The Final Sidecar Showdown 2017

As the 2017 Australian F1 and F2 Sidecar Championship, heads to Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the decider round of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK), attendees will see Queenslanders Dave Boughen and Lok O’Kane leading the F1 title race after a dominating performance at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The duo had got off to a shaky start at Winton in Round One with an unfamiliar track, and stiff competition from reigning champions Jero Joyce and Corey Blackman, as well as the surprise of the meeting Howard Ford and Lee Menzies. Local hard chargers Terry Goldie and Jamie Crass on the ex-Tim Reeves LCR F2, also gave them plenty of grief.

Round Two was split evenly amongst the three teams with a win a piece, after plenty of exchanges of paint. After seeing the power of the other two teams, Dave and Lok decided they needed to upgrade their respective horsepower, so between Round Two and Three, a much-upgraded Suzuki GSX-R 1000 engine was sourced and used to great effect at the Sydney former Grand Prix circuit. Aided points wise by Joyce and Blackman’s engine failure and Ford and Menzies DNF in the last race, following a very high speed get off, they only need to stay near the front runners to take the F1 title. With locals and 2013 champions, Duncan Rogers and Rodney Bell thrown into the mix at the front, it will be possibly a tactical approach from the Queenslanders.

In the F2 class, Western Australians Darryl McLeod and Paul Matthews lead, being the only F2 team to finish every single race and as it is their first time at Phillip Island, they likely will be challenged by second and third place Mick Alton/Chrissie Clancy and Bruce Collins/Peter DeAngelis respectively. Both these teams missed the Morgan Park round, with Alton/Clancy competing at the Isle of Man TT. Fourth place in the F2 title race is Matty McKinnon and Brad Gorrie, and after struggling with bike troubles in Round One and Two will be looking to go better than his third at Round Three. Also in the F2 class and warming up for a 2018 Isle of Man campaign is Darryl Rayner and Wendy Campbell, they have gone well at Phillip Island before and if the weather is wet, expect to see them up the front. Youngest in the field is relative newcomer Patrick Clancy, who with Steve Bonney, will be riding the Shelbourne that Mick Alton and Patrick’s mum Chrissie Clancy used in round one while their LCR was on its way overseas.

Joining the field in a demonstration capacity will be Cameron Donald on the Australian made and immaculately prepared Irving Vincent. Passengered by the likeable Noel Beare, they will not be eligible for F1 or F2 points, but will be no doubt doing some fast times.

This round is proudly sponsored by Horsell Consulting.

Sidecars will be practicing on Friday 6 October, with qualifying on Saturday as well as race one at 4:10, followed by race two at 12:00 Sunday and the final race at 4:40. Live streaming can be viewed on Sunday at www.asbk.com.au/live-stream/ . Tickets are available at the gate.

Photo Credit: Gerry Murphy