Frontrunning FZ6 Cup riders setup six-way title fight at Tasmania

01/09/2008

New South Welshman Rick Olson added another round win to his resume at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains circuit on the weekend, the host of round 6 of the 2008 GYTR FZ6 Cup Championship.

The penultimate event on the calendar saw all of the championship challengers in top form, setting up a six-rider title fight at the Eastern Creek finale next month.

Tasmania produced its typical spread of unpredictable weather, with damp conditions and fierce wind gusts keeping the field on its toes.

Riders contested a combined qualifying session to decide grid placings for Saturday’s opening race, with Beau McKenzie taking pole with a 1:00.232 lap of the 2.40km circuit.

The second session received a shake-up after Zach Thackeray and Rick Olson had their times removed for not attending a compulsory scrutineering check. Thackeray was still able to claim second on the grid but Olson had to revert to his initial time, which put him on the third row.

Adam Dawes and points-leader Brendan Watson rounded out the front row, with P3 and P4 respectively.

Polesitter McKenzie was away well in the opening race on Saturday afternoon, trading quick laps with Thackeray, but neither rider could stop the steamrolling Olson shooting through to P1 after just 3 laps from ninth on the grid and claiming the race win.

Thackeray had pace to burn in the race 1 stoush, breaking the existing FZ6 Cup race record of Keith Greentree by almost a second on his final lap.

McKenzie crossed the line for third place, with Adam Dawes edging out Brendan Watson for fourth in a multi-rider battle to the chequered flag.

The conditions changed significantly for Sunday’s race 2, with the track temperature dropping by seven degrees due to earlier rain periods and a low cover of cloud.

The field was tightly compacted after a clean start, with the frontrunning riders engaged in a see-sawing battle.

Rick Olson again wasted no time, wrestling back the race lead from Adam Dawes who had controlled the field early.

The conditions claimed a championship contender in Thackeray, with the Cycle Torque journalist crashing out of the mix on lap 4.

Another rider went down on the final turn, with officials declaring a red flag restart and setting up a four-lap run to the flag.

On combined results, it was Rick Olson again in first place, this time followed home by McKenzie, with Gavin Hainsworth taking third.

Zach Thackeray bounced back well in the final race for the day, winning ahead of Olson and McKenzie, with Watson and Greentree rounding out the top 5.

Olson took round honours thanks to two race wins and a second place, with McKenzie’s three race podiums boosting him to second for the event. Brendan Watson’s consistent effort saw him finish third for the round despite not finishing within the top 3 in any race.

“Starting from ninth on the grid was a big ask, especially against these boys, I knew I had to get through the field quickly to have any chance,” said Olson.

“It came down to making a few big moves under brakes to get the job done, I could have sat back and settled for second or third but I thought I’d worked to hard to not have a go.”

“I’m really happy to take the win and the points this weekend after a bad run at Queensland Raceway, I needed them badly and its helped me stay within the lead group as we head to Eastern Creek.”

Beau McKenzie said he opted for a conservative approach at Symmon’s Plains considering the close nature of the championship.

“Consistent and safe race points are what it is about at this stage, I’m very happy to take second for the round but even happier to have closed up the points gap to Brendan (Watson).”

“Everyone rode well this weekend and its going to be a very tough finish at Eastern Creek where a number of riders are still in with a chance.”

The seventh round of the GYTR FZ6 Cup Championship will be held at Eastern Creek on October 17-19, where the new class victor will be crowned.

With 75 points (plus a point for pole) up for grabs, six riders are still in the mix. Watson leads on 286 points, 3 clear of McKenzie on 283.

Tasmanian round winner Olson is third on 262 points, with Thackeray on 251, Dawes on 241 and Keith Greentree still in with a mathematical chance on 235.

Round Results – GYTR FZ6 Cup Championship, Symmon’s Plains
1. Rick OLSON (NSW), 70
2. Beau McKENZIE (QLD), 56
3. Brendan WATSON (NSW), 50
4. Adam DAWES (SA), 47
5. Zach THACKERAY (NSW), 45
6. Rennie SCAYSBROOK (NSW), 44
7. Rohan TUNGATE (NSW), 37
8. Amy O'MARA (NSW), 34
9. Chris KNOX (NSW), 34
10. Gavin HAINSWORTH (NSW), 33

Championship results after 6 of 7 rounds – GYTR FZ6 Cup Championship
1. Brendan WATSON (NSW), 286
2. Beau McKENZIE (QLD), 283
3. Rick OLSON (NSW), 262
4. Zach THACKERAY (NSW), 251
5. Adam DAWES (SA), 241
6. Keith GREENTREE (NSW), 235
7. Duncan MIDDLETON (NSW), 202
8. Chris KNOX (NSW), 195
9. Gavin HAINSWORTH (NSW), 191
10. Rennie SCAYSBROOK (NSW), 178...