Picture: THOMAS MILES
EVERYTHING is shaping up for a cracking field to enter the annual Master of Mac Park meeting on October 3-4, as plenty of riders have shown interest in the event, despite the coronavirus border restrictions.
This year may be nothing like previous events, with many riders who would normally have attended, currently locked out of the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Restrictions could change between now and then but organisers have looked to have South Australian riders at the meeting, with no shortage of talent from the state.
One such rider will look to be the first to claim a fourth Master of Mac Park title when he ventures down from Adelaide.
Reigning title holder and current South Australian Superbike champion William Strugnell is ready to set the timing sheets alight, with fast times shown at recent ride days at the track.
Strugnell’s pedigree is certainly one to be revered, with an Australian 125GP championship in 1997.
That earned him a wildcard ride at the Australian Phillip Island GP against riders of world grand prix level, such as Valentino Rossi and Australian Gary McCoy.
After a lengthy layoff from racing, he returned five years ago to continue where he left off, winning almost everything he entered.
He won the SA Superbike title in 2016, 2017,2018 and 2019, which in itself suggests he is the man to beat this year for the Master of Mac Park title.
With various other achievements to his credit, Strugnell showed his true pace last year at McNamara Park, where he set a blistering pace on his way to victory, with a lap record of 1:10.3 for his trouble, knocking 1.4 seconds off the record at the time.
Recent ride days at the iconic circuit suggest that lap record may well be trouble again, as Strugnell continues to hone his skills and pick up his pace, along with other notable riders.
A recent winner Arthur Sissis is expected to compete, rather than contest the Australian Superbike series, along with another Superbike rider Nic Liminton.
In a big coup for the event, a high-profile rider who may attend is Adelaide’s Daniel Falzon.
Falzon is prominent in the 1000cc Australian Superbike series and while he has not yet committed to the event, he is apparently keen to compete.
According to Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club committee member Andrew Vause the momentum is already building considering the restrictions which are in place around the country, especially with Strugnell.
“Strugnell is really excited to be the first person to win four titles,” Vause said.
“He can remember when the Master of Mac Park was a three-round series and when the early guys who won it like Jermey Burgess went overseas.
“Back then it was virtually the premier road race in Australia.
“There are a lot of people who are keen to reinvent that.”
Vause said the likes of Strugnell and Sissis were capable of lowering the lap record even further and if Falzon does compete, he said anything is possible.
