Close, dramatic racing and standout performances marked the 20th staging of the Splitfire Spark Plugs Central Coast Cup, with Cody Lewis defending his senior title and Levi Meyn emerging victorious in the junior feature
The 20th staging of the Splitfire Spark Plugs Central Coast Cup long track meeting last weekend (June 20 & 21) was a milestone in itself and fans who witnessed the racing where left with good memories of two days of close and dramatic action.
The Central Coast Cup races for seniors and juniors (13 to Under 16s) wrapped up the big programme on Sunday afternoon with both eight lap finals only resolved after close encounters for either the race lead or for minor placings.
There will not be a new name added to the honour roll of Senior Cup winners as 2024 winner Cody Lewis added another victory to his record but only after what he acknowledged did not come easy.
At least early in the final Lewis was pressured by four-time winner David Smith who later said he was simply pleased to be back on the track after suffering some serious injuries in the corresponding meeting last year.
The very experienced Grant Charnock finished third despite not enjoying the eight lap journey, but he did enjoy the one-lap dash of the Shootout where he scored the win.
Defending Cup champion Luke Bush did well to finish fourth, ahead of impressive teenagers Thomas Gotts and Jayden Holder, after being forced to ride a 250cc machine after his 450cc machine had expired at the end of the earlier Pro 450 final.
Lewis also won that Pro 450 final ahead of David Smith and Thomas Gotts, but Gotts was an impressive winner of the MX Open final beating Lewis and Bush in one of the highlights of the meeting.
Bush had success in the 250cc class claiming the John Wilkes Memorial Trophy with a dominant display while the rest of the field turned on their own stirring battles for the minor placings, while David Smith overcome Josh McCosker to again win the Over 35s class.
The Junior Central Coast Cup had no previous winners among its line-up and it emerged that host club rider Levi Meyn triumphed after holding last year’s runner-up Tahj Edwards at bay for the entire journey with Hayden Duggan coming home third.
All the junior racing took on an added perspective with many visiting riders, who travelled from as far away as Townsville, Albury and Griffith, taking the opportunity of getting some experience on the track in preparation for the Australian Junior Track Championship meeting at the venue on October 3 & 4.
Levi Meyn also won the supporting 4–stroke class as well as the junior Shootout.
Of the nine junior classes covering the various age brackets Gold Coast rider Cooper Quinn was the only dual winner while there were also wins for Forbes riders Hayden Duggan and Taylah Duggan, host club riders Cade Finn and Cohen McCosker, Oscar Ryan from Albury-Wodonga and Kruze Anderson from Kurri Kurri.
The quality of the racing turned on by the juniors augers well for the national title meeting in October when an even bigger line-up of young talent is expected to compete.
Results
Seniors
- Central Coast Cup
1st: Cody Lewis (Kurri Kurri Junior)
2nd: David Smith (Central Coast Junior)
3rd: Grant Charnock (ACT) - Pro 450
1st: Cody Lewis
2nd: David Smith
3rd: Thomas Gotts (ACT) - MX Open
1st: Thomas Gotts
2nd: Cody Lewis
3rd: Luke Bush (Hunter) - Pro 250 John Wilkes Memorial
1st: Luke Bush
2nd: Nash Dorratt-Mavin (Central Coast Junior)
3rd: Angus Hutchinson (Kurri Kurri Junior) - Over 35s
1st: David Smith
2nd: Josh McCosker (Central Coast Junior)
3rd: Alexander Grayson (North Brisbane) - Shoot-Out
Winner: Grant Charnock
Juniors
- Central Coast Cup
1st: Levi Meyn (Central Coast Junior)
2nd: Tahj Edwards (Macleay)
3rd: Hayden Duggan (Forbes) - 50cc Auto 7–U/9
1st: Kruze Anderson (Kurri Kurri Junior)
2nd: Parker Richards (Albury Wodonga)
3rd: Payce Skinner (Kurri Kurri Junior) - 65cc 7–U/9
1st: Oscar Ryan (Albury-Wodonga)
2nd: Parker Richards
3rd: Tyson Crabb-Harrison (Central Coast Junior) - 65cc 9–U/13
1st: Cooper Quinn (Gold Coast)
2nd: Brody Ford (Griffith)
3rd: Isaac Cross (Tamworth) - 85cc 4-Stroke Modified 7–U/12
1st: Cohen McCosker (Central Coast Junior)
2nd: Brennus Johnson (ACT)
3rd: Brayden Pritchell (Kurri Kurri Junior) - 85cc 2-Stroke / 150cc 4-Stroke 9–U/13
1st: Cooper Quinn
2nd: Cohen McCosker
3rd: Brody Ford - 85cc 4-Stroke / 150cc 2-Stroke 12–U/16
1st: Cade Finn (Central Coast Junior)
2nd: Henry Nicholls (North Brisbane)
3rd: Kaiden Lantry (Kurri Kurri Junior) - 85cc 4-Stroke / 150cc 2-Stroke Girls
1st: Taylah Duggan (Forbes)
2nd: Evie Wiggins (Central Coast Junior)
3rd: No third - 100–150cc 2-Stroke 13–U/16
1st: Hayden Duggan
2nd: Zac Brady (Kurri Kurri Junior)
3rd: Cade Finn - 200–250cc 4-Stroke 13–U/16
1st: Levi Meyn
2nd: Tahj Edwards
3rd: Hayden Duggan - Shoot-Out
Winner: Levi Meyn
