COSSAR AND WHETSTONE WIN THRILLING FINAL ROUND BUT TRELOAR AND COX WIN SERIES Current British Champions, Mark Cossar and Darryl Whetstone, combined brilliantly to win the seventh and final round of the prestigious Blackchrome Sidecar Grand Slam Series staged before a massive crowd at Gillman Speedway Stadium in Adelaide. The British duo defeated Mick Headland and Jesse Headland in a thrilling A Final but it was the third placed combination of Darrin Treloar and Blake Cox that won the series overall due to the 8 point advantage they took into the final round. Local stars Daniel and Luke Puddy finished fourth at Gillman in what was a career best performance. The Puddy Team were the top point scorers after the 20 qualifying heats with an 14 haul from 5 rides. For Cossar and Whetstone, their victory at the Gillman Grand Final, was just reward for an outstanding Down Under campaign that saw them qualify for 6 of the 7 A Finals conducted throughout the series. They have clearly established themselves as one of the world’s premier speedway sidecar teams and they have already confirmed they will return again in the 2014/15 Australian racing season. “I have enjoyed racing in the Blackchrome Sidecar Grand Slam this season,” Cossar said. “This tournament has a worldwide reputation and to come here and do well was really important to me and my team. We have been racing and traveling around Australia since November last year and it has been a fabulous experience. I have learned a lot and I intend to come back here next season and give this Championship a red hot go.” The Series Grand Final was one of the great speedway bike events ever witnessed in Australia. The event attracted a wonderful crowd in cool but fine weather conditions and the Gillman Speedway track crew did an outstanding job in producing a sublime racing surface that enabled the world’s best riders to provide action packed entertainment. The event was full of drama and race fans were certainly sitting on the edge of their seats throughout the 22 race program. In an historic move, the event was live streamed to the internet at sidecargrandslam.au and more than 2,938 viewers watched the coverage around the world. The event was also filmed for television and a one hour highlights show will be screened on the Speed Channel’s Chequered Flag program (Foxtel and Austar) in coming weeks. For Darrin Treloar meanwhile, his victory in this season’s Blackchrome Sidecar Grand Slam Series, represents yet another milestone in a distinguished career. The Sydney-sider is regarded as the greatest speedway sidecar rider the world has ever produced, underlined by his phenomenal race record at domestic and international level. Treloar and his new passenger, Blake Cox, won 4 of the 7 rounds contested on this season’s SGS schedule. “This is a dream come true, Darrin beamed at the trophy presentation. “I’ve been lucky enough to win a lot of races but taking out this series ranks as one of my all-time career highlights. To win a series of this magnitude takes a lot of preparation, a lot of money and most of all, consistently good results. I’m absolutely rapt to win it and I’m very proud of my team. I have to extend a huge thanks to my new passenger Blake Cox; he and I only teamed up 4 months ago and we’ve had a great season. I can’t thank him enough. I am also happy that we won the series tonight in front of my mum and dad and my two kids. Life couldn’t be better.” Indeed Treloar and Cox had some anxious moments throughout the night and they were forced to dig deep to qualify for the A Final, which would assure them of outright victory. Treloar’s bike was noticeably running “off song” during his first 2 rides, managing two third placings. Despite struggling in their opening 2 rides, Treloar and Cox came surging back and managed to qualify for the semi-final on 10 points after their 5 qualifying rides. They duly won a memorable semi-final thus transferring through to the main event which was convincingly won by Cossar and Whetstone. Other riders to contest the semi-final were outgoing champion Mark Plaisted and his passenger Brian Anthony, Trent Headland/Jack Tucker and Damien Niesche and Mitchell Spear, the latter once again enjoying a consistent night at his home track. Other teams to perform solidly on the night were Warren Monson/Matt Morgan, Mark Mitchell/Tom Golding and Jason Hardy/Adam Pascoe. All three enjoyed race wins and proved highly competitive in every start. Major talking point of the night, apart from Treloar and Cox’s series victory, was the stunning form shown by locals Daniel and Luke Puddy, whom it must be said were in a class of their own during the qualifying heats. Their performance has reiterated their rapid rise through the ranks and they are certainly a team of the future. Plans are well advanced for next season’s Blackchrome Sidecar Grand Slam and event organiser, Full Throttle Promotions, will announce a preliminary calendar in coming weeks. Full Throttle Promotions spokesperson, Dave Parker, was quick to praise the riders after the completion of this season’s championship at Gillman. “The teams did a fantastic job throughout and we are very grateful for their support,” he enthused. “I would also like to thank the host venues that took part this year; Kurri Speedway, Murray Bridge Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Riverland Speedway, Gillman Speedway and Arunga Park Speedway in Alice Springs. “I must also acknowledge the support of Mark Bassett, Managing Director of Blackchrome Sportswear and Workwear, for his help. The event would not be possible without Mark’s assistance and I sincerely hope our partnership continues well into the future. “Most importantly a huge thanks to the race fans around Australia that came out to support the event in such big numbers. The crowds, especially at the last two rounds at Alice Springs and Gillman, were absolutely fantastic and it certainly augurs well for the future.” The 2013/14 SGS Series will culminate tonight with a gala dinner and awards ceremony in Adelaide. GILLMAN GRAND FINAL CLASSIFICATION 1.Cossar/Whetstone, 2. Headland/Headland, 3. Treloar/Cox, 4. Puddy/Puddy, 5. Plaisted/Anthony, 6. Niesche/Spear, 7. T. Headland/J. Tucker, 8. Mitchell/Golding, 9. Monson/Morgan, 10. Hardy/Pascoe, 11. Buchanan/Williams, 12. Patterson/Kerr, 13. Saudners/Mitchell, 14. Cave/Goddard, 15. Rudloff/Egan, 16. Dwyer/Pfitzner. TOP 8 FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS 1. Darrin Treloar/Blake Cox (NSW) - 129 2. Mick Headland/Jesse Headland (SA) - 123 3. Mark Cossar/Darryl Whetstone (ENG) – 103.5 4. Mark Plaisted/Brian Anthony (SA) – 95.5 5. Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear (SA) – 51.5 6. Trent Headland/Jack Spear (SA) – 50 7. Andrew Buchanan (NZ)/Gaz Williams (ENG), Philippa Burns (NZ) – 45 8. Warren Monson/Matt Morgan (VIC) – 34.5
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:24:22 +0000
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