Today's Date 1st March 2001
EASTERN CREEK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
18/19 FEB 2001.
Ducatis scoop the pool at Formula Extreme season opener!
Ducati reigned supreme during a torrid two day race meeting at Eastern Creek, for the season opener in the 'Pro-twins' & 'Bears' classes.
John Lyons, #88,Ducati 888 Superbike, won the Bears, and now leads two championships. (the state Bears & the Fxtreme Bears). In doing so he posted a personal best of 1.39. "There's life in this old girl yet, we even bested a few of those 'Pro-twins', not easy with their power advantage" smiled the crowd favourite.
Peter Hinton, #28,Ducati 996 Strada, was third overall in the Pro-Twins, and whilst his best finish was in the final race, 2nd, to his friend and rival, Mike Soderland, #72, Ducati 955, who bagged 4 wins from 4 starts. Hinton was able to lead for the first time, and amazed the crowd with a 1.37.4! "It's great to be up with Mike, at last, he's been helping us and its paying off, we also changed the front suspension and it was a revalation! Thanks to Pete Smith from Epicycle Racing,(formerly of the Ducati Dealer Team), who also does ours and Mike's engine".
It was almost a family affair as the three popular 6-hr champions shared the glory. "If you want to win Bears or Pro-Twins, it looks like you need a Ducati" smiled Team Manager Mal Cherlin, "we cant rest on our laurels though, those TLRs, & VTRs, are shadowing us and they have plenty of time to improve" acknowledged Mal. www.bearsracing.com