Road racer championships at Lismore

MOTORBIKE riders across the state travelled to Lismore to compete in the first round

of the NSW Short Course Road Race State Championships on August 3–4.

Hosted by North Coast Road Racers, the event attracted more than 50 riders of all ages—the youngest competitor was 4 years old, the oldest 78.

Competitors got the chance to rub shoulders with a rider racing on the world stage when Australian champion and World Superbike rider Lachlan Epis took the track.

Club president Matt Adamson said he was a welcome addition to the field.

“Luke was back in Australia, so he came for a ride with us,” Adamson said.

Epis showed his talent, taking wins in the Road Race Heavy, Motard, and Open Road Race up to 500cc classes.

Ned Cain won the Stock class, Paul Slade won Superlite, Jason Chapman the Road Race Lites, and Callum Campbell won Rookies.

The club has a good pedigree for producing great competitors.

One of the first riders to be issued a licence by the club was Luke Mitchell. Amongst his many achievements, Mitchell won the Metrakit World Mini GP in 2010 at the Moto GP at Silverstone.

But the club events aren’t just for future world champions. Adamson said they run a recreational class for those learning to ride, or just wanting to have fun.

The North Coast Road Racers was the first club in NSW to run approved road racing events for children.

Previously, they had to travel to Victoria or Queensland to race on the tarmac, limiting them to racing enduro or speedway events.

Adamson says there are now a lot of children with licences, short course racing acting as a pathway to other forms of road racing—such as Superbikes.

Road racing events are held at the Lismore Kart Club track at the showgrounds once a month, from March to November.

The next round of the NSW Road Racers Short Course Championships and club round is September 7–8.

Find more photos online by Shaq’s Speedway Pics—motorsport photography.