Australia’s best-attended motorcycle event that is free for spectators is on again this Sunday the 5th of November, with the eighth staging of the Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix around the streets of the Cessnock CBD in the Hunter Valley.
Staged on a 1450-metre circuit, the event allows fans to watch the action up close as big names from most disciplines of motorcycle racing together with weekend racers push the famous Postie bikes to their limits, and beyond. This has proved to be a great community event with Cessnock able to proudly boast its hosting claim of being the only street bike GP race in the country and the only street bike GP race on Postie bikes anywhere in the world.
Riders to watch out for
Over 60 machines have entered with the usual mix of regulars from various disciplines, including a few big names from days gone by, and some well-credentialed dirt track regulars joining forces for this Sunday. Over the seven previous stagings of the event, there have been just four combinations who have stood atop the victory rostrum and three of them will be chasing further honours this weekend.
Luke Richards and Marty McNamara won in the first two years and have been competitive every year since, and they will be hopeful of no repeats of a troubled run from last year.
The most successful team in the history of the event is the combination of former dirt track racer Brody Nowlan and Josh Pickering, with the latter who has just returned from another successful season racing speedway in Europe. They will be particularly fired up after what looked likely to be a fourth victory last year was snatched away from them when Pickering had a tumble late in the race. That dramatic finale saw the team of Daniel Wicks and Boyd Hollis take the honours and they should again be prominent on Sunday.
Chris Watson Motorcycles has again filed several entries, including one for one of Australia’s greatest-ever motocross exponents Craig Anderson partnering Harrison Foster.
Riders with a dirt track background are again prominent among the entry list with the combinations of Cody Lewis and Brayden Gay, James Sawdy and Grant Charnock, David and Peter Smith, and Tom Donnelly and Blake Wilby all hoping to bring their dirt track success across to postie bike racing.
Ainsley Childs will be the defending champion in the Female Cup.
There are many special features of this event which only came about after the Cessnock Motor Cycle Club convinced police, local council, politicians, residents and local businesses of its merits. Various local businesses support the event and along with other fundraising initiatives, the club is able to cover the costs of turning the CBD streets into a race track, and keeping it free for fans to watch. Off –track, there will be plenty to see as well with market stalls, food trucks, jumping castles etc. and merchandise stalls.
Program
08.00am Riders Briefing
09.00am Parade Lap
09.20am: Group A – 20-minute practice/qualifying.
10:00am: Group B -20-minute practice/qualifying.
10:40am: Ladies: 15-minute practice/qualifying.
11:20am: Heat One of up to 36 teams 20 Lap qualifying race for Grand Prix
12:15pm: Heat Two of up to 36 teams 20 Lap qualifying race for Grand Prix
1.00pm: SMW Drilling Services Cessnock Cup up to 36 teams for one hour plus 1 lap
2.30pm: Postie Bike Female Premiair Hire Wine Country Cup 12 laps
3.00pm: Cessnock Mitsubishi Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix 36 teams for 90 minutes plus one lap
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Report prepared by Peter Baker