RACE’s once-per-year event on Shannonville’s Fabi Circuit saw a frenzy of record-breaking.
No fewer than
14 new lap records were set in classes from the CBR125 Challenge to Pro
Superbike.
Two of those went to Michael Leon and his Martin Brickwood-sponsored
Ducati 1098; unfortunately Leon then comprehensively wrecked the bike in a
first-lap high-side in the Pro Superbike race. Marie-Josée Boucher had the
misfortune to get caught up in the incident as well, ending good weekends for
both riders on a down note.
The Pro Superbike race was a nail-biter, as Shannonville
veterans Frank Trombino and Andrew Nelson slugged it out up front, Trombino on
the Prostart Honda CBR1000 and Nelson on his new BMW S1000RR. Nelson set a lap
record, but wasn’t quite able to squeeze by the popular Trombino. Teenager Jodi
Christie was third on his Honda CBR600RR, not quite in touch with the leaders
but clear of the rest of the field. He said later his start wasn’t as good as
it should have been and he wasn’t able to make up that little bit of difference.
Christie made no such mistake in the Pro 600 race earlier in
the day, taking a half-second victory over Trombino, with Elie Daccache third
on his ZX-6R. He had one heart-stopping moment when he caught a neutral in the
wickedly fast Turn 6, but managed to find the right gear before Trombino could
pounce.
In the Novice ranks, Luke Bauer impressed with strong
victories in both the 600 and Open classes. That win means he’ll be booted
upstairs into the Amateur ranks for the rest of the season, but his times would
have comfortably placed him in the top 10 in that group anyway, so he should be
right at home in the more experienced group.
The next event (the fourth of six in the series) will be on
the Shannonville Long Track on July 18.
