Dirt flies as 300 bikes contest Airoh racing round

Round two of the Airoh Sunshine State series revved up in Roma at the weekend.

AIR TIME: The MX Series Sunshine State 2019 was held in Roma at the weekend. Picture: James Liveris

MOTOCROSS: Despite drought conditions, extreme heat and wind on the day, the riders turned on the rest as round two of the Airoh Sunshine State series unfolded at Ironbark Raceway.

The Roma District Motorcycle Club hosted more than 243 competitors and 296 bikes on the weekend, with plenty of dirt flying when the bikes hit the first corner as the riders attempted to establish the pecking order.

Series coordinator Rachelle Houterman said she was impressed at the way the event unfolded.

"We were thrilled to be able to bring 296 motorcycles out on the track, and the Roma Club did a great job of hosting the event in the drought conditions, especially as the track had pretty much remained at a virgin state until the Airoh Series prep began,” she said.

Race review

In the senior ranks, Sunshine Coast pro Jesse Dobson took out the premier QMX1 class for 450cc machines, ahead of Toowoomba rider Kaleb Barham and rising Gold Coast racer Mason Rowe.

Dobson was in a class of his own on the track, setting the fastest lap time of the weekend with a blistering 1:47.993 on the new-design layout.

Barham went on to win the highly competitive QMX2 category for 250cc machines, leading home Nanango's Jayce Cosford and Kingaroy racer Joel Evans.

Roma local Dusty Clem, who spent plenty of hours working on the refurbished Roma track, but received no karmic reward when, after a respectable fifth in the first of three motos, he crashed heavily in the second and withdrew from the day with a bruised sternum.

A healthy women's class fought it out for Airoh points at Roma, with the added benefit of learning the nuances of the track at which this year's Queensland Women's Motocross Championship will be decided in July.

Tahlia Drew, who along with brother Kobe, Jet Alsop, and Jake and Charli Cannon assisted Motorcycling Queensland in several school visits to promote the sport locally on the Friday preceding, finished second to defending Airoh Champion Chelsea Carter in the Women's category.

Enduro racer Ebony Nielsen was third ahead of Lauren Jones, while Roma native Hayley Miller rounded out a brilliant fifth place in the Women's, off the back of a fourth and two fifth place finishes.

Saturday's junior day saw Aussie Champion Levi Rogers set the fastest lap time of 1:51.607.

Houterman said the Veterans Class wore black armbands in support of fellow Vet #358 Anthony Donohue who recently lost his battle with cancer.

"Anthony was a regular on the scene at motocross events and his departure will leave a hole in the Veterans pack, our thoughts are with Anthony's family,” she said.

"Thank you to all of the riders and officials that made the trek out.

"The round helped inject valuable funds into the town by supporting local accommodation and infrastructure.”

Originally published as Dirt flies as 300 bikes contest Airoh racing round