Wicks dominates opening day of AFTN action at Albu...

Daniel Wicks wowed the crowds at Saturday’s third spherical of the Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Observe Nationals, delivering 4 straight Professional 450 wins to dominate beneath lights at Albury-Wodonga’s Diamond Park.

Wicks, who had been trying to rebuild after harm, took all 4 races together with some tense moments the place a protest was upheld towards factors chief Tom Armstrong within the remaining occasion.

In Junior Lites Jed Fyffe and Neiko Donovan shared two wins every whereas Beau Baker cleaned up in Junior 85s.

Hitting the observe for the primary time in 2025 have been the Professional Twins, with native Ashley Wilesmith taking a clear sweep from 2024 champion Kristian O’Donnell.

Clubman Open went to a different native in Sam Hollands amongst a bumper discipline of 27 entries.

Spherical Three – Flat Observe Structure

Gunnedah’s Daniel Wicks (KTM) has been an AFTN front-runner from collection inception, and on Saturday night time he confirmed why with a blistering clear sweep of victories, but it surely was Dale Borlase who scored the bonus 5 factors for taking Superpole.

After tweaking his setup, Wicks was on a mission, combining clean traces and drive to take the primary race win by over one second, forward of collection chief Tom Armstrong (Honda).

Armstrong was all the time within the combine and adopted that consequence with one other second in race two and fifth in race three, however a conflict within the remaining occasion with Wicks had him despatched to the rear of the grid on a restart beneath protest.

Cam Dunker (Yamaha) discovered type in the direction of the tip of the night, as did reigning champion Tom Herrick (Husqvarna), with each taking stable factors.

The general consequence now tightens up the leaderboard with all the things to play for on the TT observe come Sunday.

Daniel Wicks – Professional 450 spherical winner

“From the get-go I had the bike setup incorrect, so I needed to change some issues and that noticed me transfer from thirteenth to 3rd. I used to be solely 0.1 seconds off successful Superpole and as soon as I labored out my traces within the first race, I knew I used to be in with a shot. The bike was pulling good and getting off the turns rather well all night time, I can’t complain. The short lap occasions all by means of the night time present that the observe held it’s moisture, hats off to the Albury-Wodonga Motorbike Membership for making ready a fantastic floor.”

Jed Fyffe (KTM) and Neiko Donovan (Husqvarna) stuffed the highest two spots on the rostrum all night in Junior Lites, with each riders taking two wins every and two second placings. Because the quickest qualifier, Fyffe took the bonus 5 factors and spherical win, however mentioned Donovan made him work for it.

Hugh Hope-Hodgetts (KTM) additionally impressed along with his stable type, taking third place in all races.

Jed Fyffe – Junior Lites spherical winner

“Neiko was driving nice all day and made me work for it. The observe was tough, I had to determine the traces but it surely was actually enjoyable.”

Beau Baker (KTM) was as soon as once more unstoppable in Junior 85s, taking every race in convincing trend. Jye French and George Holmkvist have been his nearest rivals, with French choosing up three podiums.

Beau Baker – Junior 85s spherical winner

“New observe, new form to get used to…I felt good all day and hit all my braking factors and felt good on the throttle. After I’m clean it feels actually good on the market.”

The thumping Professional Twins made their collection debut for 2025 at Diamond Park, with Ashley Wilesmith taking out all three races on his KevJoy Racing-prepared Ducati Scrambler. Wilesmith took all three races from Kristian O’Donnell.

Ashley Wilesmith

“My brother purchased the bike a number of months in the past, and I assume we have been thrown in on the deep finish! It’s been a hell of a journey and I can’t watch for extra.”

Additionally on debut for this season was the Clubman Open class, with border native Sam Hollands taking the highest spot for the night time with three race wins. West Wyalong’s Tyler Davies took the opposite win for the night.

Sam Hollands

“I made a decision to come back again racing after 12 or 13 years racing, I couldn’t consider a greater strategy to do it!”

AFTN Spherical Three Outcomes

Dave Maddock – Collection Organiser

“That was an eventful night time at Diamond Park and our first spherical held beneath lights. The observe was ready so effectively by the Albury-Wodonga Motorbike Membership and it gave the impression to be a giant benefit racing with the night time air. The moisture meant we didn’t have to make use of the water cart however the observe held collectively exceptionally effectively. The Professional 450 class was very arduous fought tonight, Tom Armstrong has proven he’s the true deal however we have been in a position to witness Daniel Wicks again at his greatest – he’s very robust to beat when he hits his rhythm like tonight. Easy actually is the important thing and Beau Baker turned it on in Junior 85s, as did Jed Fyffe and Neiko Donovan. These two are actually pushing one another arduous and the longer term seems vibrant with rivalries like this. It was additionally nice to see so many Clubman entries, Sam Hollands was one other nice story for the collection – in an identical strategy to Tom Armstrong he had been away from the observe for a very long time, it’s inspiring stuff. Our Professional Twins have been a crowd favorite tonight, Ashley Wilesmith on the Ducati Scrambler was very spectacular and people guys have been pulling lap occasions that have been near the Professional 450s, which was nice to see.”

The Yamaha BLU CRU Aussie Flat Observe Nationals continues as we speak (Sunday), August 24, with spherical 4 of the collection being held on the Diamond Park TT structure.