6 aussie wildcards for PI GP

[ozx6r]

Leigh-Smith 'wildcard' for Australian Grand Prix (6.09.05)
Photo courtsey: Keith Muir Photography


15-year old Queensland sensation - Blake Leigh-Smith (pictured) has been chosen as one of six riders to compete as wildcards at the 2005 Polini Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held at Phillip Island from 14 - 16 October.

Leigh-Smith, an Australian junior long track champion in 2004, recently made his national 125cc debut at Winton Motor Raceway (Vic), and promptly won two of the three races in testing conditions.

It certainly wasnt all smooth sailing for Blake. During testing at Queensland Raceway before the first round of the Australian Superbike Championship, brake failure saw Blake crash into the concrete wall at the last corner before main the straight. Fracturing his neck (c1), cheek bone, 2 fractures on the jaw, and 3 metacarpels on left hand. Putting him out for 3 months. Winton was Blake's first round of the Australian Superbike Championship for 2005.

In 2004 Blake was granted dispensation by Motorcylcing New Zealand at age 14 to compete in the 2005 NZRRC which started in December of that year. He proceeded to qualify 2nd at the first round held at Ruapuna (Christchurch) and finished 6th. He then went onto qualify 2nd at the second round held at Teretonga (Invercargill) and finished 2nd.

Subject to final ratification from the FIM and the MotoGP Commission (which applies to all the wildcards), Leigh-Smith will now hit the international arena on October 14-16 – less than two months after his Winton heroics!

The six wildcards are as follows:

125cc

Blake Leigh-Smith (Queensland) - 15 years, Honda RS125

Brent Rigoli (New South Wales) - 16 years, Honda RS125

Brett Simmonds (Tasmania) - 22 years, Honda RS125

250cc

Mark Rowling (New South Wales) - 33 years, Yamaha TZ250

Mick Kelly (Victoria) - 27 years, Honda RS250

Ben Ried (Victoria) - 28 years, Yamaha TZ250


* Simmonds, Rigoli, Rowling and Ried were all wildcards in 2004. Congratulations, and good luck Blake.

[Stereo]

So is he a NZ'er living in QLD? or is he an Aussie racing in NZ and then moving here to race at PI?

[ozx6r]

ur not going to start about us always claiming ppl as aussies?

u can keep ya russel crowe

[gizmo]

COOL BANANA"S, I have ridden Warwick & Darlington Park trackdays in the same class as Blake & watched him leave me behind on both days!

That's almost makes me cool by association doesn't it?

[Steve_TLS]

Looks like they let me off the MotoGP list again

[HemiDuty]

Yeah me Brett n Yapper were in the pit next to him at Morgan Park a while back, and let me tell you his folks run a pro operation. He has a little brother who is fast as too (Jacko) and they have a full transporter with generator and all the goodies, these kids will do well for sure.

I bet his parents are still wondering which one of us is named 'Gary'

EDIT: added smiley.

[greenmeanie]

Yep they got some gear alright(blake & family). I was checkin it out @ QR as i was in the pit bay next door @ the trackday that he had the big off.
Real talent and hope he carves em up @ PI.

[Stereo]

ur not going to start about us always claiming ppl as aussies?

u can keep ya russel crowe

Look here, our government has apologised repeatedly for Russel Crowe... But yes, I was going to start about youz always claiming people as aussies...