CCMS Cup - Round 2 Race Report — Carl Cox Motorsport Cup

CCMS Cup Points Table

Many Mondays I have sat in front of the keyboard to write a Cup race report with 2 finger typing and thought, wow that was an amazing day or weekend of Cup racing. Can it get better?

Well, in the midst of a chronic pandemic outbreak on March 6 at Hampton Downs, Round two of our 11th season was held. I can honestly say this was THE most epic day of Cup racing I can remember. Every round we have I am very humbled that so many riders want to be part of our Cup, and it hits a special spot with me when I see you all file out for the first practice. The loyalty of so many long term sponsors who believe in what I am trying to do, the Auckland Motorcycle Club who support us so well and run a very slick operation on the day and the story’s of how the day unfolds for you all.

This report will be different as I will run out of superlatives with my limited vocabulary, but here goes.

To get 39 Cup entry’s in this current Covid environment was a very good start to our day and made up 42% of the days entries. 28 Hyosung 250’s and 11 Ninja 400’s. Unfortunately we lost Beau Lowrie when he woke up Sunday and tested positive but did the right thing and stayed home. Beau was very disappointed as he podiumed on debut in Round 1.

Notable moments.

Qualifying

Hyosung Cup

The Buttman goes pole
Kendal Dunlop gets her GT250R on the front row, P4
Brett Butler out qualifies Hadleigh Thomson
Rory Garvey goes top 10

Ninja Cup

Caleb “Gilly” Gilmore goes pole
Sean White goes P2
Benny Cook returns and goes P4
Andy Ansell goes Top Cop in P9

Race 1

Hyosung Cup

Best battle. Simon Beard, Kendal Dunlop, Alex Butson
Second best battle. Hadleigh, Nathan, Rory, Trent, Brett for 5th. 1.2 second covers them.
Biggest disappointment. Kendal bins it at turn 4 after posting 1:24.573. She is ok.
4 DNF’s. Scott Findlay, Jarrod Thompson, Troy Fowles and Kendal
Simon Beard is a first time winner by0.3 from Alex.

Ninja Cup

Best battle. Chris Smith, Justin Reid, Sean White for 2nd. 0.3 covers them
Caleb Gilmore takes the win
Welcome back Benny Cook and Evan Hansen

Race 2

Hyosung Cup

Red flag after 2 laps. Full restart.
Too Tall Trent goes down lap 2 at Turn 4. He’s in the Ambo but will be ok.
Best battle Kendal, Simon Beard, Alex, Ben Mayo and Nathan Finlay for the win. 0.51 covers them
BIGGEST News! Kendal Dunlop creates Cup history being the first woman to ever win a Cup race!
Olivia Parkinson-Lunn bags 3rd in the WIL Sport Woman’s Cup

Ninja Cup

Sean White’s best ever lap time. 1:16.020
Caleb nails another win
Best battle. Chris, Justin, Sean for 2nd. 1.2 covers them.
Second best battle. Blair Skelton, Tim Greene for 6th.
DNF for Evan. Bike dirty, rider ok.

Race 3 Le Mans Start

Hyosung Cup

Simon backs up with another win!
Kendal podiums again in 3rd.
Best battle. Simon, Alex Kendal for the win. 0.9 cover them
Hadleigh goes 4th
James Fordyce goes P8

Ninja Cup

Caleb Gilmore rolls the hatrick with a commanding 4.8 second win.
Sean White goes P3
The two Andrews (Boldero and Ansell) stay as close as possible for a great battle for 8th.
Current Ninja Champion Chris Smith comes home P2

Race 4

Hyosung Cup

Simon dominates again with win number 3
Kendal 0.6 behind Simon for P2
Best battle. Simon, Kendal, Scotty Findlay, Alex. 1.10 covers them
First time Cup racer Blain Pairama does a 1:28.076
Best Women’s battle. Olivia and Megan Kemp. 0.1 covers them

Ninja Cup

Caleb makes it a clean sweep. 4 from 4
Best battle. Chris and Justin for second. A podium for Justin on his birthday.
Tim Greene takes one off Blair for 6th
Andrew B beats Andrew A for 8th.

Headlines form a historical Round of Cup racing

Kendal Dunlop. Fist ever Cup race win by a woman
Caleb Gilmore max’s the points. Pole, 4 wins, 4 fastest laps
Simon Beard wins 3 of the 4 Hyosung Cup races. First time winner engorges himself with points.
Tam Hickey takes out the WIL Sport Women’s Round win