2009 Continental Tyres Queensland Superboat Championships

Maryborough, QLD
 June 20-21, 2009

After a less than perfect start to their 2009 campaign, Az U Do Racing’s Greg and Dorinda Mercier finally returned to the podium at Maryborough during the second round of the Continental Tyres Queensland Championships after taking second place in the Group A final behind fellow Victorian Ted Sygidus.

Whilst any podium result is welcome, the Maryborough result was a breath of fresh air for the team who just two weeks ago suffered a frustrating mechanical failure during the most recent round of the Australian Championships at Cabarita Beach.

2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Cabarita beach, NSW
6-7 June, 2009

After a lengthy break since the previous round at Griffith over the Easter weekend, Az U DO Racing’s Greg and Dorinda Mercier were raring to go for the fourth round of the Continental Tyres championship and full of hope for a strong return to form.

It was a late decision by the Melbourne team to continue contesting the Group A class after Mercier took delivery of a 500ci Unlimited Superboat motor immediately after the Griffith round, but in the end they elected to stay with the 400 class and continue to challenge the points leaders.

Shark attacks Unlimited Superboats..
1 May, 2009

After a less than perfect start to 2009, Az U Do Racing’s Greg Mercier has cried.. ‘ENOUGH..”

The reigning Australian #2 in International Group A had his season all planned out. A strong assault on the world championship podium in New Zealand followed by an attack on the AUS#1 plate against the might of Nathan Pretty and Slade Stanley would top off his ninth year in Jetsprints perfectly; sadly luck hasn’t fallen the sharks way, the Merciers suffering a litany of dramas to date, for which ‘Crusty’ has cried ENOUGH..

“That’s it, I’ve had it with Group A, especially after eight years of trying,” Greg smirked.. “they can stick it, I’m off to play with the ‘bigger’ boys.. (and girls)..”

Whilst it had played on his mind for some time, Mercier was content to try for the Group A title just one more time in 2009, but dramas in New Zealand followed by a crash at Melton’s opening round of the Australian title, have all but wiped the silly grin from that usually mischievous face..

“Look, it’s going to be a hard run to get back in touch with the leaders in Group A, and it’s becoming harder and harder to find that extra tenth or two.. At the end of the day, most of my throttle traces now are flat, so it comes down to driving and taking a few risks, and I’m just about over that now, but Superboats [Unlimited Superboats] provides me with a whole new set of goals..

“Most notably, beating bloody Phil Dixon.. It’s about time it was all about ME,” he laughed..

“Phil has been on to me for a while now about stepping up, and I watch guys like Mick Carroll who I’d always managed to get the better of in Group A doing such a great job and I thought, why not..

“Phil’s spare engine is no slouch, it’s a 3-time world championship winning powerplant and it was available, and I know how well he maintains his equipment, so it was the perfect choice; so I’m now the proud father of a 500ci injected small block so that I can be just like Phil.. How good’s that??”

“The aim was to race it in the World Championships in November, but with the Group A championship basically out of reach, jumping into Superboats now will give me some valuable miles before the world titles.

“I’m excited, it’s like starting all over again. I know these things are different to drive, and I’m not expecting to be challenging the teams that have been in the game a few years immediately, but I’d hope by the worlds that with five meetings under my belt that we’ll at least be annoying them..

“From there, watch out. I know we’ve got one of the best handling boats in the world, and with one of the fastest engines on board and a talented engine builder down at Moe, we’ll be making the most of the package next year, mark my words..

“It’s feeding time for the shark!!”

Despite a break of just on a month to the next round, Az U Do Racing will have their work cut out for them modifying the shark to accept the new powerplant in time for the next event, the fourth round of the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships set down for Cabarita (near Tweed Heads) on June 6-7.

You can catch all the action from the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships on SBS Speedweek and FOX Sports 'Inside Speed' (check local guides and keep an eye on www.v8superboats.com.au for dates and times).

Az-U-Do Racing are proudly supported by; ACOL Creative Skylight Solutions, Moe Engines and 321 Ignition Magazine.

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2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Unlimited Superboats (points after Rnd#3 of 5)
1. Mick Carroll (126), 2. Daryl Hutton (125), 3. Phil Dixon (106), 4. Tony Giustozzi (102), 5. Dean Finch (100), 5. Phonsy Mullan (100), 7. Jamie Welch (96), 8. Cheryl Welch (71), 9. Peter Freckleton (62), 10. Louise Dixon (59), 11. Paul Burgess (22), 12. Andrew Page (18), 13. Jody Ely (16), 14. Adam Raverty (15), 15. Glenn Roberts (7)

International Group A (drivers points after Rnd#3 of 5)
1. Slade Stanley (140), 2. Nathan Pretty (135), 3. Rohan Smith (116), 4. Ted Sygidus (106), 5. Tremayne Jukes (95), 6. Brooke Dixon (91), 7. Greg Mercier (81), 8. Robert Colman (77), 9. Darek Sygidus (48), 10. Daniel Walton (37), 11. Mick Manini (28), 12. Simon Zarb (18), 13. Greg Harriman (17), 14. Tony Whalan (15), 15. Brendan Donnelly (10), 15. Shane Loughnan (10), 15. Darren Watkins (10), 15. Damien O’Leary (10), 19. Rodney Krause (6), 20. Kevin Laugesen (5), 21. Kieran Krause (5)

For further information or images on the Az U Do Racing team, please contact Sean Henshelwood on 0419 143 267 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.azudoracing.com.au

Oh so close for Az U Do at Griffith
Rnd#3 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Lake Wyangan, Griffith, NSW
10-11 April, 2009

Season 2009 has not been a kind mistress to Australia’s #2 ranked Group A team, ‘the shark’ struggling to get any serious points on the board heading towards the Easter Griffith round and the mid-point of the season.

An accident in the opening round of the Continental Tyres Australian Championships in Melton had the team well out of the points after round one, whilst an off-track excursion at Temora when on target for a certain podium finish only added to the points deficit. “Ah hell, what can you do,” Greg ‘Crusty’ Mercier grinned. “I tell you, Unlimited Superboats looks more and more attractive every day.. (laughs)”

Despite missing the Temora podium, Crusty left the round full of hope for Griffith, but he was also cautious about his chances admitting that the Riverina venue was not one of his favourites.. “Griffith is all about survival, you don’t plan for a good result, you just plan to come out of it with the boat in one piece – last year saw three pretty big accidents, so anything can happen if you’re not careful..”

The teams approached the round with a great deal of trepidation but agreed that the Slade Stanley designed course was a good mixture of safety and speed. “Hey, this layout is actually pretty good,” Crusty smiled after his maiden run.. “We could do alright here.”

As was expected it was Stanley versus Nathan Pretty at the front of the Group A field, but behind them there was nothing separating a handful of drivers; Rohan Smith, round two winner Brooke Dixon, Ted Sygidus, Tremayne Jukes and Az U Do all in the mix through qualifying.

It started well for ‘the shark’ the Crusty’s holding down second behind Stanley after one run, and third at the close of the opening day’s action.

“That’s pretty good, I’m pretty happy with that,” Greg grinned in trademark fashion. “Tomorrow’s a different day though and any one of those guys could knock me out, so we’ll see how things pan out.”

As it transpired, Crusty slipped outside the top three by the close of qualifying, but was still classified fifth less than half a second off Rohan Smith who held down third.. “It’s still anyone’s race..”

Some pre-finals advice from former US open-wheel sensation Josh Hunt had also given Crusty a boost in both momentum and confidence after the Victorian discovered a quicker way through the fast infield change of direction. “It’s all happening so quickly that by the time you’ve turned right, then look for the left-hand apex, you’ve missed it. Josh suggested that you needed to trust your momentum, and your judgement to turn immediately left straight after you’ve turned right. The first time you do it it’s a surprise, but it opens the next part of the track up perfectly – and it’s quicker..”

Mercier’s nemesis Brooke Dixon was first out in the top ten final, stopping the clock with a 36.630, a lap some 1.2 seconds faster than her best of the weekend. Tremayne Jukes and Daniel Walton failed to better the time, leaving Crusty the opportunity to jump to the front. To the first split he was in front, but by lap end, he’d fallen an agonising 37 one thousandths of a second short.. (38.657) “She’s bloody kyboshed me at the end again..”

Crusty and Brooke then had to wait for the remainder of the field to complete their laps. Rohan Smith was the next out, the 2002 champion jumping to P1 with a 38.540, a mere 13 one hundredths faster than ‘the shark’.

The Mercier’s were still hanging on to third.. Ted Sygidus failed to improve Greg’s time, but both Nathan Pretty and Slade Stanley put in blistering efforts to force the Az U Do team out of the final three.

“That was probably to be expected with the pace they’ve shown here this weekend,” Greg admitted. “What we found though is that we’re mere fractions of seconds off a podium, and within shot of the championship points leaders, so there’s plenty of positives to come from the weekend..”

The Az U Do Racing team now enjoys a break prior to the next event – the opening round of the Queensland Championships set down for Cabarita (near Tweed Heads) on June 6-7. The penultimate round of the Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships will be held at Maryborough (Queensland) on September 5-6.

You can catch all the action from the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships on SBS Speedweek and FOX Sports 'Inside Speed' (check local guides and keep an eye on www.v8superboats.com.au for dates and times).

Az-U-Do Racing are proudly supported by; ACOL Creative Skylight Solutions, Moe Engines and 321 Ignition Magazine.

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2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
International Group A (drivers points after Rnd#3 of 5)
1. Slade Stanley/Vanessa Wright (140), 2. Nathan Pretty/Austin Gill (135), 3. Rohan Smith/Owen Dyball (116), 4. Ted Sygidus/Kelsie Gill (106), 5. Tremayne Jukes/Ruth Webster (95), 6. Brooke Dixon/Leanne Rake (91), 7. Greg Mercier/Dorinda Mercier (81), 8. Robert Colman/Shane Stewart (77), 9. Darek Sygidus/David Gill (48), 10. Daniel Walton/ Brad Nicolson (37), 11. Mick Manini/Athena Dickson (28), 12. Simon Zarb/Peter Keep (18), 13. Greg Harriman/Adam Doyle (17), 14. Tony Whalan/Adrian Kemp (15), 15. Brendan Donnelly/Tyson Allen (10), 15. Shane Loughnan/Joe Manganaro (10), 15. Darren Watkins/Brad Saibura (10), 15. Damien O’Leary/Carly Nappa (10), 19. Rodney Krause/Kristy Hamilton (6), 20. Kevin Laugesen/Tiffany Parratt (5), 21. Kieran Krause (5)

For further information or images on the Az U Do Racing team, please contact Sean Henshelwood on 0419 143 267 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.azudoracing.com.au