The 2010 Top Half Series started off in Hamilton with a hiss and a roar on Sunday March 14th. The hiss being the red flagged races during the days racing and the roar being the return of Open Class to the series.

While congratulations go out to the Open Class drivers for making their class happen this year, commiserations go to the Yamaha Heavy drivers that DID enter only to find that their class will not run this year due to lack of numbers.

Fourteen contenders rocked up for Open at Round 1 with a mix of six 250cc machines, seven KZ2’s & a Tony - Chambers that is. “Weapon” was the consensus of opinion for this machine and although he conceded the round win to Graeme Smyth this package is going to be hard to beat over the series.

Rotax Heavy saw some close racing both at the front and mid-pack. Local driver Andrew Johnstone had the measure of the field however taking the round win from Auckland’s Garry Cullum & Mt Wellington representative Aarron Cunningham.

Good numbers, with a strong Mt Wellington contingent, contested Rotax Light but it was Rotorua’s Matthew Bufton that had the upper hand for the day taking the win from Kane Taylor & Daniel Connor. Connor charging back after a disappointing result in the first heat.

Yamaha Light, another well supported class, saw Matthew Bufton on track again; no mean feat after injuries sustained at Tokoroa just a week ago. However, it was the Hamilton duo of Ryan Urban, also double running, & Stan Tangaroa-Green that took positions one & two for this round with Bufton in third. Points are close in this class so series consistency is going to be critical.

Formula Junior saw a mix of Junior Rotax & KF3 engines take to the track; Auckland based Right Karts offering up prizes for those running the Rotax engine adding some incentive. Drivers’ mixed fortunes through the day dictated the overall outcome for Round 1 cementing the fact that it is consistency that wins a Top Half Series. CJ Sinclair took the days honours from Aaron Wilson & the ever improving Luke Dobbs.

Junior Yamaha saw another local driver prevail in the form of Rhys Tinney finishing ahead of current North Island title holder Andy Schofield with Reid Harker in third.

It was hard to tell who had the upper hand in Junior Restricted with heat results being so varied throughout the day. Mitchell Turner was the only driver to manage two wins but even that was not enough to head off Michael De Ponte for overall honours. Turner finishing second for the day with Thomas Joyes in third.

Largest class on track for the day was Cadets & like Junior Restricted this was a class where results through the day were varied. The only issue not in contention was that Matthew Podjursky was the one with the pace! Podjursky taking the Round 1 win from Taylor Harte & Chelsea Herbert.

In “The Great Clash Of The Clubs” Hamilton leads the way after Round 1 from Rotorua & Mt Wellington.

Round 2 of the Top Half Series will be contested at Bay of Plenty’s Fagans Valley Raceway on May 16th.

Results:

Click here for all the results from all classes from Round 1.

Cadet
1. Matthew Podjursky 2. Taylor Harte 3. Chelsea Herbert 4. Trey Nairn 5. Campbell Joyes 6. Ryan MacKinven

Junior Restricted
1. Michael De Ponte 2. Mitchell Turner 3. Thomas Joyes 4. Logan Brown 5. Kaitlyn Wonnacott 6. Thomas McLean

Junior Yamaha
1. Rhys Tinney 2. Andy Schofield 3. Reid Harker 4. Bradley Tremain 5. Michael Scott 6. Faine Kahia

Formula Junior
1. CJ Sinclair 2. Aaron Wilson 3. Luke Dobbs 4. Shaun Grocock 5. Mitchell Brown
6. Jordan Hart

Yamaha Light
1. Ryan Urban 2. Stan Tangaroa-Green 3. Matthew Bufton 4. David Meszaros 5. Daniel Kinsman 6. John van Bommel

Rotax Light
1. Matthew Bufton 2. Kane Taylor 3. Daniel Connor 4. Luke Cameron 5. Mitchell Beach 6. Mason Armstrong

Rotax Heavy
1. Andrew Johnstone 2. Garry Cullum 3. Aarron Cunningham 4. Niki Urwin 5. Daniel Sayles 6. Garry Claxton

Open
1. Graeme Smyth 2. Tony Chambers 3. Melissa Urban 4. Ryan Urban 5. Kevan Storr 6. James Jackson

Click here for all the results from all classes from Round 1.

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