8.50 Bike.
The competitors faced a stiff headwind during qualifying and only two sessions were completed due to rain.
Ian Chrichlow had a new cylinder head for this event and was the number qualifier 8.504. Second spot was Andrew Christophi 8.517. Jasmine Cordelle just edged Alan Morrison for third 8.541 to 8.544. Michael Piggott was next 8.551. Dan De’ath had the top speed 166.68 with a time of 8.553. Reigning Champion Jay Roe was close with 8.557. Craig Wright broke out in both sessions 8.485 in the twenty one bike field.
Cordelle lost on a holeshot to Patrick Rawnsley as did Morrison to Joe Elliott. Round two Jonny Hines beat Piggott on a holeshot. Roe beat Chrichlow. Into round three and Christophi ran a perfect 8.500 against Hines. Elliott lost on a holeshot to Roe. First semi-final and both riders broke out. Christophi won with the least break time of 8.475 to Roe 8.439. De’ath had a bye run to the final and ran a perfect 8.500. Much to the delight of his crewman Danny Cockrill. The final was a close race with both riders breaking out. De’ath took the win light 8.452 to Christophi 8.442.
9.50 Bike.
Carl Thomas was the number one qualifier 9.506. Andy Head led the field after the opening session 9.515. Reigning Champion Richard Sawatzki was in number three spot 9.599.
Both Andy Head and Sawatzki broke out against their opponents in round one, Steve Jackson and Rob Stanley respectively. Thomas beat Dave Hall in round two and had a bye to the final. Dion Hartley red lit against Stanley who also had a bye to the final. Stanley did a rt004 and beat Thomas 9.573 to 10.188.
ET Bike.
It was Hollands Miguelangelo Boeli first time racing at Santa Pod and he led the twenty three bike field after the first qualifying session 9.124 (9.10 dial in). But that all changed in a dramatic second session. Matt Jones and Peter Harrison raced and Jones was number one 9.006 (9.00) and Harrison number two 10.866 (10.85). That did not last long Scott Collier ran a perfect 9.600 to top the field. Then Robbie Dobbie jump from No 20 to No 3 10.224 (10.21).
Harrison lost to Jack Hartley who had a better rt in round one. Boeli red lit against fellow Dutchman Trevis Merite. Round two saw Dobbie red light against newcomer Will Pickering. Collier beat multi-time and Reigning Champion Phil Pratt. In the semi-finals. Number three plate Gary Hester broke out against Collier. Jones had a bye to the final. The final was decided on the start line, when Collier pulled a red light and Jones took the win light.
Report by Steven Moxley