This is it, the last and final round of The southern Downs Challenge.
We arrived at Warwick on the Friday for a day of practice and to run in the bike after having a new piston and ring put in. Which i have to thank Lindsay Donai for looking after my bike for most of the years racing. Without Lindsay's support i don't think i would be where i am today.

On the Saturday 21st October the weather was pretty good but the flies were unbearable.
In the practice session i took it easy and did a practice time of 1:17.695 which was almost 3 seconds faster than my nearest moriwaki competitor and less the 1 second slower than the fastest 150cc rider.

Qualifing

I qualified in 6th position. In between two 150cc riders i new i had some work to do. My qualifing time was 1:17.293 and i was still more than 2 seconds faster than my nearest competitor in my class

Race 1

I pushed myself and the bike to it's limits as i wanted to make sure i not only win this round but the championship. I did a time of 1:16.827 which was 1-2 seconds faster than the 150cc riders. I was happy with my efforts. I also won the first race for the moriwaki class. However concerns grew as Dad and Mum checked over the bike as they do after every time i go out onto the track. They found a small crack in one of the engine mounts. My thoughts were that it was all over i will have not only lose the round but also the championship. With Dad seeing how dissappointed i was he dicided to make the lonely trip home to the Gold Coast to get the other frame. When he got home he transfered everything over to the spare frame. Dad arrived back at warwick at 1.15am. I couldn't believe Dad did all that for me, I not only have to thank Dad but i owe him alot for making the trip home, rebuilding the bike and travelling all the way back just so i could go on racing.

Race 2

Sunday 22nd October the weather was great again and the flies were just as bad. We arrived at the track, i took my bike to scrutineering to have it check and to keep everthing above board. I took the bike out in the warm up session to make sure all was ok and i was comfortable. Race 2 began and once again i pushed myself and the bike to the limits only to take a corner too wide; riding over the ripple strip i came off the edge into the dirt. I high sided and had the bike all crossed up, in a split second i thought this isn't good i going for the big off. out of the corner of my eye i saw my nearest competitor go by and i was not going to let him get away. some how i manage to regain the bike under me, i quickly change down gears and some how got back onto the track. There was some work ahead of me with only 4 laps to go i pushed on to go from last in the field to finishing 6th overall and 2nd for my class.

Race 3

This race was considerably uneventfull. I finished 5th overall and 1st for my class. I did the 4th quickest lap time for the race doing a 1:17.161. My thoughts now turned tothe points tally for the day i was in the lead and just have to take another win to outright win the championship. Once again Dad and Mum had some dissappointing news; I had literally pushed the bike too hard and cracked another engine mount the same one too. Dad said it was only small and the way the points were all i had to do was go out and cruze around and get some points and i still would not only win the day but also the championship.

Race 4

So there i sat on the starting grid thinking all i have to do is finish 4th in my class. The lights went out and off the boys went a head of me; but temptation took control once again and i pushed on to take 2nd for my class. I did a conservative 1:19.008 in the last and final race for the Southern Downs Challenge Road Racing Series.

Overveiw

With the Series now over my thoughts have now turned to how i have progressed through out the year. I still get nervous at the start of each race but i now am able to cope with it. My starts have improved and i am able to cope and ride through any obstacles that come up while racing. I carefully plan through every race in my head before going onto the track and have learnt that the fastest lap times don't come from riding fast, they come with riding smoothly as possibe and maximising the race lines of each track. I have too once again thank my Dad for all he has done for me specially after this race meet and through out the year. I also have to thank Lindsay Donai for his advice and workmanship to keep me racing. Shell Advance Motorcycle oils for helping to keep my motor running in A1 condition.Also would like to thank Motorcyle sportmens Club for arranging the Championship. This is my last year on the Moriwaki and next year i'll keep you updated with my 125gp ride.

Results

1st Daniel Youl
2nd Lachlan Gilding
3rd Lincoln Gilding

Series Results

Junior 150cc
1st Jake Horne 404 points
2nd Matt Walters 277 points
3rd James Mutton 248 points
4th Michael Jones 238 points
5th Nathan Hourterman 154 points
6th Cameron Madder 146 points
7th Ryan Diamond 113 points
8th Andy Lawson 66 points

Junior 80cc
1st Daniel Youl 413 points
2nd Lincoln Gilding 375 points
3rd Lachlan Gilding 238 points
4th Phillip Redman 192 points

Junior Metrakits
1st Dylan Mavin 383 points
2nd Jacob Redding 355 points
3rd Jacob Morgan 329 points
4th Andrew Lawson 229 points
5th Nicky Diles 88 points