LATEST REPORT:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AT EVENTFUL FINALE!

Going into the final round of the national Superstock series in 9th place, Dean Bonthorne had just one mission – to fulfill his Top-10 season goal. And although the high caliber of Phillip Island experts in attendance meant it would be no easy task, he delivered – finishing the year Top 8 among the 60+ riders in his class nation-wide. But it was not without drama, with highs of a front-row grid position and race-winning potential offset against pit-lane start punishments and first-lap crashes! All part of the remarkable fun and excitement that was his 2005 racing season.

QUALIFYING: 4th of 30, Best Lap 1:44.78
Having completed an Island practice day just a week earlier, Dean was all set for a strong qualifying. And he brought it in Friday’s session - top 6 until a rider just ahead crashed, with Deano hitting the debris and slashing his rear tyre. For permission to replace it, he was forced to forfeit his Q1 time! Fortunately, Saturday was still sunny & he fired up big time in Q2 to take 1.5secs off and crank out a 1:44 for his first ever national-series front row grid position! Riding back to his applauding, rapturous pit crew is one of his favourite racing moments to date.

RACE ONE: 11th, Best Lap 1:45.47 (L5 of 6)
Pumped to get a good start and race at the front, Dean followed other riders from the garages to pit-lane, but was stopped at pit-exit by marshalls, claiming he was too late to join the grid!! Officials later admitted this was their mistake (with no rules governing time) but it was too late. Fuming with anger and disbelief, he sat in pitlane with cold tyres as the riders launched from the grid- Dean allowed onto the track only after all had passed the start line. With mind-bending determination, he set out with a vengeance to catch the pack and make up as many places as possible. In an extraordinary display, Deano blasted through 18 riders in just 6 laps (often 2 or 3 at a time) for a very credible 11th place. A great result for the circumstances, not that you would have guessed it by his scowl after!

RACE TWO: 6th, Best Lap 1:44.19 (L4 of 6)
Sunday’s first race saw a very determined Deano on the front row, keen to make amends. Unfortunately his clutch slipped on launch, robbing him of a traditionally strong start. Caught in the leading pack of 6 riders, they cleared off from the field but were side-by-side all race long, with just 1.5secs covering the group! It was possibly the most frantic race Dean had encountered, with drastic maneuvers by all involved. Though down on power in the straight, he fought his way up to 3rd & 4thposition, but on the last lap out-braked himself passing into the downhill MG corner allowing others through. Crossing the line in 6th place he was just 1.2secs off the podium and 2.4secs from the win!

RACE THREE: 25th, Best Lap 1:47.58 (L4 of 6)
In his last race of the year, a strong start was what Deano focused on, and it’s what he got. Rocketing off the line he was in 2nd place into the first two corners and as the leader ran wide in Southern Loop, he pushed though for the lead. But on exit, it all went wrong, with his rear tyre letting go & a massive high-side crash imminent. Somehow he saved it, but was way off course and the front slid out on the grass, flipping bike and rider. Running back to remount the Suzuki, the jagged windscreen remains made it unsafe to ride. But rather than return to the pits, he tore off the broken areas, checked the rest of the bike and set out with impressive focus to ride at race pace, completely alone. The crowed cheered his determination… and the monos he gave them all on the last lap!

 

_ NEXT EVENT: Yet to be determined! _