Aussie Champs Success for CBR
Bunbury Western Australia was the stage for the 2018 Australian Champs and didn’t disappoint with great weather and track. It’s been some years since WA held an Aussie Championships.
CBR was represented well over the event starting on Wednesday with the Oceania Championships. For some this was a great lead up and extra track time to dial in the Bunbury layout. Steve Ewart took home his first 1O championship in 50+ men along with 12 boys Noah Elton with his win. WA local Tyler Verschuren looked confident taking the 2O plate in 17-24 men. Felicity Mann had a challenging day with an early crash but pushed on coming away with 5O.
Thursday was cruisers. Felicity Mann was back on deck with fellow Qld team mate Paige Guymer, both girls making the final Felicity 2A and Paige 6A. Raylene Pruett with not a lot of track time under her took 5A in 44-49 women. Steve Ewart looked strong, a small mistake in the final costing him the title, settling with 2nd.
Friday and Saturday was 20”. Racing was action packed. 12 Boys Noah Elton was unstoppable in a class of 65 riders and took a convincing win. Heartbreaking last corner final incident saw 15 Girls Felicity Mann loose her grip on the lead ending the race with a 4A result. Paige Guymer gave it her all bowing out in her semi. WA’s Kobe Barnes was stoked to make the 17-24 men’s final, 8A. Raylene Pruett also had a great day on her 20” securing a 4A, now considering a trip to Worlds. Steve finished the day keeping his 5A for another year and 6A for Tyler Verschuren in a fast 17-24 men’s final. Congrats to Steve this being his 20th Nationals he has raced.
Elite Women Leanna Curtis came into these Aussies looking to race with no expectations after a challenging 2017 injury wise. Leanna impressed and still had that consistent smooth look in her moto’s with all 2nds. The final had Leanna exit on the first corner avoiding a race incident. A 7th place was the final outcome for this year.
CBR Factory supported athletes brought their A game. Isabella Schramm came to win and that she did dominating the 12 girls. Entering her first year in Junior Elite, Molly McGill look comfortable and fast on her fresh neon Pink CBR01 racing the Bunbury layout earning herself a 2a.
Erin Lockwood came into this years Nationals prepared and focused, her first year in Elite Women couldn’t have be scripted better. Wednesday Oceania Champs final went ok but not to plan with a 6O. Saturday Erin had the track dialled. The final saw Erin positioning herself to avoiding an incident with a number of riders, exiting the first corner in the lead and there she stayed crossing the finish line to take the 2018 Elite Women’s National Title!
Congratulations to the team on a great championships and a big thank you to everyone that assisted CBR over the week.
Image by Jesse Chance.
