Leslight Blitzes Brisbane

SSA Media Release 

            The 2005/2006 Speedway Racing News Super Sedan Championship Series reached  new heights during round five at Brisbane International on Saturday night (November 5) with a rollicking 30-lap feature event in which John Leslight emerged victorious to become the third different winner for the season.  In a race that proved a marvellous spectacle, it was a vintage display from Leslight to advance his Pro-Dirt Motorcycles Pontiac from position three into the lead with less than two laps completed and then withstand a series of challenges before eventually surging clear in the closing stages. 

In a stark reversal of their season fortunes thus far, Darren Kane and Michael Gee surged from the third row of the grid to fill the minor placings.  In his best result since taking over the cockpit of the Ian Boettcher Race Parts Mazda RX8, Kane finished in second spot ahead of Gee and defending series champ Jamie McHugh (Australian Garages and Carports Pontiac), who qualified on pole position and led the opening lap but was ultimately unable to match the pace of the lead trio.  

With plenty of rain throughout the region during the week, including some showers on Saturday morning, a very tacky track greeted competitors as Tim O’Shea quickly discovered. In his first race meeting aboard a brand new BA Falcon, O’Shea crashed heavily during hot laps and took no further part in proceedings.     

 The preliminaries started in thrilling fashion with series leader McHugh executing a last lap pass under Paul Geary (Tool Truck Pontiac) to win the opening heat, with Geoff Phillips (Glenview Water Carriers Taurus) finishing third.  Wayne Randall (AFCO Shock Doctor Camaro), currently running second in the points chase, took out heat two ahead of Kane and Wayne Brims and promptly backed up to win heat three ahead of McHugh and Kane.  Leslight triumphed in heat four over Brims and Des Korn (Aussie Trackwear Monaro), with McHugh downing Lenny Black (Dependable Sheds Pontiac) and Steve Jordan (Jordo’s Auto Parts Dodge Avenger) in heat five.  The final preliminary saw Brims emerge triumphant ahead of Gee and Leslight.

 The PLIWS Super Rollers Top Six Shootout again proved a highlight, run at a frenetic pace with the field locked in combat throughout. McHugh edged out Randall for the win, with Leslight, Brims, Kane and Gee (Weatherall Prestige Autobody Taurus) completing the field. 

 Likewise, the feature race was a cracker that prompted many observers, including track staff, officials and spectators, to deem it the best race at the venue so far this season.  When the green flag flew, McHugh led the field away with Leslight charging under Randall through turn two and then repeating the move on McHugh a lap later to assume the lead.  Having dropped another spot to Kane, Randall’s race ended on lap 10 following an altercation with a lapped car that brought about the only restart.  On lap 14, Kane surged ahead of McHugh, who subsequently dropped another spot to Gee on lap 23.  Wayne Brims (Brims Bulk Transport Camaro) rounded out the first five, followed by Geary, Black and Jordan, who advanced from position 15 in another impressive performance.  Phillips was next best ahead of Mark Pagel (Landrover Spares Monaro), Ian Brims (Brims Earthmoving Monte Carlo) and Dean Hawkins (West Moreton Towing Pontiac), with Adam Bradford (C&F Performance Taurus) and Steve Van Zeeland (Toscani’s Pontiac) completing the finishers.  Korn and Barry Craft (UMR Engines Falcon) were the only others who failed to go the distance.

 2005/2006 Speedway Racing News Super Sedan Championship Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Jamie McHugh 605, Wayne Randall 543, John Leslight 537, Wayne Brims 480, Paul Geary 401, Mark Pagel 391, Michael Gee 345, Des Korn 336, Steve Jordan 320, Darren Kane 308

 The Super Sedan Association is proudly sponsored by:

 Speedway Racing News

Paul Geary Automotive

Ian Boettcher Race Parts

Sport Engines

PLIWS Superrollers

tooltruck.com.au

Mercedes-Benz Trucks

Quantum Racing Industries

AFCO Shock Doctor

Racer Pro

Art by Mickey

These Photos are available from Baron Media

These Photos are available from Baron Media