Motul Summer Series 2023/2024 by St George Motorcycle Club

The Motul Summer Series by St George Motorcycle club just finished last month, the series ran from Dec 23 through to Feb 10, consisting of 5 rounds. This is Australia's premier club racing series run under lights at Sydney Motorsport park. The racing is always close with some of our best club racers, also with some of our best Australian Superbike(ASBK) riders lining up and a few international stars also present before heading back to Europe for official FIM racing duties. Yes that's how good this class of racing has become. Everyone wants a piece of the summer night series and it's a cracking event. Best thing is, it's free entry. 

I don't know a better way to spend a friday or saturday night than watching some of our best motorcycle talent banging fairings for 4 hours and it's all free entry. Racing starts at 6:30pm and runs till 10:30pm with sundown at about 8pm. I've been shooting this event as media since its inception four years ago, and it's been a fantastic experience to be able to do this and I can't wait till the end of the year for the next event.

With the Australian Superbikes round 2 set for March 22 at Sydney Motorsport Park with  night races,  most of the ASBK riders turned up to use this as practise sessions for the ASBK  night round. This brings much credibility to the St George Motorcycle club and helps to raise their profile as Australia's premier road racing club. It's a credit to Mick O'Brien club president and the army of volunteers that make the event so special.

St George Motorcycle club are very smart in how they operate the Unlimited F1 Superbike class. Splitting the International & National ASBK riders into the "Superfast Dudes" category(I'm not making that up) but they did change it this year to National & International racers, and the club racers into the F2 category within the same race. First Finisher in each class gets the 25 points, which is great as the ASBK boys don't show up steal all the valuable championship points from the club regulars. Brilliant!!

The ASBK guys don't usually turn up for every race, more likely if it fits their schedule. Here's a few photos' of some of the Superfast dudes.

Josh Brookes - 1 x ASBK Champion, 2 x BSB Champion

This image is my new desktop background.

Troy Herfoss - 3 x ASBK Champion

Mike Jones - 3 x ASBK Champion

Cru Halliday - ASBK

Broc Pearson - ASBK

Max Stauffer - ASBK

Lachlan Epis - ASBK

Glenn Allerton - 3 x ASBK Champion

Glenn was injured in the first round so didn't participate in the remaining rounds so these photo's are from 2022

Anthony West - MotoGP, ASBK, 1 x NZSBK Champion

Jake Farnsworth - ASBK

Bryan Starring - ASBK

Harrison Voight - European FIM Moto2, ASBK

Jacob Roulstone - Moto3, Red Bull Rookies Cup

Carter Thompson - Red Bull Rookies Cup

Carter has both wheels off the ground in this photo. Amazing 😍

Round 1 was held back on 23rd December, with round 2&3 held over consecutive nights on January 26th & 27th and finally rounds 4&5 held in Feb consecutively on friday saturday 9th & 10th. I missed the first round due to an adventure bike ride we had organised on the same weekend.

But I managed to get to each of the other rounds, with racing consisting of 600cc supersport F1 & F2, 400cc during round 2&3 and F1, F2 and F3 superbike classes. The level of racing within the club racers is really high, with low 1:32's. Leanne Nelson is the fastest woman around SMSP breaking into the 1:34's on her R1.

The last hour of the final round and the heavens opened up with drizzling rain. The ASBK & International guys didn't risk riding in it, but the club racers were racing for points and championships so the racing was even more intense. It made for some interesting shots.

Veteran Dominic DeLeon fearless in the rain

Not everyone's night went as planned. Glenn Columbine's R1 decided it would rather launch into orbit than go around in circles. There wasn't much left of it, I got the whole sequence of this crash, all up about 48 shots. Glad to see he walked away uninjured.

Harrison Voight taking it to Josh Brookes

Paris Hardwick - ASBK lighting up the track

Andrew Burley and his Ducati was another contender for lunar orbit. These bikes just keep on cartwheeling on T1, the fastest corner on the track. Also good to see Big Burls walk away from this crash.

Timothy Griffith

Leanne Nelson - Fastest woman at SMSP

Cassie Tofler & Sarah batten

Corey Snowsill

Troy Corser#11 - 2 x WSBK Champion put in some laps

Josh Soderland - ASBK lighting it up in the rain.

If you haven't been out to this event yet, you just have to do it. It's free entry with some of Australian road racings best, up and coming talent. Some motorcycle celebrity talent was also pit side with Remy Gardner, Matt Mladdin, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Wayne Maxwell present at different rounds. I've really enjoyed my time shooting this event. One night I'd like to just head out with the lads with a big esky with beers and Krakens and just enjoy the racing. It's awesome just get out there and do it.