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Luke leads Strawberry to stunning 1-2
16th June 2009
Photos: ©
Chris Walker
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Luke Varley capped a faultless weekend at Buckmore Park (13/14 June) by leading his team-mate, Joseph Reilly across the line to record the team’s first Rotax podium 1-2 of the season.
Luke Varley
From the outset, Luke was in scintillating form. Fastest in timed qualifying, he then comfortably won both his heats - setting the fastest lap in both races - to seal pole position for the first final.
Last year’s Junior Max champion, Joseph is really beginning to get to grips with the rigours of the Senior class, illustrated by being fifth quickest in qualifying and taking excellent second and third place finishes in the heats.
Joseph Reilly
As the lights flicked to green, Luke made good his advantage and disappeared into the distance. Joseph had a tougher race against more experienced opposition, but came through to take an excellent fifth.
The nature of the challenging Kent circuit often produces first lap crashes, but by combining a clear circuit ahead of him with great reactions, Luke was again able to avoid the dramas unfolding behind him as the second final got underway. Also capitalising was Joseph, who quickly slotted into second spot and matched his team-mate’s speed through every one of Buckmore’s twists and turns to secure his first Super 1 Senior Max podium.
Strawberry team boss, Warwick Ringham said “We were confident beforehand that Luke would be there or thereabouts but didn’t expect him to be quite so dominant. He just drove away from everybody”.
He added, “I’m over the moon with Joseph. He’s really improved and come on. Like Luke, he’s doing everything right. I’m just delighted.”
Barrie Pullinger
In the Junior category, Josh Webster was joined by new signing Barrie Pullinger. In a close timed qualifying session, Josh finished sixth overall, just a tenth of a second shy of the pole time. Barrie’s twenty first place, showed how close the Junior Max class has become, with him three tenths off the front-running pace.
Tripped up in each of the heats by the almost inevitable crashes, Josh came through with a pair of top ten finishes, whilst Barrie also showed character to deliver his best performances since joining the squad.
Josh was again the victim of startline incidents in both finals, but gamely fought his way back into the top ten, with ninth and eighth place finishes respectively. Barrie was also on a rollercoaster of luck bringing his Tony Kart home in sixteenth and thirteenth.
Warwick said, “Barrie’s coming on in leaps and bounds. I’m well pleased with his progress. Buckmore was only his third race with us and he impressed me with the way he went about his job. As for Josh, well, like all the other lads he really buckled down. He had bad luck making it through the first corner, every time. He didn’t have the sort of weekend he can usually expect but he’ll bounce back. In fact, it’s all looking good from here.”
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