Motor Sport
The 29i sidecar duo of Luke Thwaites and Neville Chalmers are no strangers to the podium – it’s just top rung which has eluded them in recent years.
The drought finally ended on Saturday night with the pair dominating proceedings to secure the Ronnie Tree Memorial trophy at Oreti Park Speedway.
“We’ve been on the doorstep – a lot of second and thirds – so to finally add a red sash to the collection is a great way to finish the season. We’re stoked,” Thwaites said.
Highly regarded as consistent performers not to be under-estimated, Thwaites and Chalmers have developed a solid combination since joining forces as rookies seven seasons ago.
A scorching start in the Ronnie Tree final proved crucial as they managed to steer clear of the chaos which ensued as teams jostle for position in the minor rankings.
“We got the gate and it was clean sailing right from the word go,” Thwaites said. “There was a bit of carnage behind us but we managed to steer clear of that.”
The 24i pairing of Bradley Sharp and Lance Jefcoate had a torrid tussle with 95i Erwin Tree and Bret Pubben with the latter eventually ending up infield on the penultimate lap.
While Sharp and Jefcoate crossed the finish line in second, they were later controversially excluded following a successful protest from Tree and Pubben, who were awarded the placing.
In the solo classes, Jake Gillespie continued to dominate the A grade, with Adam Shuttleworth and John Tuffley second and third respectively.
Zane Pay chalked up another win in the B grade, followed by Devlin Joseph and Peter Knapton, while Pete Stenning made a rare appearance in the classic division and proved a force to be reckoned with.
In the 200cc, Sam Taylor bid farewell to the junior ranks by adding another victory to his haul, while Lucas Colvin and Hayden Brookland could only be separated on countback.
Cormac Buchanan continued his impressive from to notch up another unbeaten run in the 125cc class, followed by Ryan Colvin and Dakota Crengle.
In the pee wee racing, Braxton Casey reigned supreme over Kadin Cracknell and Eli Bartley in division one, while brother Rylan held off strong challenges from the Earley siblings, Cooper and Bella.
By Kate Buchanan.