1 December 2010
by Luke Nieuwhof, The West Australian Full Article
One of the biggest Top Doorslammer fields seen at Perth Motorplex will contest the 39th Annual Goldenstates event on Friday and Saturday.
A total of 22 racers have nominated and with an eight-car field scheduled, qualifying will be as frantic as race day because 14 competitors will miss out.
The field has been boosted by 10 WA-based cars. Reigning champion John Zappia, last season’s runner-up Robin Judd, Adam Croker, Maurice Brennan, Daniel Gregorini, Pino Priolo, Murray O’Connor, Anthony Begley, Marty Dack and David Simpson will be hoping to use their local knowledge to get an edge on the opposition.
Zappia’s focus is on increasing his performance margin over the field, after a “did not qualify” at the opening round of the championship. “We have a long history of undergoing development programs that at first seem to be going backwards but then produce longer-term winning results,” he said.
“We broke the world record by going first into the fives by doing that and we want to jump into the five sevens to keep leading the field in Top Doorslammer.”
Victoria’s Peter Kapiris will have his Saratoga in WA for the first time following some good form recently.
He will be joined by NSW drivers Mark Belleri, Deno Brijeski, Maurice Fabietti and Ivan Skaramuca, who is making his first trek west.
Queenslanders are also represented, with Gary Phillips, Stuart Bishop, Victor Bray and Ben Bray all returning. Two racers will be flying the flag for the Northern Territory in Scott Maclean and Matt Abel.
Top Bike also returns to strength with 15 entries for the event. Queensland’s Chris Matheson leads the way as he aims for a 5sec. charge with his nitro-fuelled machine. “The Perth Motorplex has the best facilities in Australia and unquestionably the greatest following of Top Fuel Bike fans,” he said.
“The whole team love the trek to Perth. The team would love to be the first (to run a 5sec. pass) but are squarely focused on backing up the championship in only their second season of competition.”
Matheson will take on local Jay Upton, as well as another Sandgroper in Mark Drew, who has recently been running consistent mid-6sec. times. Other riders include WA’s Terry Burnett and Wayne Barrett, Victoria’s Parker Racing team, the Northern Territory’s Mick Murray, South Australia’s Dennis Grant, Queenslanders Troy McLean and Marc Ryder and New South Wales’ Chris Porter.
Pro Stock Bike also joins the show, making it the first time the Motorplex has hosted three Pro Series categories.
Victorians Maurice Allen, Lachlan Ireland and Glenn Wooster, South Australian Phil Howard, Tasmanian Andrew Badcock and Queenslanders Pete Cochrane, Luke Crowley and Michael Gilbertson are all entered.
Three qualifying sessions take place on Friday with racing on Saturday.