ANDRA: Championship Showcase Delivers in Perth

The final round of the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series brought all of the expected intensity and excitement and more at the Perth Motorplex across March 4 and 5 as part of the 52nd MacTrack Westernationals.

Following an epic day of final battles on Sunday March 5, the season champions and event winners were heralded with plenty of ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies being handed out alongside the prestigious John Storm Memorial Trophy.

For a full listing of Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series championship winners and runners-up as well as event winners and runners-up, please click here.

Also recognised at the ANDRA Grand Final presentations were Adrian Hynes who was awarded the Best Engineered Award, and the winners of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship (Phil Read), ADRC Top Doorslammer (Daniel Gregorini) and Top Fuel Motorcycle (Benny Stevens) who were each awarded an ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree. Stevens was additionally also awarded the ANDRA Longest Distance Travelled Award.

For a rundown of how each of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series championship brackets unfolded over the weekend, please read on.

MODIFIED BIKE

Champion: Brian Alvisio
Championship runner-up: Brian Hotker
Event winner: Chris Fryer
Event runner-up: Brian Alvisio
Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Chris Allen

Brian Alvisio was another who was very busy at the end of night presentations at the ANDRA Grand Final, picking up not only the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Modified Bike Australian Championship but also the event runner-up trophy.

Alvisio headed to the event on the max points and went all the way to the final against winner, Christopher Fryer. On his way to the final, Alvisio emerged victorious from battles against Owen Rose (round one), Andrew Sellears, Graham Jennings and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Chris Allen. Fryer meanwhile had successfully taken on Connor Wood (round one) and Luke Seaton before a round three bye and a semi-final against championship runner-up, Brian Hotker.

“It was spectacular to win the championship, especially after making all the finals at the events we contested,” Alvisio said.

“By making the final at the Westernationals, I made the final for every event that I went to, which in itself is pretty special.

“It was a 26-bike field and I only got beaten in the final by one hell of a good run from Chris Fryer. If I had had that run in any other race in Perth I would have won, but Chris was just too good – that is bracket racing though and that is why I love it. He is a nice bloke, and we are both on Kawasakis so that was cool given we are in a sport often dominated by Suzukis and Hayabusas.

“I would have liked to take two trees home with me but I am not going to dwell on that too long.

“Thank you to my girl Sheree Manning and I also want to thank Blaze Hansen and Max Norman – Blaze is my racing coach and helps me with a lot of that stuff, while Max builds my engine and offers a lot of advice as well – as well as Dale Bobbermein from DeWalt Power Tools for their support.”

COMPETITION BIKE

Champion: Joe Khoury
Championship runner-up: Jake Hamilton-Moderate
Event winner: Daniel Natalotto
Event runner-up: Troy Thompson
Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Daniel Natalotto

While Joe Khoury won the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Competition Bike Australian Championship, the event win went to Daniel Natalotto, who faced off against Troy Thompson in the final following the three-round format for an eight-strong field of Comp Bikes. To secure their spots in the final, Natalotto – also the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier in Modified Bike for the event – won earlier races over Wayne Gummow and Matt Haunold with a bye in the first round, while Thompson defeated Ross Green and Rob Wasley before a bye in the third round. On his way to the runner-up spot, Thompson also rewrote the CC/AB MPH record to 186.03mph.

“I am very happy to have won. I have been chasing the championship for probably around 15 years, I have won track championships but never a national championship, I even came runner-up a while back, but this is my first win, and it is great. It is always a nice feeling to be able to say you are number one!” Khoury said.

“Thank you to K and S Autosport in Southport, Queensland, VP Racing Fuels Australia, and my company, Joe Khoury Motorcycle Transport. Also thank you to my constant crew who have always been beside me, so thank you to Evan, Johnny Hog from Johnny’s Hog Shop, my racing and travel buddy Edgell Mallis – who unfortunately bowed out of the championship fight after breaking his bike testing ahead of the final – and also Brian Alvisio, the Modified Bike champion who we travel with, Sean Ricketts who unfortunately couldn’t come to Perth after winning the last few meetings, and Evan McCain.”

ANDRA thanks the Perth Motorplex and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding racetrack and a well-run event.

For full results from the ANDRA Grand Finals, please click here.

The Australian National Drag Racing Association Ltd, or ANDRA for short, is the drag racing sanctioning body of Australia. The organization was created in 1973 from a more drag racing oriented faction of the Australian Hot Rod Federation. Today ANDRA sanctions races throughout Australia and throughout the year at all levels, from Top Fuel to Junior Dragster, on everything from temporary regional tracks to international standard facilities in capital cities. ANDRA and its members make drag racing a family-friendly, safe sport. So come along as a spectator or bring your street car to an “off-street” event and enjoy the excitement that is Australian drag racing. www.andra.com.au