Mitch Brien Crowned 2009 160cc Australian Champion
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The Brien Brothers Come So Close To Australian Championship Double
10/03/2009 11:56:38 AM - Daniel Powell
They came, they saw and they both nearly conquered. That pretty much sums up the efforts of the Brien brothers, Mitch and Jayke, last Sunday at Gunnedah Speedway in North Western NSW during the 2009 running of the Australian Junior Quarter Midget Championship.
The 2009 Australian Championship was one filled with mixed emotions for the Brien brothers, as it saw Mitch reclaim his Australian Championship crown in the 160cc class, while Jayke battled for the lead of the Australian Championship in 120cc class only to suffer a broken chain on the last lap and painfully fail to finish.
After losing his crown last year Mitch, who is in his last season in the Junior Quarter Midget class, was focused on reclaiming the Australian Championship he so proudly won back in 2007 and that was exactly what he achieved.
Throughout his qualifying heat races and the feature race Brien proved that he was one of the quickest cars in his class and despite suffering a non finish in one of his heat races still managed to qualify third for the feature race. Brien fought hard and fast with both Billy Carroll and reigning champion Daniel Burleigh in the feature race and took control of the race in the latter stages and ended up defeating Carroll and Burleigh at the finish.
“I had an awesome weekend and it was great to get back my Australian Championship trophy,” said the 16-year-old. “I was really focused this year, as not only did I want to finish my time in Junior Quarter Midgets before I step up to Seniors as Australian Champion but also the fact that it was at my home track.”
While his older brother, Mitch, celebrated yet another Australian Championship success, Jayke was left wondering what might have been had a bit of lady luck went his way after he broke a chain as he fought for the lead with defending champion Danny Carroll on the final lap of the feature race.
After sitting in second for the majority of the feature race Brien made a late race bid for the lead and on the final lap while alongside Carroll as the pair battled for the lead disaster struck as Brien came to a stop due to breaking a chain and it therefore denied the current NSW # 3 an Australian Championship victory.
“To be so close to winning an Australian Championship and then to have a mechanical failure rob you of that chance it is very upsetting,” expressed the 10-year-old. “My car felt great during the feature race and towards the end of the race I felt I had the faster car as I had started to pressure Danny [Carroll] for the lead but then I lost my chain and it was all over.”
Jayke wanted to congratulate Danny Carroll on winning back-to-back Australian Championships.
Both Mitch and Jayke would like to thank everyone involved in the running of the Australian Championship and also all the competitors in both the 120cc and 160cc classes for making this year’s event such a success.
Mitch and Jayke Brien wanted to thank their Mum and Dad (Helen and Dave Brien), along with their sponsors: Dave Brien Automotive, Top of the Block Head Service, Central Coast Manual Gearbox & Diff, Coastal Driveline Specialist and Race Shirts 4 U for all their ongoing support.
-ENDS RELEASE-
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