In the footsteps of May 1, 2009
Weekly overview of motorsports from around the world.
RYAN Briscoe dropped to second in the IndyCar Championship race after finishing in fourth place behind defending champion Scott Dixon at Kansas Speedway last weekend. Briscoe led over 50 laps in his Team Penske driver and managed to improve his starting position by three positions.
CHAD Reed is set to win the AMA and World Supercross Grand Finals in Las Vegas this weekend for a chance to beat James Stewart for the crown after a controversial second-place finish last weekend in Salt Lake City. Teammate Stewart strongly resisted Reid as they battled for first place in the penultimate round of the series, although the Australian refused to blame the incident on yet another second-place finish to Stewart in his Rockstar Suzuki.
Casey Stoner was only fourth in his Ducati as Jorge Lorenzo took a surprise victory for Yamaha at the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi. Lorenzo brought home Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa from Honda.
Sebastian Loeb and Daniel Elana extended their unbeaten streak in this year's World Rally Championship to five races when they took an easy victory in Argentina last weekend, with Citroen C4 teammate Dany Sordo following them home. Loeb's job was made much easier when his only potential competitor, Ford's Mikko Hirvonen, retired with an engine problem.
JAMES Davison finished where he started in the last race of the Indy Lights series in the USA. He qualified eighth and was in the same spot at the finish of the oval race at Kansas Speedway.
CHRIS Atkinson will return to the rally car over the weekend of May 8-10 when he drives a Subaru at the Queensland Rally. But that's not what the World Rally Championship refugee really wants, as he will only be a track car for his home round of this year's Australian Championship, which is currently being driven by title holder Neil Bates in his Corolla.
WARREN Luff is back with Dick Johnson for this year's V8 Supercar enduro race. The former Queensland player re-signed to race Jim Beam Racing at Phillip and Bathurst Islands, with Jonathan Webber finishing last on the endurance team alongside James Courtney and Steven Johnson.
JOEY Foster extended his lead in the Australian Formula Three Championship when the Shannons Nationals classes competed at Wakefield Park in New South Wales over the weekend. The last English raider did his job despite being beaten by 3 champion Tim McCrow, while Harry Holt and Adam Wallis were also on the list of winners in the Australian Manufacturers' Championship and the V2007 Touring Car Series.
TALENTED young co-driver Rhiannon Smith has had great success by taking part in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship this year. Smith, who has done most of her work alongside her brother Brendan Reeves in the Australian series, has been selected by Emma Gilmour as her partner in the Subaru WRX STi for this year's Asia Pacific season starting at the Queensland Rally next week.
