Clubs revved up for racing
MOTORSPORTS: Proserpine welcomed a massive contingent of motorsport fanatics over the weekend as the region's tracks were full to the brim with riders from across Queensland, with a local superstar capping the weekend by winning another big title.
Whitsunday Raceway hosted the final round of North Queensland Interclub Racing and the Queensland Supermoto Championships, Dray's Parks hosted the Whitsunday Dirt Riders Club first night event and Tonka Park had a Rally Race Day over the weekend as well as junior events and practice sessions in one of the biggest weekends of motorsport that the Whitsundays has had .
One local legend walked away the big winner when Andy McLeish claimed the Queensland State title to go with his previous win at the Australian Supermoto Championships earlier this year.
Ryan Moscadini walked away the Junior Supermoto Lite winner and Max Whale claimed the Junior Supermotos.
In the Interclub Racing, the Road Race Association of Townsville walked away the winner, beating Whitsunday and Mareeba.
There were hundreds of competitors from Cairns to Brisbane on the tracks over the weekend, and local motor clubs hoped it could kick-start more interest in the community.
Whitsunday Moto Sports Club Interclub organiser and competitor Chris Saunders said it was a great weekend using top-notch facilities.
"We just had Motorcycling Queensland and a track inspector from MotoGP last week basically saying what we have here at Whitsunday Raceway is one of the premier motard tracks in Australia,” Saunders said.
"I think a lot of people just aren't aware of what sort of facilities are on offer here. We've been building the club pretty consistently the last couple of years,” he said.
Whitsunday Dirt Riders president Kevin Burgess said it was a big weekend for the club as it hosted its first night event in their 50 years of operation.
"It's something we're hoping to continue in the future,” Burgess said.
"What we're hoping to do is try to build a race culture in the community. We can get locals to come and start following riders on social media and things like that,” he said.
"All the effort from club members, and volunteers have put in to make this event happen is absolutely phenomenal.”