How the weekend unfolded

A day of drama on Friday qualifying saw Cam Donald out of the Aussie team after failing to post a competitive time on the Irving Vincent. Both the Irving Vincents were struggling with carburetion issues but Beau Beaton pulled out a couple of killer laps late in the day to qualify third. Just ahead of him was Phillis, who made sure he had gone out at the rear of the field in the final session to get a clear track with no distractions. As expected, Mcwilliams qualified on pole but the surprise package wasteam Ireland’s Paul Byrne and Hickman. Byrne put sponsor Tom Dermody’s Mcintosh Suzuki at the head of row two, ahead of Shawn Giles and Hickman. Meanwhile, Team America lost star recruit Aussie Mal Campbell after he crashed at Turn One onthursday after getting his bike covered in oil from another rider. Its best qualifier was Pat Mooney, who would go on to finish a very credible 12th overall in the individual points standing. Damian Mackie led the Team New Zealand charge.