Benelli Back on Track !

– Words and pics: Elayne Kelly, Benelli Communications
– benellicommunications@thebos.biz

The Benelli Lion roared loudly at Eastern Creek Raceway on the weekend at the opening round of the Australian Naked Bike series making a very promising debut to racing in Australia.

TJ’s Performance riders, reigning champion Jon Cartwright, and Bill Middleton, together with Ultimate Motorcycles rider,
Adrian Pierpoint were racing in temperatures over 50 º C that
tested their fitness and tyres.

It was an impressive debut for the Benelli TNT Sport which is still in the early stages of development. The
bike clearly demonstrated that it has plenty of torque, power and ability to run easily at the top end of the field with the quickest time so far of 1.36.9 mins being achieved this weekend.

After qualifying on the front row of grid with a 1.38.4, Cartwright aboard the Benelli TNT Sport was delighted
and surprised at how quickly the bike has developed.
Middleton qualified in 15^th place with a 1.48.5mins.

Ultimate Motorcycles rider, Adrian Pierpoint, aboard a Benelli TNT Sport also, qualified with a 1.40.5 putting him on the second row of the grid.

Getting away to a promising start in the first race on Saturday, Cartwright was in second place for the first lap, even leading the field on lap 3 for the combined field of Naked Bike and Pro Twins race.
Finishing third overall in the race, and second in Class Cartwright did a very encouraging lap of 1.38.4 mins.
53 year old Middleton, finished eighth in the Naked Bike class
with Pierpoint finishing fourth.

In race two held on Sunday morning, Cartwright quickly found his rhythm settling in and finishing fourth overall, third in class.
He put in his fastest time of the weekend with a very respectful
time of 1.36.9 mins. Middleton finished sixth in the Naked Bike class, whilst unfortunately Pierpoint suffered a minor electrical fault causing him to retire on lap 6.

In race three, while dicing for third in a thrilling race, Cartwright
suffered a crash. Unhurt in the incident, Cartwright was unable to regain the race on his TJ’s Performance Benelli TNT due to a broken handlebar and was forced to retire. Pierpoint finished
in third place with Middleton finishing eighth in the Naked Bikes class.

TJ’s Performance rider, Middleton is currently in fifth place, Cartwright in equal sixth place on the point score table and Ultimate Motorcyclesrider, Pierpoint in eighth.

The series has only just begun, and with rapid development of the Benelli TNT Sport the wait for Benelli to win races won’t be long.
It was a very encouraging debut to racing.

The next round of the Australian Naked Bike Championship is a double header held at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria on 22 – 25 March where the Benelli riders are confident of improved performance and results.