BY RYAN FRITZ
VICTORIAN Alistair Loomes was crowned the 2014 Victorian Superbike champion at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex yesterday, 23 November, after an action-packed event saw title favourite Tyson Jones miss out on the coveted silverware by 11 points at the 2014 Motul Victorian Road Racing Championships.
However, the 46-year-old from Berwick was over the moon, and a little surprised, with his victory.
“It was a bit strange.
“I was probably the sixth-fastest guy here all weekend, but the planets aligned… the guys who were faster than me were in the Prostock class, or were tipped-off,”the Team Cheese Racing member said.
Superbike favourite Tyson Jones fell-off his bike during the second race – which Loomes won – a minor accident but it cost Jones the title.
“To finish first… first you have to finish,” Alistair added.
Alistair finished ahead of fellow Victorian Nathan McKenzie, who ended-up in second-place, and Moe rider Tyson Jones, who claimed third-place.
Alistair, a Hartwell Motorcycle Club member, is in his fourth season of the VRRC and said the one-round format suited him this weekend.
Loomes finished sixth in his first race, first in his second race, and fourth in his last race to clinch the coveted title, but picks qualifying as his stand-out performance of the weekend.
“I went really well in qualifying, and the bike felt really good,” Alistair, who finished sixth in Qualifying 1, and fourth in Qualifying 2, said.
Track temperatures reached a scorching 37 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
“It started to get a little slippery out there, and the Dunlop tyres held-up really well so I’d like to say a huge thanks to Dunlop for supplying the tyres.” he added.
Alistair would also like to thank his wife for her support, and Geoff Winzer of GAS Honda Motorcycles in Wangaratta, for building his engine, which ran sweetly all weekend.
