With no previous winners among the line-up, there was obviously going to be new names added to the honour roll of victors when the 2024 Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix was staged around the streets of the Cessnock CBD last Sunday.
After practice and qualifying, a heat race and then the Cessnock Mitsubishi Grand Prix race that went for 90 minutes plus one lap, there was still drama to unfold before the 2024 winners could be confirmed.
After the checkered flag fell after 63 laps around the streets, the leading machines were then dyno tested to ensure that they did not contradict the strict requirement for the competing machines, and that they did not exceed a horsepower limit of 6.3hp.
Dramatically the first machine to take the checkered flag was subsequently disqualified when the dyno-test found it to be over the limit.
That handed victory to the team of Bike 28 ridden by Joe O’Donnell and Liam Pointer ahead of Bike No. 48 of Justin Girotto and Richie Nowland, with the family duo of Zane and Samuel Codrington on Bike No.75.
Dirt track regulars David and Peter Smith enjoyed their best-ever finish coming home in fourth place, while the speedway brigade were best represented by cousins Taylor Poole and Harrison Ryan coming home seventh.
Runners-up for the past two years Isaac Hawes and Caleb Clifton looked to be on track for top honours until a fall just past the half-way point cost more than one lap while the machine was restarted and they ultimately finished eighth.
Significantly 30 of the 36 machines that started the Grand Prix race were circulating when the checkered flag fell – a remarkable endorsement for the sturdiness of the machines that are always subjected to punishment well belong what was envisaged for them.
The Consolation Race for the teams who did not qualify for the Grand Prix race was the SMW Drilling Services Cessnock Cup, and it too had a dramatic climax, as the winning duo of Bradley Redman and Noah Wysel incurred a 30-second penalty for their last riding stint being for 11 laps – one more than is allowed before a rider change must take place.
Fortunately for them, they were over 40 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals so they were still declared the winners ahead of Geoff Pyne / Luke Smith and Harley Thomas / Keegan O’Loughlin.
Ainsley Childs who had won the past two stagings of the Premiair Wine Country Womens Race was dethroned this year with Karina Bailey, daughter of former motocross star Robert “Beatle” Bailey, taking the honours with Childs second ahead of Kayla Germyn-Burke.
Another massive crowd gathered around the streets of Cessnock to witness the action on a beautiful spring day and while the overwhelming spirit is fun once the flag is waved to start the race, there is no doubt that the competitive instincts of the riders kick in.
Organisers have again expressed their enormous gratitude for the tremendous support received from not only businesses, but various organisations without whose assistance and support the event would not be possible.