Just like Ashley Force in America, local top fuel rookie driver, Amanda Shepherd has been the darling of the television cameras. In the days leading up to the race she was interviewed on various TV programs that many believe led to the biggest Friday night crowd ever. She didn’t disappoint either qualifying third out of ten cars with a 4.95, however she fell in the semis to instant tyre smoke and Phil Read.
Over the past few months Leonard Azzopardi has been slowly building up his confidence and riding ability on the ex-Roel Kodem European Puma/Yamaha fuel bike. He was shutting the bike off as early as the 1000-foot mark and was still winning thanks to the power of the Puma . In the semis he strapped a great holeshot on low qualifier, Athol Williams to take the win – 6.56 to a 6.46. In the final however, he red lighted his chances away by nine thousandths to the Harley of Brett Stevens. Needless to say after setting personal best times and getting to the final he was pretty excited nonetheless.
The weekend was certainly not boring for top qualifier and eventual Top Fuel winner, Martin Stamatis. This saw him explode a tyre in the final frame as he crossed the finish-line. With deft skill and a bunch of luck as the tyre tore off part of the wing and dropped down on to the right hand chassis rail Stamatis tried to bring his errant mount to a safe stop. After getting the chutes out, this saw the remains of the car slide into the sand pit at the top of the track.
Despite facing many quicker machines over the course of eliminations the C/Dragster of eventual winner Dave McCowage outlasted all his opponents to win the bracket. In the final he faced the altered of Chris Soldatos that got dramatically out of shape hitting the left hand wall and thus handed the win to McCowage.