Broome’s Jorj Park claims second-place finish in WA production sedan title after gruelling Narrogin final

Broome’s Jorj Park has come away with a second-place finish from the WA Production Sedan Title after a gruelling feature race final at Narrogin Speedway on January 24. But it was Busselton speedway star Kyle Sayer who took the first-place finish, joining elite company with a third WA Production Sedan Title victory. In a calm and calculated drive, Sayer edged out Park in the gruelling 40-lap championship final to successfully defend his WA title. Sayer is quickly becoming one of the best production sedan drivers in history with his third WA crown putting him among the greats. The triumph was his third WA crown in five seasons, levelling up with Katanning-raised hard-charger Kye Blight who also has three State titles to his name in the class. Sayer sits behind Katanning’s Darren Blight (four victories) and Albany’s Ron Belfield (five) in WA production sedan history. A dual national champion in the class, Sayer used all his experience to get underneath Park with four laps to run in an absorbing battle. Undefeated though the qualifying heats and driving his brother Kye’s rocket No.61 machine, Jake Blight started the A-main on pole position alongside Josh Fraser. However both fancies succumbed to flat tyres, their title hopes heartbreakingly finishing on the infield as it was left to Sayer and Park to fight it out. Fraser led the opening lap before Jake Blight regained control until the first caution on lap four for a multi-car pile-up that eliminated Barry Rose, Josh Major and Mason Fenner. Jamie Graham was the next to retire and on the resulting restart, Park picked off Fraser for second place. Drama stuck for Fraser on lap six and then Kane McDiarmid, who was inside the top six, also endured a flat on lap eight, leaving Jake Blight, Park and Sayer well clear at the front. The top three widened the gap to the chasing pack before another stoppage when Dean Davidson and Hamish Macalpine came together. Park moved underneath Jake Blight shortly after the race resumed and Sayer followed him through as lap 17 was complete before Jake Blight snatched back second place on the following lap. The devastation came on lap 20 as Jake Blight retired to the infield with that flat, ruining his hope of a maiden title just over an hour from his hometown. As the laps went by Sayer closed the gap on Park, pulling alongside the young star with six laps to run and then slipping underneath. The move was short-lived though, a crash further back in the field bringing on the yellow lights and sending the field back to the last recorded lap – handing Park a reprieve. Park hugged the pole line after the restart but Sayer was too good, getting underneath him and taking the lead with four laps to run. Sayer pulled away to claim victory by 3.166secs on the line ahead of a brave Park, who had tyre woes in the concluding stages. Jamie Higgs produced a strong drive to finish third while the hard-charger of the final was Albany’s Aydan Trewern. Trewern finish fourth, winning the B-main to transfer into the big show and start from position 18 before advancing 14 positions to grab the final spot on the podium. Macalpine was fifth ahead of Rickie Nuccini while Davidson, who also progressed from the B-main, Nuno Mendes, Josh Stewart and Kelsey Beard rounded out the cars to finish the journey. Of the 22 starters, only 10 finished the full 40 laps with Jake Blight setting the fastest lap of the race. Jake Blight and Fraser were tied on points after night one of the title, both going through their first three heat races undefeated. McDiarmid claimed the Ian Beard Best Presented Car Award. It was a successful weekend for Narrogin Speedway Club, hosting the blue ribbon event for the first time in 13 years and attracting a 42-car field. Narrogin had four local members competing in the title, Hanna Stewart, Brody Day, David Merini and Grant Cross. Day was sixth across the line in B-main 2 and in B-main 1 Cross finished seventh and Stewart retired after 14 laps. Katanning’s Cody Blight and Merini were among five withdrawals from the event ahead of the final night of racing.