YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship 2007
Round 5 - Symmons Plains, Tasmania
Two Race wins and Lap Record for McMartin in Tasmania
Craig McMartin had a successful weekend at Tasmania's Symmons Plains circuit for round 5 of the Australian Superbike Championships. Despite technical difficulties in Saturdays race one which forced him to withdraw from the race, McMartin was able to take two wins from two starts in Sunday's races.
After sitting out Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions due to bad weather, McMartin qualified the Carbonize 1098 in second position in the wet Saturday morning qualifying session. The bad weather cleared in time for the first race of the weekend, McMartin got off to a good start and was leading until a minor technical problem forced McMartin off the circuit. Scott Charlton took the win from Jon Cartwright while Paul Roe finished in 3rd.
McMartin had better luck in Sunday’s races taking 2 wins from 2 starts and setting a new lap record in both races. McMartin got off to a good start in the first race on Sunday morning leading the first lap, McMartin was unchallenged and took a start to finish win from Scott Charlton while Jon Cartwright finished in third position.
Sunday’s second race was a closer affair with McMartin having a race long battle with Jon Cartwright on the powerful Yamaha FZ1. Cartwright led for the majority of the race until McMartin was able to pass under brakes at the hairpin on the last lap, McMartin then went on to take the win from Cartwright while Scott Charlton finished in 3rd position. The last lap battle for the win also saw McMartin better his lap record set in the previous race by more than half a second.
Despite not being able to complete the first race of the weekend, Craig McMartin was very happy with the results on the weekend. “Apart from the problem on Saturday, the Carbonize 1098 worked well this weekend. Even with minimum set-up time due to the bad weather on Friday and Saturday morning, the 1098 performed great and I was able to push hard to take the win in both Sunday’s races. I’d like to thank Carbonize for all their work on the bike, I’d also like to thank Pennzoil, Dunlop, Desmo HQ, Brisbane M/C, Sportsrider M/C, PB Smash Repairs and Gibson Freight for all there support.” Craig now leads the Pro-Twins Championship by 79 points (304 points) from Paul Roe (225 points). Craig’s next outing on the Carbonize 1098 will be at Queensland Raceway for the Round 6 & 7 double header, 28th June - 1st July 2007.