Calm Before The Storm - Pro Tour Qualifying Is Done


press release 3 June 2016

In a decision made by Race Officials with torrential rain and storms forecast for Saturday’s events, qualifying for both senior and junior classes were placed into an amended Friday program at Pro Tour round 4 in Ipswich.

With that change came close lap times across the classes, setting up a titanic battle in predicted mixed weather for the heat races.

Canberra’s Sebastian Ruiz made yet another successful beginning to a Pro Tour weekend in Micro Max, securing pole position with a 55.763 over Lachlan Platten. Macka Hazard and Jordan Ensbey will form the second row with Xavier Renshaw to start from fifth.

Canberra’s Sebastian Ruiz continued his good start to the season in Micro Max securing pole position
Above: Canberra’s Sebastian Ruiz continued his good start to the season in Micro Max securing pole position
pic - Rotax Media

A fast time late in the session for Adrian Haak was enough to secure him pole position in Mini Max with a 52.961, 0.02 seconds ahead of Jack Westbury who spent time at the top of the order throughout the eight minute session.
Victorian Hugh Barter will start third ahead of Jarrod Hughes with practice pace setter Luke Pink to start fifth alongside Jonathon Marcusson in sixth on the third row.

Adrian Haak broke through to record his first pole position since stepping up to Mini Max
Above: Adrian Haak broke through to record his first pole position since stepping up to Mini Max
pic - Rotax Media

Qualifying for Junior Max Trophy would see Kiwi Samuel Wright clinch pole position with a 50.165, a mere 0.04 seconds over Travis Worton. Jaiden Pope managed to set his personal best time on the final lap of qualifying, enough to bring him within 0.1 seconds of pole position in third overall with Brodie Whitmore to start fourth and Taylor Hazard in fifth while Zayd Tones who spent time at the top of the order will start sixth.

As has become a tradition within Junior Max qualifying, there were multiple changes within the top ten and thus for the all-important front row. A fast time late in the session for Tomas Gasperak with a 49.729 was enough to secure him pole position; a margin of 0.08 seconds was all that separated Gasperak and Cody Brewczynski in second. Kyle Bonser and Kade Vink will make up the second row with Benjamin Deissler and Harrison Hoey to start from fifth and sixth.

Tomas Gasperak showed good early weekend form on home soil securing pole position in Junior Max
Above: Tomas Gasperak showed good early weekend form on home soil securing pole position in Junior Max
pic - Rotax Media

The top three qualifying times in Rotax 125 Light were decided on the last lap with Cody Gillis snatching pole position with a 49.091, returning to his form of the opening two rounds. Nicholas Andrews grabbed second, separating Gillis and team mate Joshua Fife who were briefly first and second, relegating Fife to third with a margin of just 0.04 seconds between the three. Pierce Lehane spent time at the top of the order before qualifying fourth with Troy Morrissey fifth.

•	Cody Gillis returned to his early season form taking a narrow pole position in Rotax 125 Light
Above: Cody Gillis returned to his early season form taking a narrow pole position in Rotax 125 Light
pic - Rotax Media

Close lap times continued to develop within Rotax 125 Heavy throughout qualifying. Sydney’s Shay Mayes set the eventual pole time of a 49.830 on lap seven of the 8 minute session, with reigning series winner Chris Farkas in second. In his first time in the class, Joshua Davey managed to secure third over Lane Moore in fourth while it will be Brock Lannoy and series points leader Benjamin Ritchie who will form the third row for the heat races.

•	Sydney’s Shay Mayes managed to edge out local favourites in qualifying for Rotax 125 Heavy
Above: Sydney’s Shay Mayes managed to edge out local favourites in qualifying for Rotax 125 Heavy
pic - Rotax Media

In yet another tight battle for the times at the top of the order, it was to be local driver Brock Plumb who assumed pole position in DD2. Plumb set a quickest time of a 48.041 with a margin of just 0.04 seconds over Victorian Daniel Rochford who briefly sat at the top of the order. Eastern Creek round winner Joshua Car continued his good form to qualify third over Nicholas Dalton with Ryan Kennedy and Troy Woolston to start from fifth and sixth respectively.

•	Brock Plumb came through with a quick time late in qualifying to secure pole position in DD2
Above: Brock Plumb came through with a quick time late in qualifying to secure pole position in DD2
pic - Rotax Media

The qualifying session for DD2 Masters saw a Queensland domination with a lockout of the top four by local drivers, being separated by less than 0.1 seconds. With the provisional pole position driver changing on multiple occasions, it eventuated to be Troy Bretherton who took pole from Scott Howard and Klinton Hancey with the returning Kris Walton in fourth and NSW driver Ryan Rannard in fifth.

Troy Bretherton lead a Queensland dominance in DD2 Masters qualifying
Above: Troy Bretherton lead a Queensland dominance in DD2 Masters qualifying
pic - Rotax Media

To follow either event online throughout the weekend, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, follow Rotax Pro on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.rotax.com.au/streaming.html

 

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