2017

GP JUNIORS CUP RETURNS TO MORGAN PARK RACEWAY

Words and Photos Provided by GP Juniors Australia

The fifth round of the inaugural GP Juniors Cup returns to the challenging Morgan Park Raceway August 25-27, and it boasts the largest number of entries so far in 2017, with 12 riders entered for the fledgling class at the Warwick track.

The meeting will see the youngsters, who range from 12 to 16 years old, share the stage with the premier category of Australian road racing at Round 5 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli. It will be the third time this year that the GP Juniors Cup has been on the same program as their more experienced peers. It is also the GP Juniors’ second visit to Morgan Park Raceway for the year.

The GP Juniors Cup provides a level playing field with all competitors riding the dynamic Yamaha YZF R-15 on control Bridgestone tyres, providing a perfect training tool for the kids to improve the skills of road racing, without relying on outright speed for results.

The fourth round of the GP Juniors Cup at Wakefield Park Raceway three weeks ago, was a bitterly cold and blustery weekend for the Juniors, so everyone is hoping that the Warwick track has the sun shining all weekend.

A new overall winner was crowned when Max Stauffer broke through for his first overall round win to snap the stranglehold that series leader Tom Edwards held on the Cup, after he won the first three rounds. The pair were locked together on points at the end of the weekend, a count back giving the nod to the son of multiple Australian Superbike Champion, Jamie Stauffer, showing the fruit hasn’t fallen far from the tree.

It was a momentous occasion for the teenager Stauffer, from Mulbring in the Hunter Valley of NSW and while he will be aiming to improve on third overall in the series, the local hope will be John Lytras from the Sunshine Coast. Lytras sits second in the standings and will be hoping for a different outcome at his local track of Morgan Park, after his disappointment at the last round. It was a bitter learning experience for the 12-year-old, after dominating with three wins from four races. Lytras crashed out of the lead in the final leg in the very challenging conditions, missing the chance of closing in on Edwards’ points lead.

There are many that will be in contention with Gold Coast lad, Tristan Adamson is sure to have a very determined mindset after having to withdraw from the previous round because of a severe bout of the flu. In his debut in the class back in June at the same venue, Adamson won first time out. The effort all the more momentous as it was in very wet and slippery conditions. Adamson finished second overall.

Kelso, Edwards and Lytras Pic Col Roper

Joel Kelso from the Northern Territory has missed a couple of rounds this year due to school up the ‘Top End’, but he is sure to be a front runner as he is a very talented rider who competes in a number of categories and has been a regular junior road racing competitor for a number of years – all at the rip old age of 13!

Harry Khouri, from Richmond (NSW) is another rapid learner that will be aiming to improve on his recent outings at Morgan Park Raceway and Wakefield Park Raceway, where he just missed out on a podium. With encouraging results and the recipient of the Australian Motorcycle News MAC Points Award that is judged on marketability, attitude and character, he is rapidly learning the skill necessary for success.

The weekend will see a number of debutants stepping up to the plate as Zylas Bunting, Jarred Loveday, Ned Faulkhead and Hunter Penhallurick make their debuts in the class.
Bunting and Loveday are from the North Coast of NSW. Penhallurick hails from Far North Queensland and Faulkhead is from Mildura in north western Victoria, the pair making a huge effort to compete in their first round of the GP Juniors Cup.

Faulkhead could be a dark horse, as he also has international experience competing in a championship in Asia this year, and is also another very competent dirt tracker who revels in close racing.

Novacastrian, Edwards with his international experience in the USA and Asia, and being the elder statesman of the class, is no doubt the favourite for the weekend. He has a commanding 47 point lead over second-placed Lytras but there will be many out to give him a decent run. Lytras leading the charge, aiming to put a dent in Edwards’ championship aspirations, around the excellent Morgan Park layout.

The weekend starts on Friday with three practice sessions, with practice, qualifying and one race on Saturday, and two races on Sunday.

A weekend pass is $30 per adult, or $20 per day with children 15 and under, FREE!

http://www.ticketebo.com.au/motorcycling-australia/yamaha-motor-finance-australian-superbike-championship-presented-by-motul-pirelli-morgan-park-raceway.html

GP JUNIORS CUP SERIES POINTS after four (of seven) rounds.

1 Tommy Edwards (NSW) 327

2 John Lytras (Qld) 280

3 Max Stauffer (NSW) 245

4 Harry Khouri (NSW) 234

5 Ben Baker (NSW) 154

6 Joel Kelso (NT) 121

7 Luke Power (Vic) 84

8 Tristan Adamson (Qld) 77