Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing have come away from the second round of Super X at Wollongong's WIN Stadium with mixed results after torrential rain once again played havoc with track conditions.
A wild electrical storm lashed the NSW coastal town just minutes before the finals were due to get underway, delaying proceedings for over an hour and forcing a late change to the race formats.
Showing great pace on a dry track earlier in the day, Cheyne Boyd qualified second in the Open class while teammate Gavin Faith posted the third fastest time in the Lites.
Faith and teammate Todd Waters breezed through their respective heat races but a spectacular crash left Boyd barely able to walk after sustaining severe bruising to his shoulder, back and ankle.
After spending an hour with Racesafe, Boyd courageously lined up for the last chance qualifier, earning his spot in the final after finishing second.
With both classes to contest a 15-lap final Faith was the first to take to the muddy track.
The young American, who was mid pack off the start impressively moved through the Lites field to third. While pushing hard to make a pass for second Faith went down in the whoops and lost a position.
"I felt really positive after my heat race," Faith said. "I went down and came back from seventh to third and I was riding quite conservatively.
"The final was very muddy and the start-line was a mess. I got away in eighth and worked through to be challenging for second with two laps to go.
"Unfortunately I pushed too hard and went down in the whoops. It wasn't the result I was after but I was happy with my pace in both the dry and the wet and I have moved up the championship standings to sixth," he concluded.
While Boyd was cautious off the start Waters got away well but was pushed off track in the early stages of the race.
Fighting back from mid-pack Waters finished the race fifth and now sits sixth in the championship standings.
"I got a great start and was feeling really comfortable on the bike," Waters explained
"While most of the guys were rolling the rhythm section I was doubling it but I got roosted and pushed off the track which put me right back in the field.
"Not the result that I wanted but I was happy with how I came back through in these conditions," he said.
Despite struggling to walk to the start-line Cheyne Boyd showed great courage, battling severe pain as he negotiated his Honda CRF450 around the quagmire.
The Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing rider rode a cautious race to finish 12th.
"It was really disappointing to crash like that as I felt quick out there and the bike was working so well," Boyd said.
"I didn't think I was going to get back out there but I knew I had to try and take home some points.
"The pain was insane, my ankle is swollen and I can barely walk on it but I will work hard to be fit for next weekends event," Boyd stated.
Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing supported rider Michael Phillips put in another strong performance to finish seventh. He sits eighth in the championship two points ahead of Boyd.
Team Principal Yarrive Konsky acknowledged the night's results were not a true reflection of his teams potential.
"Overall it was a tough weekend," Konsky said. " These conditions make it hard for everyone ‰ÛÒ the teams, riders and the fans.
"The team is working really hard and the guys are riding much better than their results showed tonight. We will regroup and work towards Round 3."
Round 3 of the 2011 Super-X Championship will be held at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday 5th November.
