This year saw the introduction of a Senior Women‰Ûªs Championship class with $300 prize money up for grabs. The class consisted of Queensland‰Ûªs fastest Dirt Track Women Riders Megan Doyle, Melissa Emmi, Samantha Van Eerde, Phoebe Grayjczonek, Ashleigh Davey and Melissa Ashford.
The class was hotly contested over the entire weekend with all the women having tight tussles for the lead through the tight, fast S-bends at the Townsville track. There was no room for error as the women swapped leads constantly over the weekend with each one waiting for the leader to make a slight mistake for them to slip through and take the all important first place.
The racing finished on the Saturday afternoon with Ashleigh Davey leading the class by 15 points from the remainder of the field who were separated by only a few points. Sunday started with Davey having it all her own way in the first race with a holeshot on the freshly watered track and holding the lead for the entire race comfortably.
The second race wasn‰Ûªt all her way with Megan Doyle getting the all-important holeshot. The race was the most exciting of the championships with the girls swapping the lead 6 times throughout the race and in the end it was Ashleigh who slipped through the slightest gap showing how determined she was to secure the championship. Phoebe Grayjczonek charged through the pack in the second race to take the third spot. The last race began with a straight-line speed race between all the women as each got a flying start. It was Davey who made the split second decision to brake the latest to gain a slight advantage going into the first tight turn and she ran away with the win.
Ashleigh commented after the meeting, ‰ÛÏI have had such a fantastic time at the Championships. It feels great to say I‰Ûªm the first ever Women‰Ûªs Queensland Dirt Track Champion. I can‰Ûªt speak highly enough of my fellow female racers this weekend, I certainly had to work for my win. I think I had an advantage through the right hand turns because of motocross and I found when the track got rough, I wasn‰Ûªt fazed. I‰Ûªd just like to thank the Townsville club for all their obvious organisation and work put into the event, the track was in perfect condition. I‰Ûªd also like to thank my sponsors for all their support ‰ÛÒ Rising Sun Honda, No Fear Racewear, Dragon, DirtGirl Clothing, Motul Oils and RK Chains.‰Û
