the ACU Championship qualifying 7.960-157.83. Scott Collier had a last ditch attempt to get in the show and ran 7.994-135.77 for number six spot. Danny Bergelin got in the show with a final pass of 8.369-162.31 to bump out Phil Leamon.
Collier ran a jaw dropping career best of 7.512 (low et)-170.06 to knock out Martin Walker in round one of the eliminations. Best race of the day saw Mick Winyard take a holeshot win 7.994-177.53 over Batcheler who ran personal best of 7.896-162.08. Mills had a bye run and ran top speed of the meet 188.86.
In the semis Mills broken against Winyard and in the other semi-final Collier beat Osman to reach his first ACU Championship final.
Collier foot peg broke as he was coming into stage, leaving Winyard a solo pass to the winner’s circle.
Super Street Bike.
Graham Balchin topped the small field with 7.695-186.87 just ahead of Dave Thomas who led the field 7.733-183.29. Chris Reed was third 8.348 and making his first appearance was Dave Smart 8.403.
In the first semi both riders had problems getting down the track and Thomas just took the win light 10.149 to Reed 10.215. Balchin won the other semi 7.691 to Smart best run of the weekend 8.053. Balchin led from start to finish in the all Kawasaki final, with 7.731 to Thomas 8.080.
Report by Steven Moxley.