The Australian Classic Motocross Championship held at Ararat over the weekend has been described as a “resounding success”.
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More than 100 riders brought a total of about 300 bikes to the the annual event that was hosted in Ararat for the first time.
The competition began on Friday, with riders signing in and having their bikes scrutineered for safety purposes.
Racing got underway on Saturday morning, with 50 races held at the Ararat Motocross Track on the day.
The final third of the races were completed by midday on Sunday, followed by presentations.
“It all went really well. There were some very fast riders across the weekend and all classes were tightly contested,” Scrambling Victoria secretary Frank De Rose said.
“The weather was good and the track conditions were great with no mud which was fantastic.”
The championships returned to Victoria for the first time in “about eight years”, with the interstate competitors praising the track and the way the event unfolded.
“The Ararat Motorcycle Club prepared the track and ran the canteen really well,” De Rose said.
“It was an outstanding effort from a skeleton crew, they were so enthusiastic and there has been plenty of positive feedback passed on.”
Only “one or two minor injuries” were recorded from the event which has been described as a good outcome for the extreme sport.
“We only had one call out for an ambulance. I am glad no one got hurt,” Scrambling Victoria president Phillip Scott said.
Ararat’s Tom Hamilton and son Tyler were standouts from a local point of view, finishing second in the all power sidecar competition.
The championships will not return to Victoria “for a few years”. They are set to travel around other states in the next few years.
Scott said when it is Victoria’s turn to host again he hopes Ararat can once again be the venue.
“We will try and get it back. Everyone would love to get it back to Ararat again,” he said.
“Everyone thought it was great and they all liked the facility.
“The Ararat Motorcycle Club also did an amazing job hosting the competition.”
De Rose said the championships were also beneficial for Ararat businesses.
“The local community got a lot out of it too. Hotels were booked out and restaurants and food places were busy,” he said.
“With Stawell and Ararat nearby people could stay and go and eat and enjoy the towns. People were staying on for a few days or getting there early.”
De Rose said it was great to see the vision of Scott put into action.
“It was all started by local legend Phil Scott who had a vision to bring the champs to the region. He started the quest in about late 2016 and with a small but enthusiastic group has been able to make it happen,” he said.
RESULTS
Pre 60 solo all power
1 – Michael Lawrie - WA
2 – Noel Lewis - NSW
3 – Des Heaney – Vic
Pre 65 solo – 250 cc
1 - John Kemp – Qld
2 – Mark Birkett – NSW
3 – Robin Hall – Vic
Pre 65 solo 263 cc & over
1 – Luke Rhodes – Vic
2 – Tony Clarke – Qld
3 – Garry Singleton – Vic
Pre 70 solo – 250 cc
1 – Kristofer Lindgren - WA
2 – Robin Hall – Vic
3 – Michael Lawrie – WA
Pre 70 solo – 263 cc & over
1 – John Kemp – Qld
2 – Luke Rhodes – Vic
3 – John Boag – Vic
Pre 75 solo – up to 125 cc
1 – Sam Noonan – NSW
2 – Andrew Green – NSW
3 – Doug Hayden – SA
Pre 75 solo – 250 cc
1 – Andrew Green – NSW
2 – Robin Groom – SA
3 – Stephen Russack – SA
Pre 75 solo – 263 cc & over
1 – Danny Bray – Vic
2 – Luke Corbett – Vic
3 – Andrew Green – NSW
Pre 75 solo – 4 stroke all powers
1 – Andrew Green – NSW
2 – Nick Maxfield – WA
3 – Frank Napoli – Vic
Pre 78 solo – up to 125 cc
1 – Sam Noonan – NSW
2 – Ashley Woolford – Qld
3 – Adam Cox – Vic
Pre 78 solo – 250 cc
1 – Ashley Woolford – Qld
2 – Garry Singleton – Vic
3– Robert Tumes – NSW
Pre 78 solo – 263 cc & over
1 - Jake Noble – SA
2 – Luke Rhodes – Vic
3 – Robin Groom – Vic
Pre 78 super seniors – all powers
1 – Jens Olsen – NSW
2 – Colin Metcher – Qld
3 – Trevor Lobegeiger – WA
Pre 75 sidecar up to 1300 cc
1 – Robert Coates & Des Heaney – Vic
2 – Gary Hamilton & Tyler Hamilton – Vic
Evolution solo – up to 125 cc
1 – Rohan Edwards – Vic
2 – Ashley Woolford – Qld
3 - Jason Ladson – Vic
Evolution solo – 250 cc
1 - Fraser Norman – SA
2 – Doug Hayden – SA
3 – Stephen Young - Vic
Evolution solo – 263 cc & over
1 – Jack Paterson – NSW
2 – Aaron Stevens – Vic
3 – Jake Noble – SA
Pre 75 solo - Under 30 years all powers
1 – Andrew green – NSW
2 – Fraser Norman – SA
3 – Daniel Smith – Vic
Pre 75 solo - 30 – 39 years all powers
1 – Danny Bray – Vic
2 – Kristofer Lindgren – WA
Pre 75 solo - 40 – 49 years all powers
1 - Robin Groom – SA
2 – Stephen Russack – SA
3 – Garry Singleton – Vic
Pre 75 solo - 50 – 59 years all powers
1 – Ralph Miller – WA
2 – David Footner – SA
3 – Robert Tumes – NSW
Pre 75 solo – 60 plus years
1 – Robin Hall – Vic
2 – Robert Hayden – SA
3 – David Coates - Vic
Evolution solo – under 30 years all powers
1 – Aaron Stevens – Vic
2 – Jake Noble – SA
3 – Doug Hayden – SA
Evolution solo – 30 – 39 years all powers
1 – Kristofer Lindgren – WA
2 – Dean Charleson – Vic
3 – Luke Rhodes - Vic
Evolution solo – 40 – 49 years all powers
1 – Kent Worland – Vic
2 – Robin Groom – SA
3 – Ashley Woolford – Qld
Evolution solo – 50 – 59 years all powers
1 – David Footner – SA
2 – Alan Bressan – Qld
3 – Chris Speechly – Vic
Evolution solo – 60 plus years all powers
1 – Henry Leatham – Vic
2 – Robert Hayden – SA
3 – Wayne Skyring – Qld
Evolution solo – 70 plus years all powers
1 – Jens Olsen – NSW
2 – Colin Metcher – Qld