After a huge program on Saturday, Sunday morning at Sydney Dragway brought the Haltech East Coast Nationals to a close with an exciting program of Aeroflow Sportsman Championship racing, delivering both NDRC Christmas Trees and critical results ahead of the racers’ upcoming penultimate rounds (All Bike Nationals and Southern Sportsman Slam on October 10).
In Modified Bike, Michael Cristoforo claimed the Christmas Tree from seventh qualifier in the nine-bike field, defeating Jimmy-Jock Stewart in the final. Cristoforo beat Jessy James Barnes in round one and Greg Horadam in round two ahead of a semi-final bye, while Stewart faced Gareth Wilcox in round one before a round two bye and a semi-final win over Sean Ricketts – who had earlier put an end to the Haltech East Coast Nationals campaign of Top Qualifier Dean Jamieson in round two.
“Thanks to the NDRC for making all the right calls, even though a lot of the competitors weren’t too happy at the time — they turned out to be the right decisions,” Cristoforo said.
“Thanks also to Sydney Dragway – this was my first time here, coming over from Adelaide, and I was very impressed. This place has plenty of soul; that is the big thing that stood out for us.
“Thank you to Marco Bellini, my crew member, and to Wildcard Customs, Alpha Performance Engines, and Andrew from RMS Performance for their support.”
In Performance Bike, Edge Mallis took the win over Top Qualifier Samuel Fry in the final, from fifth qualifier in the six-bike field. Mallis beat Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes in round one and Ken Collin in round two to reach the decider. Fry, meanwhile, enjoyed a round one bye before eliminating Bobbie Schluter in the semi-final.
In Aeroflow Junior Drag Bike, Top Qualifier Kobe Ashelford went on to claim the Christmas Tree in the seven-bike field, defeating Vanz Peirano in the final. Ashelford benefited from a round one bye before eliminating Bailey Paul in round two. Peirano, meanwhile, beat Christopher Davidson in round one before progressing past Aliza Harris in round two.
The Aeroflow Sportsman Championship now looks ahead to October 10 for its penultimate rounds, with the bikes heading to Dragway at The Bend for the All Bike Nationals, while everyone else takes to Heathcote’s Victoria Motorsport Park for the new Southern Sportsman Slam.
From there, every NDRC bracket will descend on Dragway at The Bend across October 22-25 for the 2026 season finale, with BLAHST Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Alcohol, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod and all 10 Aeroflow Sportsman Championship brackets deciding their champions in a four-day blockbuster.
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