South Australian Ryan Alexander wins National Modlite Title at Broome Speedway by mere seconds

South Australian Ryan Alexander won the 2022 MG Tyres Bridgestone National Modlite Title at Broome Speedway over the weekend.

It was a glorious win for Alexander after coming from 10th place in the main event to take first place on the podium, defeating Rob Kirk in second place by 2.23sec. to become the new Australian Modlite Champion.

Broome local Tom Oliver came in fifth place just behind South Australian Dylan Ritcher in fourth and fellow Broome resident Brent Halliday in third.

This year marks the first time the Australian National Modlite Title has been held in Broome and WA with 20 competitors hitting the track on the final night.

Nineteen competitors faced each other on the starting line in the main event with Queenslander Klinton Hancey, who made light work of his final two heat races, taking the early lead.

Halliday quickly moved into second place taking over Zac Minshull’s spot in the pack.

Multiple stoppages due to spun-out cars plagued the first 10 laps of the race with Minshull spinning on lap five while in fourth, causing a stoppage.

Hancey was the favourite to win, controlling the race until smoke began to billow from his engine bay on lap 15, causing him not to finish in what was a cruel twist of fate for the 2018 national champion.

Halliday took the opportunity and shot into the lead but was soon under pressure from Alexander who had come from position 10 to challenge Halliday for the lead.

Halliday just held on to the lead as Alexander continued to harass at his tail.

Then Halliday took a spin on turn one of the track, handing the lead to Alexander with Kirk hot on his heels, inheriting second place.

Alexander made the most of Halliday’s slip-up and accelerated in to first position, keeping the lead until he crossed the finish line just seconds in front of runner-up Kirk.

Alexander was emotional after the win, thanking his family and supporters after doing a last-minute engine change overnight.

Multiple drivers rolled their racers over the weekend but fortunately all walked away injury-free.

Hancey had the fastest lap time over the two-day event, completing the track in 19.134sec.