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[BOATS] Shark on song at Griffith
by Sean Henshelwood
(Archived)
Oh so close for Az U Do at Griffith
Rnd#3 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Lake Wyangan, Griffith, NSW
10-11 April, 2009
Season 2009 has not been a kind mistress to Australia’s #2 ranked Group A team, ‘the shark’ struggling to get any serious points on the board heading towards the Easter Griffith round and the mid-point of the season.
An accident in the opening round of the Continental Tyres Australian Championships in Melton had the team well out of the points after round one, whilst an off-track excursion at Temora when on target for a certain podium finish only added to the points deficit. “Ah hell, what can you do,” Greg ‘Crusty’ Mercier grinned. “I tell you, Unlimited Superboats looks more and more attractive every day.. (laughs)”
Despite missing the Temora podium, Crusty left the round full of hope for Griffith, but he was also cautious about his chances admitting that the Riverina venue was not one of his favourites.. “Griffith is all about survival, you don’t plan for a good result, you just plan to come out of it with the boat in one piece – last year saw three pretty big accidents, so anything can happen if you’re not careful..”
The teams approached the round with a great deal of trepidation but agreed that the Slade Stanley designed course was a good mixture of safety and speed. “Hey, this layout is actually pretty good,” Crusty smiled after his maiden run.. “We could do alright here.”
As was expected it was Stanley versus Nathan Pretty at the front of the Group A field, but behind them there was nothing separating a handful of drivers; Rohan Smith, round two winner Brooke Dixon, Ted Sygidus, Tremayne Jukes and Az U Do all in the mix through qualifying.
It started well for ‘the shark’ the Crusty’s holding down second behind Stanley after one run, and third at the close of the opening day’s action.
“That’s pretty good, I’m pretty happy with that,” Greg grinned in trademark fashion. “Tomorrow’s a different day though and any one of those guys could knock me out, so we’ll see how things pan out.”
As it transpired, Crusty slipped outside the top three by the close of qualifying, but was still classified fifth less than half a second off Rohan Smith who held down third.. “It’s still anyone’s race..”
Some pre-finals advice from former US open-wheel sensation Josh Hunt had also given Crusty a boost in both momentum and confidence after the Victorian discovered a quicker way through the fast infield change of direction. “It’s all happening so quickly that by the time you’ve turned right, then look for the left-hand apex, you’ve missed it. Josh suggested that you needed to trust your momentum, and your judgement to turn immediately left straight after you’ve turned right. The first time you do it it’s a surprise, but it opens the next part of the track up perfectly – and it’s quicker..”
Mercier’s nemesis Brooke Dixon was first out in the top ten final, stopping the clock with a 36.630, a lap some 1.2 seconds faster than her best of the weekend. Tremayne Jukes and Daniel Walton failed to better the time, leaving Crusty the opportunity to jump to the front. To the first split he was in front, but by lap end, he’d fallen an agonising 37 one thousandths of a second short.. (38.657) “She’s bloody kyboshed me at the end again..”
Crusty and Brooke then had to wait for the remainder of the field to complete their laps. Rohan Smith was the next out, the 2002 champion jumping to P1 with a 38.540, a mere 13 one hundredths faster than ‘the shark’.
The Mercier’s were still hanging on to third.. Ted Sygidus failed to improve Greg’s time, but both Nathan Pretty and Slade Stanley put in blistering efforts to force the Az U Do team out of the final three.
“That was probably to be expected with the pace they’ve shown here this weekend,” Greg admitted. “What we found though is that we’re mere fractions of seconds off a podium, and within shot of the championship points leaders, so there’s plenty of positives to come from the weekend..”
The Az U Do Racing team now enjoys a break prior to the next event – the opening round of the Queensland Championships set down for Cabarita (near Tweed Heads) on June 6-7. The penultimate round of the Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships will be held at Maryborough (Queensland) on September 5-6.
You can catch all the action from the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships on SBS Speedweek and FOX Sports 'Inside Speed' (check local guides and keep an eye on www.v8superboats.com.au for dates and times).
Az-U-Do Racing are proudly supported by; ACOL Creative Skylight Solutions, Moe Engines and 321 Ignition Magazine.
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2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
International Group A (drivers points after Rnd#3 of 5)
1. Slade Stanley/Vanessa Wright (140), 2. Nathan Pretty/Austin Gill (135), 3. Rohan Smith/Owen Dyball (116), 4. Ted Sygidus/Kelsie Gill (106), 5. Tremayne Jukes/Ruth Webster (95), 6. Brooke Dixon/Leanne Rake (91), 7. Greg Mercier/Dorinda Mercier (81), 8. Robert Colman/Shane Stewart (77), 9. Darek Sygidus/David Gill (48), 10. Daniel Walton/ Brad Nicolson (37), 11. Mick Manini/Athena Dickson (28), 12. Simon Zarb/Peter Keep (18), 13. Greg Harriman/Adam Doyle (17), 14. Tony Whalan/Adrian Kemp (15), 15. Brendan Donnelly/Tyson Allen (10), 15. Shane Loughnan/Joe Manganaro (10), 15. Darren Watkins/Brad Saibura (10), 15. Damien O’Leary/Carly Nappa (10), 19. Rodney Krause/Kristy Hamilton (6), 20. Kevin Laugesen/Tiffany Parratt (5), 21. Kieran Krause (5)
www.azudoracing.com.au
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