Big crowd, big thrills
THE Group One Site Services Bathurst Long Track Masters at the Bathurst Showground on Saturday certainly had a bit of everything, but the best thing about the event was that the large crowd on hand were able to witness some spectacular racing from the country’s best Long Track riders.
With more than 2,000 spectators packing into the Bathurst Showground venue, which was coupled by over 250 Long Track riders from all over the country, this year’s Bathurst Long Track Masters was certainly one to remember. The event even had a two-hour rain delay during the afternoon thrown into the mix, but that didn’t deter event organisers, as they did a great job to push on with the show.
The headlining class of this year’s Bathurst Long Track Masters were the Pro 450s and to say that they put on awesome racing would be quite the understatement. With close to 70 entries, the racing was closely fought out throughout the qualifying heat races. In the final, it was a battle between youth and experience, and on this occasion, it was youth who came out on top. Harrison Ryan chased down and passed local veteran Ben Grabham in the middle stages of the final and went on to take an outstanding victory ahead of Grabham in second and another standout youngster in James Sawdy in third.
In the Long Track Sliders, the final was claimed in impressive fashion by Jack Morrison. Morrison was one of the form riders throughout the event in his class and came away with the win in the final by defeating Broc Hall and Lawson Black in second and third place respectively.
The Womens Open class provided some of the most spectacular racing of the event and it saw the overall honours go the way of Briony Hendrickson. The overall honours were only decided in the fourth and final race, when Amy King was pipped on the line by Tayla Street for the win following a rider error and consequently missed out on the overall spoils. It saw Hendrickson, who had finished third in the fourth and final race, claim the top overall honours ahead of King and Street.
Like a lot of competitors, local favourite Grabham was running multiple classes over the event, and in the Over 40s, he emerged the winner in the final. Grabham used his local knowledge to his advantage and took out the final by downing Joshua McCosker in second and Jason Morris in third.
Cody Lewis was the form rider in the 250cc 4 Stroke class and by virtue of this came out on top in the overall honours. Joining him on the overall podium were Angus Hutchinson and James Sawdy. In the 250cc 2-Stroke class, Rory Hutchinson dominated all four races in impressive fashion and took out the overall win ahead of Paul Edwards and Andrew Smith.
In the Unlimited 2 Strokes, veteran Damien Koppe showed his class throughout the heat races and then went on to take out the final in solid fashion. Daniel Wicks and Thomas Herrick finished behind Koppe at the fall of the chequered flag in the final.
The night time portion of the Bathurst Long Track Masters saw the Bathurst Unlimited and Flat Track 19 classes join the program and the racing in these classes were fast and furious. In the Bathurst Unlimited final, Harrison Ryan managed to score the win in the final by defeating Damien Koppe and Jarred Brook. Split into two categories, the Flat Track 19 (A) was won overall by Jarred Brook and behind him were Thomas Herrick and Daniel Wicks, while in Flat Track 19 (B) Kristian O’Donnell came out on top in the overall honours by defeating Mackenzie Booth and Darcy Klaver.
Other class winners in the senior ranks were Kenny Angel (Hooligan Twins) ahead of Damien Bombardiere and Kristian O’Donnell, the Pre 90s Classic went the way of Daniel Wicks who outpaced Corey Banks and Paul Edwards, Matthew Davies emerged the winner in the Long Track Sliders Evos ahead of Ricky Schafer and Shane Baker, and the pairing of Corey and Tom Banks dominated proceedings in the Dirt Track Sidecars final and went on to finish in front of Jim Jobling / Tom Northey in second and Corey Forde / Darren Freudenstein in third.
The stars of the future in the juniors certainly put on their own impressive display of racing from beginning to end during the Bathurst Long Track Masters. In the Junior 85cc / 150cc 9 to Under 13 Years final, Sam Dare picked up a dominant victory by downing Jake Paige and Jed Fyffe, while in the Junior 125cc / 250cc 13 to Under 16 years final, Bodie Paige scored an impressive victory ahead of fast finishing local Jett Carter in second and the final spot on the podium was filled by Lachlan Russell.
The entire Panorama Motorcycle Club – Bathurst Long Track Masters hosts – would like to thank everyone for their support of the 2023 Group One Site Services Bathurst Long Track Masters, which includes the event’s major sponsor in Group One Site Services, along with all the valued associate sponsors and supporters.
Apart from sponsors and supporters, the Panorama Motorcycling Club says special thanks to all the spectators, competitors and crews, officials and volunteers who all played a vital role in making the Bathurst Long Track Masters one of the country’s premier Long Track motorcycle events.
For more information about the Bathurst Long Track Masters, visit www.panoramamcc.org.au or LIKE them on Facebook or FOLLOW them on Instagram by searching Bathurst Long Track Masters. You can also call Wade Carter (vice president of the Panorama Motorcycle Club) on 0448 737 892.
Photo: Nic Pic NSW