MOTUL Summer season Night time Collection hosted by St. George MCC
Sydney Motorsport Park – Gardner GP Circuit
Spherical Two – Pirelli Limitless F1 and F2

Phrases by Nick Edards, Photos by Half Gentle & RbMotoLens

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The second spherical of ST. George Bike Membership’s MOTUL Summer season Nights Collection 23/24 (aka SNS04) graced a heat and humid Sydney Motorsport Park, on Saturday, January 13.

Spectator prove for spherical two was merely magnificent. What different membership occasion can boast present and previous nationwide title winners on the observe, together with worldwide superstars like Mat Mladin and Troy Corser giving encouragement and tricks to riders within the pits.

Going into the night’s racing, with qualifying kicking off at 5:30 pm, some opponents had already spent the day honing their race prep at a public observe day and with daytime temps within the mid-30’s, there have been some weary faces even earlier than the racing bought underway.

The occasion adopted the well-established three-class format with qualifying and three scheduled dash races per class. Time is tight, observe motion should finish at or earlier than 2230 so delays could cause race distances to be diminished, or, if completely vital – races on the again finish of the dance card to be cancelled.

Pirelli Limitless (Superbikes) and AMA Warehouse 600 (Supersport) each have F1 and F2 classes. F1 and F2 share observe time, F1 is for worldwide and nationwide grade racers, F2 is for clubbies. The AGV Limitless F3 class, which will get the observe to itself, is for clubbies not anticipated to interrupt 1:40sec lap occasions.

This report will cowl Pirelli Limitless F1/F2. The race report for AGV Limitless and AMA Warehouse 600 F1/F2 will comply with later within the week. Spherical One Pirelli Limitless race studies will be discovered right here:

Pirelli Limitless F1 was stacked with expertise.

Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati V4R), Max Stauffer (Dr Mak GTR Motostars YZF-R1M), and Jake Farnsworth (Price Race Developments Yamaha YZF-R1M) had topped the desk at Spherical One and have been again for extra.

Josh Brookes (Livson FHO Racing BMW M1000RR) was additionally again and seeking to make up misplaced floor after dropping factors on the earlier spherical.

The ASBK contingent have been out in power with present ASBK champion Troy Herfoss making his first race outing on the DesmoSport Ducati since taking up a testing position with them, having parted methods with Penrite Honda on the finish of his title-winning season. DesmoSport lead rider Broc Pearson (#11 DesmoSport Ducati V4R) was additionally on deck sporting his new #11 plate.

Cru Halliday (YRT), all the time a robust runner at Nights races, was one other welcome addition alongside former ASBK champion Mike Jones (YRT).

It’s fairly an achievement for a lil ol’ membership race to draw that degree of curiosity from the highest groups and riders within the nation.

In all, there have been 13 riders in F1, together with St George MCC membership stalwarts Josh Soderland, Paris Hardwick and Michael Edwards, who’re additionally competing in ASBK once more this yr.

Within the F2 class, coming away from Spherical One, Chris Dunne (Damarc Civil Motoworks Ducati V4) was on high of the desk with a wholesome 14-point lead over Timmy Griffith (BCPerformance Kawasaki ZX10R).

Carlos Rendon (Pest Killer Sydney Ducati V4), Scott Gardner (ART Yamaha R1) who wasn’t current at Spherical Two, and Leanne Nelson (West Sliders Yamaha R1) crammed out the highest 5 F2 locations.

And so to the observe…

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Pirelli Limitless F1 and F2 Qualifying

Pirelli Limitless F1 qualifying was red-flagged early when Josh Soderland’s Ducati blew a brand new oil line and whereas Josh pulled up the bike as quickly as he was conscious of the issue, security dictated a radical observe examine for doable oil earlier than observe motion might resume. Because it turned on the market was no oil down, Soderland’s belly-pan ensured the oil leak was largely contained.

Halliday as soon as extra demonstrated his expertise below lights taking pole, the one rider to go below the 1m30sec mark, carding a 1m29.8790.

Second spot on the grid went to Harrison Voight, who’d scored an ideal three-from-three at Spherical One, this time across the teenager certified simply two-tenths of a second behind Halliday.

Lower than one-second break up pole from sixth spot on the grid (Brookes), with Herfoss, Jones and Stauffer holding third by means of fifth. Herf appeared to get the hold of the V4 fairly rapidly, his lap time lower than half a second off Halliday’s mark.

Leanne Nelson was quickest of the F2 contingent posting a 1m35.2300, a one-tenth of a second margin over Carlos Rendon with Dunne, Griffith and Vincent Nicolosi (Yamaha R1) all inside half a second of her mark.

Nelson’s time was adequate to present her eleventh on the grid, a mirrored image of there being such a robust F1 line-up forward of her.

Qualifying Outcomes

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Race One

In Race One, F1, Voight led off the road however Halliday was throughout his again wheel, conserving the strain on and finally in a position to get previous on his solution to the race win by two-tenths.

So fast was Halliday and Voight’s tempo that Brookes, in third and recovering from a poor begin, was three-seconds again by the flag.

The quickest lap of the race went to Halliday with a 1m29.4940.  The one different riders to dip into the 29s throughout that opening encounter have been Voight and Mike Jones, who got here dwelling in fourth.

In his first race on the Ducati Herfoss got here dwelling some 12-seconds adrift of Halliday, however half-a-second forward of his team-mate Pearson.

Pirelli Limitless F2 noticed Griffith and Dunne, the principle protagonists within the class at Spherical One, choose up the place they left off.

Griffith took the category win and eleventh general on observe from Dunne by almost two-seconds, after a small mistake by Dunne in Flip Two late within the race.

Rendon, Rees and Nelson have been all inside 4 seconds of Griffith on the flag.

A particular name out goes to devoted membership man Andrew Burley who got here off at 200 km/h+ in Flip One, making a large number of his race bike and subsequently requiring surgical procedure for some arm accidents. We’re happy to report he’s already dwelling and we want him nicely and hope to see him again on observe quickly. Summer season Nights wouldn’t be the identical with out him.

Race One Outcomes

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Race Two

MOTUL St George Summer season Nights runs a progressive grid, so qualifying solely units grid place for Race One. The ending place in Race One units the grid place for Race Two, after which the ending place in Race Two units the grid place for the third and remaining race of the night.

Halliday wasn’t in a position to apply the identical strain to Voight in Race Two, as an alternative he had his palms full with team-mate Mike Jones – the YRT duo crossing the road in third and fourth spots, simply three-hundredths of a second separating them.

Out in entrance, it was Josh Brookes’ flip to make Voight work onerous for the win. Whereas Brookes was in a position to take the lead briefly, the Ducati man was in a position to get the sting and take the win by half-a-second.

Voight’s 1m29.836 was the perfect lap time within the race, Brookes the one different rider in that second contest to report a 29.

Herfoss scored one other fifth place together with his finest lap four-tenths faster than he managed within the opening bout. Herf’s finest lap was almost a second faster than Pearson’s, exhibiting the worth the ex-Honda man will deliver to the crew in his testing position.

Griffith scored one other eleventh general and the F2 class win and what a monster win it was, seven-seconds forward of Simon Rees (Fort Hill Bikes Kawasaki ZX10RR) in second, with Ryan Masri (RMac Options P/L BMW HP4) third. Rendon and Nelson all scoring good factors within the high 5 positions within the class. Lower than two-tenths separated Rees from Rendon.

Chris Dunne, robust in Race One, crashed out of Race Two on lap six and wouldn’t reappear for Race Three.

Race Two Outcomes

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Race Three

A lot of delays by means of the night compressed the schedule and led to the cancellation of an AGV Limitless class race, however all three Pirelli Limitless races have been in a position to run, albeit with a shortened third race to satisfy the legislated curfew.

Halliday was out of the ultimate contest with a mechanical concern after three laps.  Voight and Brookes operating up entrance with Mike Jones in sizzling pursuit.

Voight took the win by half-a-second over Brookes.  Jones was solely a few tenths from Brookes on the flag.

Herfoss almost managed to stick with them, crossing the road two-seconds behind Voight, however nearly seven-seconds forward of Pearson.

Voight took the quickest lap in that remaining encounter with a 1m29.668.  Brookes, Jones and Herfoss additionally within the 29s.

F2 noticed Griffith take one more eleventh general and first at school, gapping Rendon, who had Rees proper on his tail, by two-tenths. Nelson and Masri took fourth and fifth.

Race Three Outcomes

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General Spherical

After three-from-three in Spherical One, Harrison Voight most likely would have favored to keep up an ideal Pirelli Limitless F1 report at Spherical Two however Halliday’s Race One win robbed the teenager of an ideal rating.

Voight’s second place and two wins gave him a 12-point win for the assembly forward of Brookes.  Jones, Herfoss and Pearson in second by means of fifth. Halliday’s DNF in Race Three meant he was solely in a position to take seventh for the evening.

In F2, Griffith would have been much more glad with this outcomes at Spherical Two, after a patchy outing in Spherical One. Three from three gave him the win with Rendon some 20-points again after taking one every of second, third and fourth-place finishes.

Rees completed on equal factors with Rendon, additionally off the again of second, third and fourth-place finishes. Nelson and Masri have been separated by simply one-point in fourth and fifth.

As a part of the end-of-meeting shows, all of the volunteers, with out whom race conferences wouldn’t be doable, get to face (or sit) tall on the rostrum the place they get a well-deserved spherical of applause from the assembled racers, crew and spectators and one fortunate volunteer scores a pair of Mongrel Boots. Josh Brookes took the time to shake each one of many volunteer’s palms as they got here off the rostrum. Class.

Factors totals going into Spherical Three sees Voight, unsurprisingly, heading F1 on a large 145-points, 48-points forward of Jake Farnsworth, who had simply missed out on top-five finishes in all spherical two races.

Brookes, in third, is simply two factors off Farnsworth.  Stauffer and Lytras in fourth and fifth.

In F2, Chris Dunne’s DNF in race two and DNS in race three means he drops down the factors desk to fourth forward of spherical three. Griffith holds high spot on 131-points, a 23-point lead over Carlos Rendon. Nelson, Dunne and Masri maintain third by means of fifth.

See additional beneath for rider quotes from spherical two.

Pirelli Limitless F1 Spherical 2 General

Pirelli Limitless F2 Spherical 2 General

Pirelli Limitless F1 Standings

Pirelli Limitless F2 Standings

Quotes

Harry Voight #29 – Limitless F1

“One other nice evening, competing in spherical two of the St George Summer season Night time Collection. There was much more aggressive riders that confirmed up and it was nice getting alongside them. Race 1 I had a battle with Cru preventing for the win and learnt some little issues off him that I used to be in a position to attempt to enhance for the opposite two races. A giant thanks to everybody concerned in St George Bike Membership and the flag marshals. And McMartin Racing for one more alternative on the V4R.”

Josh Brookes #25 – Limitless F1

“This second spherical had a stacked grid so I knew the competitors was going to be robust.  I discovered the observe to be slightly slick in qualifying and I feel it was as a result of observe temp nonetheless being fairly excessive after the warmth of the day.

“Race 1 I bought a poor begin and needed to make some passes and was gifted a number of too. Third place end was okay however I used to be extra irritated at distance leaders had pulled from me.  Race 2 was higher, Jake made some modifications to engine brake and Iap occasions have been nearer to the place I used to be anticipating to be. I did take the lead for a second when Harrison made a mistake however simply didn’t have sufficient to hurry to carry him again.

“Jake made some extra modifications to the bike for the ultimate race and I used to be making ready for battle however the race was shortened and I had no likelihood to problem for the lead. Second within the race and second general is nice we will hopefully make some enhancements to the bike and be quicker on the subsequent spherical.”

Mike Jones #46 – Limitless F1

“It’s been nice to kick off the brand new yr with an evening of racing on the Summer season Night time Collection! It’s such an incredible occasion, I had a number of enjoyable getting again into the racing groove and used the chance to refine the bike setup. I’ll plan to be again for one more evening of awesomeness quickly!”

Troy Herfoss #1 – Limitless F1

“I need to say thanks to Ben Henry and his Desmo Sport Ducati crew for giving me the chance to experience a high class Superbike, I loved the evening lots. Additionally a giant due to St George motorbike membership for one more nice evening racing and driving with nice folks.”

Tim Griffith #18 – Limitless F2

“A sizzling and humid SMSP and an interrupted qualifying session noticed me feeling fairly rusty on the bike as re a shakedown for each the ZX-10R and I. Race 1 led to a pleasant tussle for outright observe place with Chris Dunne and Paris Hardwick the place Paris and I capitalised on a small error on Chris’s half on the ultimate lap into two.

“Race two was a reasonably lonely affair after begin and getting a entrance row seat to Paris’ grime monitoring out of the ultimate nook on lap one.

“A shortened race 3 began nicely, however sadly a late false impartial into flip 2 meant I dropped a few seconds and had one other pretty lonely run to the road. Three wins out of three in F2 Limitless has seen us take a pleasant lead within the collection on one other cracking SMSP evening race occasion. Hopefully we will proceed the momentum into the primary double header in two weeks time. Huge thanks as all the time to my crew within the storage and our sponsors Bcperformance, Southern Scape Tasks, Kenma Australia and TAG Avionics for conserving the fires lit. Cheers additionally to St George MCC and the Orange Military who with out them, none of this is able to even be doable!”

Carlos Rendon #36 – Limitless F2

“One other spherical of nice racing! So good to take part in a race with so many worldwide riders. The competitors is getting thrilling and I’m feeling extra ready. We have been in a position to maintain some nice battles on the market. Excited to chase the title for the F2 Class within the Summer season collection. Many due to all of the marshals and membership for placing this occasion collectively. Every little thing as all the time went actually clean. I encourage all of the group to return alongside and embrace this occasion and participate within the evening. A lot of enjoyable available for all these motor fans.”

Simon Rees #322 – Limitless F2

“I didn’t enter the primary spherical of the Summer season Night time Collection and so I got here into Saturday evening with hardly any preparation and had no expectations apart from to have a little bit of enjoyable on observe with some mates. To get an honest end result was only a bonus to what was already an superior night of racing. A giant due to these few mates who helped within the storage to make the evening a bit simpler.

“The St George Summer season Nights are the perfect and most well-run occasions anyplace. It was nice to see so many individuals out watching Membership Racing and see the occasion so nicely supported. An enormous thanks to the St George Bike Membership and all of the officers and flaggies who volunteer their time so we will go racing. Wanting ahead to the subsequent one.”

Leanne Nelson #52 – Limitless F2

“It was nice to be part of the St George Summer season Night time Collection for one more spherical. The extent of racing was unbelievable and there was an actual buzz within the pits. It was nice to see so many there spectating and having fun with the racing. My spotlight of the evening was having a number of AMA Champion, Matt Mladin and  two time World Superbike Champion, Troy Corser, drop by my storage to say hi there and share their data and provide a number of suggestions.”

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Rounds One and Two have been each single-night affairs. Rounds Three and 4 wrap the collection up however these are each run over two nights.

Subsequent up, Spherical Three, Australia Day weekend with racing on Friday and Saturday. We’ll be there trying ahead to the celebs shining brightly on and off the observe…

MOTUL Summer season Night time Collection hosted by St George MCC

• Spherical Three: Friday 26^th/Saturday 27^th January
• Spherical 4: Friday 9^th/Saturday 10^th February