NDRC: 2023/2024 Aeroflow National Sportsman Champions Crowned
Aeroflow National Sportsman Champions Crowned At Aeroflow Spring Nationals
After two days of non-stop sportsman racing action as part of the Aeroflow Spring Nationals, the winning Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship racers were delighted to take home not only the Champion’s Christmas Trees for their respective brackets but also a host of 2024/2025 season points and their share of a $25k prize purse.
Invited racers had duked it out for the right to call themselves the Champ in an exciting winner-takes-all format. Those who had won or were the runner-up in the Western and/or Eastern Conferences had automatically secured a place in the weekend’s Grand Final, while other eligible racers were decided based on their Grand Final points score, made up of their best four events across the season.
In the chase for the 2023/2024 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship title, as well as valuable 2024/2025 season points, an NDRC Christmas Tree trophy, and the chance to win a share of a $25k prize purse, taking out the wins were
Modified Bike
Winner – Sean Ricketts
Runner-up – Dean Jamieson
Competition Bike
Winner – Ken Collin
Runner-up – Chris Allen
Junior Drag Bike
Winner – Lillian Hagan
Runner-up – Lawrence Raschella
COMPETITION BIKE
CHAMPION AND EVENT WINNER: KEN COLLIN
RUNNER-UP: CHRIS ALLEN
In Competition Bike, Ken Collin proved victorious over Chris Allen in the final elimination running of the day on Sunday.
Collin’s journey to the final began in round one with a victory over Rob Church and a win over Jake Hamilton-Moderate in round two before enjoying a bye in round three.
Meanwhile, runner-up Chris Allen made it into the final thanks to a round one win over Jake Hamilton-Moderate and a bye in round two before a win over David Willis in round three. Top Qualifier Edge Mallis enjoyed a bye in round one and a win over David Willis in round two before being beaten in round three by Rob Church.
The championship win was a welcomed surprise for Collin, who was incredibly happy with the result.
“This feels really good,” Collin said.
“Especially to get that first NDRC Championship, I was really hoping for it, although I wasn’t expecting it!
“This is a combination of a few people’s effort to get me here – thank you to Mary, my wife of 45 years; Ken Peatey my engine builder with Rascal Race Engines; Blaze Hansen who spent the whole weekend remotely tuning the bike; and Dave Finlayson who accompanied me to The Bend and helped me as crew chief for the whole weekend.
“The track preparation was spot on all weekend, and I felt that the whole event was well organised and run smoothly, too – it was just great to participate in the Grand Final!”
MODIFIED BIKE
CHAMPION AND EVENT WINNER: SEAN RICKETTS
RUNNER-UP: DEAN JAMIESON
In Modified Bike, Sean Ricketts took the win in his Kawasaki over top qualifier and runner-up Dean Jamieson on Sunday.
Ricketts got to the final with wins over Johnny ‘Hog’ Ireland In round one and Cheryl ‘Ms Vrod’ Beddoes in round two.
Jamieson meanwhile got the better of Matthew Yard in round one before enjoying a bye In round two to get to the final.
Ricketts was ecstatic with his win and won’t forget this weekend for a long time.
“I am feeling really good about the championship,” Ricketts said.
“It was a great event, as a sportsman racer I felt really well looked after and that was really good. It was a well-run event and the track was top class, the prep was just outstanding. I was really happy with the officialdom; it was all positive and I was really happy with the event as a whole.
“We went into the event with a really strong mindset that we couldn’t take anyone lightly as there were six pretty good runners there.
“Dean Jamieson (runner-up) had a great season and really deserved to be on the top step but he just fell a bit short in the final. He is a really good guy, a friend of mine, and I have to say that is one of the best parts of doing these events – meeting people like Dean and the friendships that grow out of our racing.
“Every facet of this trip was enjoyable and the bike went fantastically, it was really consistent. I had to work out the start line a bit but then I was right and I was really pleased with my lights, which were probably the backbone of my success at the weekend.
“It is very satisfying to win the united championship, and I really like these Christmas Trees, they are very pretty!
“We are going home with some really good memories, that is for sure.”
JUNIOR DRAG BIKE
CHAMPION AND EVENT WINNER: LILLIAN HAGAN
RUNNER-UP: LAWRENCE RASCHELLA
In Junior Drag Bike, top qualifier and Yamaha rider Lillian Hagan took out the win over runner-up Lawrence Raschella in the final run.
To get to the final, Hagen enjoyed a bye in round one before a match-up in round two against Marcus MacDonald, ahead of another win in round three over Lucas Bergamin.
Raschella, meanwhile had taken wins over MacDonald and Bergamin in rounds one and two, before enjoying a bye in round three.
The win was a family effort for Hagan, who couldn’t be happier with the weekend’s result.
“It is pretty cool, especially being the first one (NDRC title), it is pretty good,” Hagan said.
“It was a pretty good weekend, I was feeling a bit iffy heading into the event as to whether we could do it (win the title), but we got there eventually.
“The whole family was very excited, dad has lost his voice! Thank you to them for all of their support, my crew, mum and dad and my little brother, and also all of our sponsors.”
Record Breaking Start To Aeroflow Spring Nationals, More To Come Sunday
Heart-stopping performances, a near-capacity crowd (15,032) and beautiful weather was the name of the game at Dragway at the Bend today for day one of the Aeroflow Spring Nationals, setting the stage for what is sure to be incredible racing tomorrow (Sunday 20 October).
In the chase for the 2023/2024 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship title, as well as valuable 2024/2025 season points, an NDRC Christmas Tree trophy, and the chance to win a share of a $25k prize purse, Rob Bergamin (Super Gas), Nixon Cannuli (Junior Dragster), Craig Warren (Super Street), Dean Jamieson (Modified Bike), Edge Mallis (Competition Bike), Lillian Hagan (Junior Drag Bike), Tony Miskelly (Super Sedan), Simon Barlow (Modified), Steve Norman (Super Stock), Matt Forbes (Competition Eliminator), Davydd Estcourt (Supercharged Outlaws) and David Foster (Top Sportsman) claimed the new NDRC Top Qualifiers Medallions ahead of their racing tomorrow.
The next opportunities to score NDRC 2024/2025 championship points will come at Benaraby Dragway’s Harbour City Nationals (November 1-2, Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship), Dragway at The Bend’s DragBike Nationals (November 9, Top Fuel Motorcycle), at Sydney Dragway (November 15-16, Pro Racing Championship), the Perth Motorplex’s Goldenstates (November 22-23, Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship, Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle), and Portland’s South Coast Nationals (December 7-8, Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship). For the full listing of events, please visithttps://nationaldragracing.com.au/calendar/
For more information about the NDRC, please visit www.ndrc.tv
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