Mondello Park, 12/13 September 2009
Race 1
Robert Casey surprised the paddock with pole from Brian Kelly for the first
of two Championship rounds at Mondello Park on Saturday. The pair started
ahead of Ray Moore and Robbie Allen. The front pair were away side by side but
Kelly was later on the brakes and went around the outside of Casey at Honda. Allen gained a place off the line passing Moore who was unlucky to be hit by the late braking Stephen Kershaw knocking the former Champion out of the race. Adam Mcauley passed both Kershaw and Moore after their incident.
Kelly streaked away from Casey, you would never know by his driving he was
suffering badly with the flu. Kershaw passed Mcauley at the Tarzans and then
there was no change in positions at the front for three laps until Allen got
a good run on Casey on the International loop and gained a place also at the
Tarzans. Casey didn't take it lying down though and was back in front by the
end of the lap. The midrace order was Kelly, Casey, Allen, Kershaw, Mcauley
and O Brien, while further back the trio of Dan Polley, Trevor Delaney and Jimmy Furlong were chasing them down.
Things fell apart for Kershaw on lap five. Allen has a poor run out of the Tarzans. Kershaw got alongside but Allen was unable to stop his car sliding as he went through Birranes Bends. Kershaw hit the back of Allen and slid off into the gravel, he was beached and out of the race. Allen raced on in his damaged car but was left defending for the rest of the race. Kelly managed the gap to Casey over the final laps. Delaney finally got to the front of the chasers and was now holding Polley at bay. Mcauley was unsuccessful at passing Allen and then lost out to O Brien on the last lap. Kelly held on for the win ahead of Casey and Allen leading to an afternoon battle to win the 2009 title.
Race 2
The afternoon race was the title decider. Kelly started from pole again but this time Mcauley was alongside with Allen and Moore behind. The pole sitter had the best getaway and led from Mcauley, Allen, Kershaw and Moore. Everyone made it safely through the opening corners, and it wasn't until the Tarzans that there was an incident when Lloyd Murphy collided into the side of Javier Pernas knocking him out of the race. Moore squeezed past Kershaw before the end of the lap.Kelly was pulling away from Mcauley at the front. Polley passed Delaney at Honda on lap two but Delaney was able to regain the place later on the same lap before his race was effectively finished at Dunlop. He hit the back of Kershaw on the exit of the corner. Kershaw spun out of the title race but recovered to race on, and Delaney picked up a puncture and was forced to retire. Moore passed Allen and then Mcauley a lap later but it seemed Kelly was too far ahead to catch. This however was not the case. Kelly was reeled in by Moore who then nearly passed him on the straight. and as the Champion elect started to defend his pace slowed allowing the chasers to catch up.
The front six of Kelly, Moore, Allen, Mcauley, Casey, and Polley were all together with two laps to go. O Brien, Furlong and Horan were not too far behind. Mcauley tried to pass Allen at Honda but ran wide on the exit. Casey squeezed past him. Mcauley recovered but had left a gap to the leaders; Polley was behind him. Kelly went onto his last lap while right behind him Moore, Allen and Casey went down the straight three abreast all looking for the best finish. Allen was able to stay at the front but Casey got past Moore to take the last podium spot. Kelly took his second win of the day and the 2009 title.
Just like that the season was over and all drivers now prepared their cars for the Leinster Trophy race on Sunday.