The 2023 Aussie Flat Track Nationals (AFTN) season fired into life in spectacular fashion over the weekend as Appin played host to the opening two rounds of the six-round national series.
With both rounds following the same program of Qualifying, Superpole for the top six Pro 450 riders, and four races varying in length from 6 to 15 laps through the day across both Flat Track and TT circuits, Mick Kirkness (Pro 450), Cameron Dunker (Junior Lites), Jed Fyffe (Junior 85) and Shane Gale (Clubman Open) are your current class series leaders.
“It’s always nervous at the start of a race weekend, and especially the series opener, but we had an incredible weekend of close racing in every class,” AFTN’s Dave Maddock said. “I can’t thank the Macarthur club enough, and in particular, Greg Heatly for all his work in delivering an amazing race track, as well as the team of officials, volunteers, entrants and in particular, spectators, for coming out to support the event and their favourite riders. I think more than a few riders realised this weekend that with 24 races and 6 qualifying sessions, there’s a lot of opportunity to earn points in the AFTN, and it will take more than one bad result to ruin a season. I can’t wait to get to Brisbane for rounds three and four.”
Round 1 – Flat Track
A more traditional layout, Appin’s impeccably prepared Skyline Flat Track circuit saw Billy Van Eerde top the Pro 450 combined time sheets before Matt Davies put down an impressive Superpole lap to take Pole for the day, but it was Mick Kirkness that would go on to win with 1-1-2-2 score card over the races.
Junior Lites saw three different race winners between Lachlan Russell, Cameron Dunker and Bodie Paige, with the five points for Qualifying fastest and a win in the final race of the day giving Russell the overall win after tying on points with Dunker.
Jed Fyffe was fast from the start, earning the 5 points as the fastest qualifier in Junior 85 and it proved to be the difference as Fyffe and Jake Paige finished the day with two wins and two seconds apiece.
Clubman Open saw three winners across the four races with Rory Hutchinson, Shane Gale and Lee Hunter (aboard a KTM SX-F 250 against the bigger 450 machines) taking race wins but it was a consistent Hutchinson taking the round overall win.
Round 2 – TT
A new style of racing for many competitors, Appin’s TT circuit adds different surface types, two rolling jumps and a 180-degree right hand turn, effectively doubling the lap times from round one’s flat track layout at the venue.
Mick Kirkness set the tone with the fastest lap of the day on just his second lap of qualifying, but it was Daniel Wicks who ultimately took the 5 points in the Pro 450 TT Superpole. Kirkness, Jarred Brook and Wicks once again traded wins through the four race program as Kirkness took the round win by a single point ahead of a hard charging Wicks.
Cameron Dunker carried his round one form over to round two taking three from four race wins despite Lachlan Russell setting the pace in qualifying and consistent results in all four races saw Thoren Openshaw on the third step of the podium. Bodie Paige took the final race win of the day, but a crash in race three saw the youngster pushed down the leaderboard for the day.
It was a dominant day for Jed Fyffe in the Junior 85’s, with pole and four race wins for a perfect scorecard followed closely by the Duggan brothers as Lenny led Lockie in all four races to the line.
Clubman Open saw three winners across the day with fastest qualifier Darren Webb taking two wins ahead of Shane Gale and Lee Hunter, with 2022 Clubman 450 series winner Jason Griffin taking a well deserved race three win.
Flat Track Results:
Pro 450
1 387 Michael KIRKNESS
2 J21 Jarred BROOK
3 414 Matthew DAVIES
Superpole
414 Matthew DAVIES
Junior Lites
1 555 Lachlan RUSSELL
2 105 Cameron DUNKER
3 174 Bodie PAIGE
Junior 85
1 23 Jed FYFFE
2 552 Jake PAIGE
3 10 Lockie DUGGAN
Clubman Open
1 114 Rory HUTCHINSON
2 414 Shane GALE
3 5 Darren WEBB
TT Results:
Pro 450
1 387 Michael KIRKNESS
2 176 Daniel WICKS
3 J21 Jarred BROOK
Superpole
176 Daniel WICKS
Junior Lites
1 105 Cameron DUNKER
2 555 Lachlan RUSSELL
3 296 Thoren OPENSHAW
Junior 85
1 23 Jed FYFFE
2 12 Lenny DUGGAN
3 10 Lockie DUGGAN
Clubman Open
1 5 Darren WEBB
2 414 Shane GALE
3 87 Lee HUNTER
Series Leaderboards
Pro 450
1 387 Michael KIRKNESS 413
2 J21 Jarred BROOK 384
3 176 Daniel WICKS 339
4 25 Cyshan WEALE 337
5 414 Matthew DAVIES 329
6 14 Thomas HERRICK 303
7 29 Billy VAN EERDE 254
8 598 Rory McQUALTER 238
9 42 Jordan DALL 234
10 314 Rowan TEGART 229
Junior Lites
1 105 Cameron DUNKER 413
2 555 Lachlan RUSSELL 407
3 296 Thoren OPENSHAW 348
4 174 Bodie PAIGE 342
5 87 Cooper ARCHIBALD 320
6 27 Jayden HOLDER 294
7 7 James WOOD 288
8 278 Blake FAIREY 274
9 06 Hugh HOPE-HODGETTS 250
10 19 Michael PRICE 94
Junior 85
1 23 Jed FYFFE 440
2 12 Lenny DUGGAN 372
3 10 Lockie DUGGAN 365
4 90 Zac BRADY 302
5 22 Charlie NICHOLS 286
6 12a Logan TURNER 272
7 663 Beau JARVIS 262
8 11 William WIGGINS 250
9 26 Jye FRENCH 242
10 552 Jake PAIGE 210
Clubman Open
1 414 Shane GALE 394
2 5 Darren WEBB 378
3 87 Lee HUNTER 364
4 114 Rory HUTCHINSON 359
5 28 Neil GIRDLER 313
6 261 Jason GRIFFIN 312
7 78 Rhys SANDOW 278
8 36 Darryl MALLAM 268
9 38 Timothy HOLDUP 263
10 278 Molly FAIREY 232
