Luke Gaisford – The 2011 Australian Pro Quad Champion
Coolum Queensland the site for the 2011 Quad Nationals saw Luke Gaisford complete a goal that no other Quad rider in Australia had done before. Taking out the Pro Championship was the completion of the triple crown starting back in 2003 when as a youngster of 12 years, on a 90cc Honda, Luke took his first National title in Outrim Victoria, racing against his peers of the time, Wades, VanVliets and Larsons. The whole field went through the ranks where in 2006 as a 15 year old Luke raced the 200/300cc class on a Yamaha Blaster and won his second National Title in Wanneroo Western Australia.
Coolum was Luke’s 4th campaign in the National Pro Quad Class having finished 7th in Tasmania in ‘08, 7th In South Australia in ‘09, 2nd in Western Australia in 2010 just 1 point from the winner.
2011 saw Luke take out back to back state titles in Western Australia winning the 6 round series by 48 points, more importantly taking some fantastic wins in front of 2010 National Champ Ryan Lancaster.
It was the last race of round 5 that saw the end to Lukes rise in speed when a high speed crash high sided him and slammed him into the track hard, a visit to hospital and 4 weeks off the bike leading up to Nationals wasn’t an ideal preparation of which Luke paid dearly for.
Each of the 5 15minute + 1 lap moto’s Luke suffered in silence and went as hard as he could, the 4 weeks off the bike brought that horrible arm pump back every race. In Moto one after a collision with 4 bikes, separating them apart, Luke was in 11th and started the battle for good points, by the end of the moto and after picking off almost the entire field, Luke came through for a well deserved 2nd.
Race 2 saw Luke with a much better start, pacing himself behind front runner Luke Nixon, mid race Gaisford took the lead with Luke Beechey in tow and extended his lead to the chequers, after race 2 Luke was in the lead for the title.
Race 3 – First race on Sunday Morning saw Luke with a terrible start, having to make his way through the crowd, meanwhile the front runners put in a gap that couldn’t be closed, Luke took 3rd place, and although losing 2 points off his lead, all was good heading into race 4.
Again Lukes start wasn’t the best and his 4 weeks without riding was starting to show, his fitness although to the outsider, looked great with a second place finish, to those who watch him race all year, knew all wasn’t right.
Race 5 Luke took a 14 point lead in front of Luke Nixon and Ryan Lancaster, all that was needed was an 8th place or better, just to add some excitement to the race, while he was overtaking into 2nd, the Honda decided to start making grinding noises, to preserve the bike and finish the race, Luke evaluated the situation and decided to slow it up a little and sit in third place with his long time racing nemesis Mitch VanVliet. Everyone watched and listened and saw that the bike and Luke were stressed that the chequers couldn’t come soon enough, but it did, with a great sigh of relief from the whole WA Crew in the Gaisford camp, Luke pumped the air and took his first Pro Open Quad Championship win. Family and friends and riders congratulated the youngster while it was evident now, the bike was in great disrepair.
Sister Simone Gaisford was 2nd in the Womens Championship
The Western Australian Quad Rider’s dominated the Race Meet taking 6 Australian Championship Titles.
To everyone who helped Luke to get to this wonderful point in his life, the Gaisford family thankyou all for your continued support and friendship, whether it was with sponsorship, or letting Luke train on your bikes, borrowing Parts, words of support, being a riding training partner, a running partner or cycling partner, and to you Luke for all those Many times when you were out alone doing all the hard work in the cold when no one else wanted to brave the weather, buddy you deserve your win, you worked hard, trained hard and went to the Nationals with hopes that a 4 week break wouldn’t cost you what you trained so hard from December 2010 to achieve 10 months later.
People may not have seen you at your best, but you won the Title.
Your a true champion, with your never give up attitude and a will to win that shines out for all to see.
Luke Gaisford the 2011 Australian Pro Open Quad Champion.
STEVE CHITTENDON
ROAD RACING
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