Anticipation reached a fever pitch as SAPMAC MCC hosted the penultimate round of the Gawler Motorcycle Centre 2024 SA Reliability Trial Championships at Palmer. Riders approached the demanding course with unwavering focus, knowing that the final sprint to the finish was just around the corner. Despite the rain leading up to the event, the track became a challenging battleground, with loose, dusty sections keeping competitors on edge. Coupled with a persistent, gusty wind, the two-lap daytime challenge tested both endurance and skill, making those critical Round 5 Championship points even more elusive. As the competition heats up further, let’s delve into the Round 5 provisional results.
The battle for the Solo Overall top spot was intense between Royden Harrold and Charlie Milton, with Harrold taking the early lead in lap 1, followed by Milton and Toby Lewis. Milton quickly found his rhythm on the Palmer course, clocking the provisional fastest time in the second lap. However, Harrold’s strong performance in lap 1 proved decisive, earning him the overall win by just 5 points. Toby Lewis held his position in the top three, trailing second-place Milton by 33 points to secure third place comfortably ahead of Cody Schiller.
Daniel Plowman and Bradley Brook delivered an outstanding performance at Palmer, capturing their first podium of 2024 with a well-deserved Round 5 Open Sidecar Overall victory. They established a commanding lead with an impressive lap 1 advantage of 88 points over Ben Mayne and Shaun Buckley. Despite a strong push from Mayne and Buckley in lap 2, they were unable to overtake the resolute Plowman and Brook, who held firm to secure the win. In the race for third place, Shaun Blenkiron and Nathan Saegenschnitter, currently third in the Open Sidecar Championship, showed a strong lap 1 performance. However, Bradley Hunter and Haydon Ahrens delivered a blistering second lap, ultimately claiming third place on the Round 5 podium with a decisive margin of 81 points.
SkidMark Photos, SandPlow Photography, and Team Thomas Racing were all trackside, capturing some nail-biting action. Head to their profiles to check out all the photos and purchase those Round 5 moments. Cover Photo thanks to Team Thomas Racing.
As we shift our focus to the grand finale of the Gawler Motorcycle Centre 2024 SA Reliability Trial Championship, Clare MCC is gearing up to host Round 6: The Beryl Pearce Trial. Scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2024, this final showdown promises to be electric as Championship contenders make their last stand in Clare.