EmTek Racing News - 2005

25/09/2005 - Cole - Race report from Queensland - OZ

Cole Odendaal

Hi All

Herewith the promised race report (I was waiting for some photos to attach).

Last weekend was the national round of the Australian Superbikes at Queensland Raceway and was obviously a full weekend of motorsport there.

Friday was practice and first qualifying. Cole ran strongly and was edged out of Pole on the last lay by Gerowski – by 0.1 of a second. Cole was running normal race rubber with Gerowski on a qualifier.

Saturday morning qualifying was extremely windy with everyone off their times on Friday. Cole was quickest by nearly 2 seconds a lap.

Race 1 on Friday was a stunner and nail biter. Cole got a fair start and was 3rd onto the back straight. It took him a couple of laps to get past Reid by which time Gerowski was about 2 seconds ahead. Cole caught him quickly but then only had 2 laps to run. Gerowski’s R1 was pulling about 4 bike lengths on Cole’s standard ZX10 down the back straight (and making time on the front straight as well), leaving Cole having to make up all the time on the brakes and corners. Cole was awesome on the brakes and carried so much corner speed. He got Gerowski into turn 3 on the brakes on the last lap. Gerwoski came back at him into the last turn but Cole managed the classic over and under to get to the finish line first. Cole got the fastest lap of the race.

There were 2 races on Sunday. The first race Cole got stuck behind Reid again from the start and by the time he got past there was 2 laps left and Gerowski was more than 4 seconds ahead – no chance of catching him. Cole did set the best lap of the weekend (1m13.3 seconds – lap record). Race 3 Cole managed to get past Reid on lap 2 again hunting down Gerowski. They had reduced the race to 6 laps (it was getting late) and Gerwoski managed to hold off Cole’s attentions (Cole again had the fastest lap of the race) to stay ahead for the win and an overall win for the weekend. Cole got a second.

A great result for Cole and he certainly made a lot of new friends. We expect to perform better at Phillip Island in November.

An aside – Cole and the bike were finalists for “Best Presented” – see photo in Australian Motorcycle News.

Thanks to Julian for preparing the bike Andy to Alan from Weldalloy for his tremendous assistance on the weekend.

Cheers

Dirk

 

 

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