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Gunnedah has taken an almost unassailable 2000-point lead in the annual Inter-club Dirt Track Tri-Series Championship.
Riding on its home Balcary Park track last Sunday, Gunnedah Motorcycle Club led the way in the first of three rounds contested between rivals clubs Taree and Kempsey.
Multi world champion rider Troy Bayliss, who now devotes much of time to regional tracks around the country, headlined last weekend’s race meet in Gunnedah.
His presence evoked one local rider to remark it was the highlight of his racing career, sitting on the starting gate next to Bayliss.
It was Australian Championship class racing at its best in the Pro 450 division.
Seven out of the 12 were riding for Gunnedah including Marty McNamara, Luke Richards, Anthony Dall, Kurtis Tydd, Jeremy Emmerson, Jordan Dall and Kerrod Smith.
Bayliss, riding for Taree, led the racing from the first corner with fellow Taree rider Josh Hock and McNamara right on his tail.
The slightest mistake was crucial as Jordan Dall found out when he went too fast into the top corner and his father Anthony, Kurtis Tydd and Jeremy Emmerson went under him.
Bayliss ran first, followed by Hock in second and McNamana, third.
In the Pro Open – Unlimited class, Gunnedah boy Jordan Dall became stuck in the gate and didn’t get out until the rest of the field were in the top corner.
The start mishap meant he had to ride harder to catch up to the bunch.
Kurtis Tydd battled on with the Kempsey boys after getting struck midfield.
In the Over 35 years division, Bayliss had to fight his way around Ken Bisley from Taree (first place) and Kempsey’s Michael Booth (second) to snatch the lead in the third lap, only to shoot out in the top corner.
Gunnedah’s Anthony Dall fought hard to battle his way past two Kempsey boys to take out third place.
In the Pro 250, Jarryd Oram from Kempsey ran first, Gunnedah’s Troy Whittaker placed second followed by clubmate, Ben Hammond in third.
Gunnedah 250 division juniors made up nine riders in a field of 11 but were unable to beat Kempsey’s Mitchell James in first place.
Jake Whittaker rode strongly for second, followed by Andrew MacKay, third, and Dylan Jones in fourth place.
Also to compete was Shaman Barr, Jordan Boland, Bailey Walker and Brock Casey, who all scored good points for Gunnedah to help tally the winning club.
In the 85cc junior classes, Jay Fouracre in the younger class and Tom Edwards in the older class were among the best.
Tom Donnelly was solid for his fourth spot, backed by Willis Lawman who also helped bump the score tally.
The 65cc, 7-to-under-9 years division fielded good numbers from the Gunnedah riders including Nate Simpson, Cooper Williams and Jordan Jones. But they were no match for the Kempsey competitors who were the top three place getters.
Tom Donnelly also placed second in the 65cc, 9-to-under-13 years divison behind Jarred Loveday from Kempsey. Third went to fellow Gunnedah rider Jay Fouracre and fourth to Willis Lawman.
In the Nippers demo four to U9 years, mum and dad probably hold more nerves than Gunnedah juniors Nate and Rheagan Jaeger.
The tri-series championship racing continues with the remaining rounds in Taree and Kempsey later this year.
Tri-Series points tally after round 1:
Gunnedah 5037
Kempsey 2951
Taree 2280