A dramatic day of racing at Gunnedah’s Balcary Park has seen Thomas Herrick surge to the top of the Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Track Nationals leaderboard, after points leader Tom Armstrong crashed heavily in the opening race and was ruled out for the remainder of the weekend.
Herrick went on to deliver one of his strongest performances of the season, securing two race wins to take the round ahead of Michael Kirkness, with Cameron Dunker finishing third after his victory in the opener.
The crash that sidelined Armstrong brought an early shock to the paddock, prompting a restart of the first Pro 450 race. Dunker capitalised, taking the win for Yamaha before Herrick found his rhythm on the tricky flat track layout. He used clean, composed lines to claim victory in the second race ahead of former champion Kirkness, who returned fire with a final-lap pass to win race three. Cooper Archibald crossed in second, while Herrick settled for third before bouncing back in the final race to fend off another charge from Kirkness.
“The track was very tricky today,” Kirkness said. “In the first turn, there was one big bump that I kept on hitting but if I went inside that, it felt like the front would tuck.”
With Armstrong sidelined, Herrick’s results were enough to move him to the top of the standings with the TT round still to come on Sunday.
“It was a day of firsts for me, first time winning Superpole and first time for the round win,” Herrick said. “It’s unfortunate what happened this morning with one of my mates, Tommy. I hope he’s resting up and that he’s going to be alright. Hopefully the weather holds off tomorrow and we can have some great racing.”
In the Junior Lites, international racer Sam Drane showed why he is considered one of the rising stars of the discipline, edging out Jed Fyffe in a close battle to take the round win. Both riders ended the day with two victories and two second places, but Drane’s pole position and consistency carried him over the line.
“It’s been a really good day, starting with pole. The bike’s been handling well and I’ve had some fun battles,” Drane said.
Nate Jaeger claimed three podiums for Husqvarna, while Neiko Donovan struggled to find grip on the Gunnedah surface, salvaging a third place in the opening race. Even so, Fyffe now holds a commanding 62-point lead heading into the final round.
Junior 85s contender George Holmkvist continued his strong form with another round win, backing up his success at Griffith. His consistent podium finishes and one race win sealed the deal.
“It was a fun day, I quite like the surface,” Holmkvist said. “I haven’t been here before and the oil track is a bit different. I figured out the lines in the second qualifying session.”
Lucy Heaton-New impressed with two race wins, lifting her to second in the overall standings. Championship leader Beau Baker had a quieter day on the oil track but still retains a healthy margin going into the final day.
The Pro Twins class delivered a spectacle of its own, with former American Flat Track rider Luke Gough drawing huge attention as he piloted Matt Drane’s Indian FTR 750. Believed to be the first time the model has raced in Australia, Gough handled the machine with care and confidence.
“It was an absolute pleasure to ride. Thanks so much to Matt for giving me the opportunity to ride it. I had to keep it somewhat smooth and not destroy the damn thing!”
Gough swept all three races, while Ashley Wilesmith sealed the first ever Pro Twins Australian Flat Track Championship with another consistent outing.
“I’d like to thank my brother for supporting me and putting me on this bike, even though I thought it was a bad idea. I’ve raced against some great guys at great locations, all I can say is bring on next year!”
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