Tumbulgum Motocross wrap-up

John Innes

The 2011 Equiprent/KTM Tumbulgum MX event was another outstanding success for Willie Thomson and ‘Dirt High Promotions’ last weekend. A big part of that success was the debut of the ‘Tumbulgum Speedway’ on the Saturday evening.

In the junior 250cc 13yrs — U16 years class Joseph Murphy won the event from Jayden Rykers with Scott Kramer third. A large proportion of the junior MX crowd stayed on for the event and many people arrived solely to witness the birth of what will undoubtedly become an annual event.

Thomson came up trumps with the signing of Leigh Adams from Mildura for the speedway on the Saturday evening. The weather was perfect and the racing from all of the classes was electric. Adams proved just what an outstanding rider he still is despite his retirement from the sport at the end of 2010.

He arrived in WA and set about showing that he has lost nothing with five wins from his five heats scoring a maximum 20 points. Next best was WA’s own Steve Johnston with 19 points from his five heats, only Adams beat him in the heats, and these two riders who between them have 42 + years experience riding in the UK and Europe showed why they have made a living racing speedway. Jake Anderson from Victoria, Daniel Winchester and Tom Armstrong were the other three to make up the field for the six lap final.
The final was one way traffic with Adams getting the hole-shot and was never headed Johnston did all he could to catch the flying Victorian but had to settle for second spot, third was Tom Armstrong with local Daniel Winchester fourth. Jake Anderson suffered some sort of mechanical problem and failed to finish the final.

Adams was humble in victory and was please to have the trophy as the inaugural winner of the 2011 Tumbulgum Speedway, who knows maybe he will come back in 2012 to defend his title.

Sunday was picture perfect for the senior MX and there was huge crowd in attendance for what has become a traditional event in the WA motorsport calendar. Along with the MX this year WA’s own World Downhill Mountain Bike Champion, Sam Hill raced on a special track from the highest point of Tumbulgum through to the ‘Function Centre. Not only did he compete in the Downhill but also the senior MX.

The premier class for the Senior MX was the A&B class and when the dust finally settled on a great days racing it was Luke Davis who was standing on top of the podium. What a day he had, he got the hole-shot in Race 1 and from then on was never headed, winning all three races to take maximum points and the Tumbulgum title for 2011. Second was World Champion Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Sam Hill, who is a very accomplished MX rider in his own right and third was Robbie Clark. Defending Champion Shane Murray had a day to forget, with a couple of incidents which didn’t help his title defence.

Ryan Lancaster won the Quads Group 1 event from Joel Mortimer with Josh McKay third. In Group 2 it was Barry Noy who won the day from Matthew McKay and Craig Rando.

In the Pre 85 class Paul Copley won the day followed by Murray Middleton with Rod Gilchrist third. The Vets 30 to 39 year class Ex -Eagles player Troy Wilson won the event overall from Corey Parsons and Steve Mouritz in third place. The result could have been different had Mouritz not had a crash whilst leading the second where he was stuck under the bike until the entire field had gone through. The Vets 40 to 100 year class saw Greg Bartlett win from Philip Poulter with Justin Nobes third.

Brad Parkinson won the Novice class, in the Headlights it was Brad Beresford who topped the podium and in the 125cc-250cc two-stroke and 250cc four-stroke Blair Outram was the winner. In the Over 250cc two-stroke and 255cc four-stroke it was Stuart Kreusch who won the day.

Once again it was an outstanding event put on by Willie Thomson and one can only look forward to 2012 with great anticipation.