The return of State Championships to Coffs Harbour after seven years proved to be one to remember, with the hugely successful 2023 Adventure Powersports & Outdoor NSW Senior Track Championship meeting providing plenty to cheer for, for riders and spectators alike. Competitors in all divisions – on two, three and four wheels – were lavish with their praise of the Coffs Harbour Motorcycle Club track.
The newly titled Brian Mallet Long Track is one that competitors are sure to gladly return to in the future after getting their first outing on the revamped circuit. While a number of classes produced clear-cut winners, many races witnessed close finishes as well, including riders from Queensland who went on to claim all four Championship classes for two-wheel categories.
Gold Coast teenager Cyshan Weale was the standout performer, winning both the MX Open and premier Pro 450 classes. In the MX Open, he was unbeaten in his heats before winning the final ahead of Bailey Spencer, a local returning to the track after a lay-off, with Jacob Richardson third.
It was not as clear-cut in the Pro 450 where Weale won his first three heats before he was excluded in his last heat after a high-speed coming together with another Gold Coast teenager Seth Qualischefski. Seth eventually managed to win the rerun, remaining to be the unbeaten top qualifier going into the final.
Weale had to go to the Repechage, which he won, but he had a less favourable gate position for the final and it took him half of the race to haul in Daniel Wicks. Cody Lewis finished third.
Rory McQualter was unbeaten as he cleaned up the Pro 250 title, leading Cody Lewis and Grant Charnock in the final.
The Women’s class produced no upset as Brisbane rider Briony Hendrickson dominated leaving Sharnelle Sippel and Ashlea Bates to claim the next two placings.
Another dominant performer was in the Dirt Track Sidecar class where Jarred Marko / Shaun Fuller took the title after winning all five rounds albeit by narrow margins from the always-threatening Corey Forde /Darren Fraudenstein, with Samantha O’Meley / Brendan Denzel taking third overall.
Matthew Griffiths looked to be the standout in the ATV Open class, and he did win, but in the final, he took until the third lap to haul in Jeffrey McKee, with Chevy Green finishing third.
All the support classes added to the excitement over the two days with some close action despite the winners being unbeaten. Local rider Reid Battye (19” Flat Track TT), Benjamin Gordon (Over 35s), Kenny Angel (Flat Track Twins), Daniel Wicks (Pre ’90s) and Matthew Griffiths (ATV 450cc).
Junior winners were Thoren Openshaw, Levi Layton, Hugo Holmes and Lucy Heaton-New.
Press Release prepared by Peter Baker (0409 903196; bakerp@westnet.com.au)
On behalf of Coffs Harbour Motorcycle Club