Agree with this, and mike's earlier comment. What is banned is drafting off another grade. Taking advantage of a split caused by the proximity of another grade on the last lap is not (to my mind) cheating, as long as you don't draft off the other grade. As previously stated I wasn't there and like others I will look out with interest for this footage.Row-D wrote:In response the the commentary on the D grade finish at Eastern Creek on Sunday, I was in the A grade bunch and am mates with the winner of D grade so I'll add my two cents worth.
I totally agree that A grade should have been over to the right of the straight allowing D grade a clear run at the finish line. However, with the size of the A grade bunch most of us had no idea D grade was on their finish lap. That said, as I saw it there was no drafting going on and towards the end there was a fair bit of shouting for A grade to get out of the way.
Finally, it is a bit unfair to label the D grade winner a burglar. He didn't rock up and put himself in D grade for this race. He has been in the grade for the entire season and before Sunday had won only one race. The Waratahs (like most clubs) have a system in place to promote riders up to the next grade when they are ready and that does not kick in after a single win.
And Waratahs system for tracking burglars is better than most - at races run by other clubs (at least till they get to know you) you can usually rock up and tell them which grade you will ride. At Waratahs, the first time you turn up they ask where else you race and what grade. They then put you up a grade from whatever you race at (in my case) Beaumont.