The Bunbury Motorcycle Club is gearing up for two massive WAMX State Championships only a week apart for the Seniors and Juniors with the 5th round of the Make Smoking History WAMX Senior State Championships being held this Sunday August 16th.
The rough and tumble deep sands of Shrubland Park, in Bunbury is a track favoured by many riders and also a spectators dream with the whole track offering terrific vantage points throughout.
The season now gets down towards the business end with every race point critical, towards the ultimate goal of a state championship. With the title chase the closest in many years across all classes, the spectators at Bunbury are sure to be well entertained with the high calibre of close, exciting and tough racing.
The battle lines are drawn between defending MX2 champion and series leader Jayden Rykers and second placed Connor Tierney split by only 25 points. With 18 championship points splitting third placed Jake Fewster, Jack Taylor and Dylan Heard in the battle in the exciting MX2 championship class.
Baylee Webb, John Darroch, and Jack Perkusich kept their championship point‰Ûªs title chase within grasp at round 4, but may just be out of reach of the top three given the calibre and consistency of the racing, but as always anything can happen.
In the Womens Championship Chelsea Blakers leads the series and is primed to taste success at Bunbury, a track she has ridden to success previously. Blakers will need to keep a watchful eye on second placed Storme Greene who was the main contender for the top step of the podium with Blakers at the opening round. Holding down third in the series is Hannah Bagnall, with solid rides expected from Leeha Worthington, Hannah Lovett and Lana Woodhead. With Jess Moore back on home soil she will be the one to dominate at this round.
With Ben Hothersall dominating in the Veteran class at Beverley his attack will be on par with series leader Brendon Parnham. Second placed in the series is Trevor Unstead who will need to get his starts fired up with Tim Dunstan and Nick Stone only a few points shy of Unstead in the championships. At the previous round Brett Graham, Matt Briggs and Chris Fleay secured some handy points and will need to keep the local riders at bay.
The Intermediate Lites is a tight charge in the points standing between series leader Jacob Schaafsma and Kenlon Youl. The danger man is Kurt Baxter in third place capitalising on his outstanding starts at the Beverley round, despite threatening opposition from Mario Dercole, Grant Buchan, Josh Andrews, and also Craig Divitini who was particularly strong at the previous round.
Alex Christie holds the series lead despite not podiuming at the fourth round. Jake McKay dominated to move up to second in the series standings from Brayden Hahn who sits in third position. There is expected to be a mass influx of local district riders heading into this round at Bunbury, which may continue to see a surprise package on the podium.
Clubman Open class has Callum Evans leading the points chase with Beverley round winner Nathan Cox holding second and Caleb Mills moving into third position. With riders such as Corey White, Brandon Richman, Jason Woolfit, Shaun Roser, Brayden Luksa and Kile Scoon-Reid ready to go head to head with the local riders, it will be a scramble into the first corner at Shrubland Park.
Intermediate Open will bring out another tight finish in the points chase with Anthony Rubotham holding the championship lead by only six points from Brock Nelson and Matt Rowlands. All will need to have the race plans well sorted with attacks certain from Dylan Dejong, Mario Dercole, Stuart Eardley-Wilmott, Hayden Scoby-Smith, Bryce Williams, Aaron Chircop and Grant Buchan who are so strong at Bunbury, with many calling this their home round.
In the MX1 class series leader Dean Porter carries a 26 point advantage over Robbo Lovett and Connor Tierney. With defending champion Kyle Webster‰Ûªs season all but over due to injury, and Louis Calvin‰Ûªs mechanical issues DNF-ing his day, the door widens for Mitch Taylor, Liam Whisler and Charlie Creech to put pressure on third place in the series.
Major threat Craig Bolton is out for the remainder of the season due to injury, and the two big contenders Stevie Heilers and Louis Calvin need to fire at this round to keep their championship alive. With this equation, Bunbury shapes up as one of the most important rounds on the racing calendar.
Top Image: Dean Porter
Credit: True Spirit Photos
