Townsville 21 year old Kayden Downing announced himself on the dirt track scene when he took out the Casey Stoner Cup yesterday‰Ûªs meeting held in honour of Australia‰Ûªs dual Moto GP world champion.
Stoner spent almost a decade as a member of the Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club and another talented young rider added his name to the honour roll of winners of this annual event staged at the Loxford Park track.
Even with defending cup winner Jarred Brook a late withdrawal the meeting produced another winner from north of the border.
Downing made a big impression at the Trackmasters meeting a fortnight earlier, but went home without any hardware from that meeting.
With little between as many as five riders for much of the day Downing ultimately stood tall to win the two classes he contested at the Kurri Kurri meeting.
A three-way tie was resolved on the results of the last round in the Pro 450 class with Downing edging out 16 year old Mackenzie Childs and 18 year old Boyd Hollis.
In the 8-lap Casey Stoner Cup final Downing got to the lead early on with Childs unable to bridge the gap while Sean McLellan won a close battle to beat off Hollis and Damien Koppe for third.
Hollis earlier outpointed Childs and Connor Ryan in the Pro 250class.
The junior racing was a shakedown run for the New South Wales Junior Track Championships to be staged at the same venue on the Queens Birthday weekend in June.
The chance to race at the Loxford Park track before that title showdown attracted riders from Queensland and Victoria and everything points to an exciting title meeting in June.
Four junior riders were winners of two classes as the action from the youngsters matched that turned on by the seniors.
Local Billy Van Eerde dominated the 13 to Under 16s, with Kempsey rider Jayden Holder, Central Coast rider Senna Agius and Tom Drane from Forbes also taking out two classes.
RESULTS OF CASEY STONER CUP MEETING
Staged at the Loxford Park Raceway, Kurri Kurri on Saturday and Sunday April 22 and 23
CASEY STONER CUP PRO OPEN
1 Kayden Downing (Townsville)
2 Mackenzie Childs (Kurri Kurri)
3 Sean McLellan (Kurri Kurri)
PRO 450
1 Kayden Downing (Townsville)
2 Mackenzie Childs
3 Boyd Hollis (Kurri Kurri)
PRO 250
1 Boyd Hollis
2 Mackenzie Childs
3 Connor Ryan (Kurri Kurri)
OVER 35
1 Matt Cardinale (Kurri Kurri)
2 Brett Ryan (Kurri Kurri)
3 Jai Brazor (Kurri Kurri)
50cc Auto Div.2 7 ‰ÛÒ U/9
1 Hugh Dilley (Kurri Kurri)
2 Jett Kubelka (Gold Coast)
3 Alexander Adamson (Kurri Kurri)
65cc 7 ‰ÛÒ U/9
1 Jayden Holder (Kempsey)
2 Jett Kubelka
3 Hugh Dilley
65cc 9 ‰ÛÒ U/13
1 Cameron Dunker (Kurri Kurri)
2 Tom Drane (Forbes)
3 Harrison Voight (Gold Coast)
85cc 4-str Modified 7- U/10
1 Jayden Holder
2 Cameron Dunker
3 Will Bisley (Taree)
85cc 4-str Modified 10- U/14
1 Tom Drane (Forbes)
2 Travis Hall (North Brisbane)
2 Harrison Voight (Gold Coast)
85cc 2str / 150cc 4str SW 9 ‰ÛÒ U/11
1 Tom Drane
2 Archie McDonald (Albury)
3 Glen Nelson (North Brisbane)
85cc 2str / 150cc 4str BW 11‰ÛÒ U/13
1 Senna Agius (Central Coast)
2 Ryan Smith (Singleton)
3 Travis Hall
85cc 2str / 150cc 4str BW 11‰ÛÒ U/13
1 Senna Agius
2 Travis Hall
3 Ryan Smith
85cc 2str / 150cc 4str 13 ‰ÛÒ /16
1 Alex Kenworthy-Jones (Kurri Kurri)
2 Callan Russell (Kurri Kurri)
3 Mitchell Martin (Canberra)
100-150 2-str 13 ‰ÛÒ U/16
1 Billy Van Eerde (Singleton)
2 Jayden Rodgers) Kurri Kurri)
3 Kye Andrews (Taree)
200-250 4-str 13 ‰ÛÒ U/16
1 Billy Van Eerde
2 Harry Maxwell (Proserpine)
3 Jordon Ussher (Kurri Kurri)
