Blight stands on top after night one

Katanning speedway driver Kye Blight is the top point scorer after night one of the Australian Late Model Championship at the Perth Motorplex on Wednesday.

Blight headed into the national title full of confidence after he claimed a second consecutive feature race win on Boxing Day.

The national title began on Wednesday at the Perth Motorplex with 40 entries, including five Americans, and the venue was where Blight has tasted success at his past two outings.

Blight was the quickest driver in qualifying, won a heat race and then prevailed in the 30-lap feature race to claim round eight of the Pro Dirt Series and the Christmas Cup in the process on December 26.

That result has Blight in top form heading into the two-night national title as he attempts to win his first Australian crown in a late model sedan.

In night one of the national title Blight was the quickest driver in flight one of qualifying and then sizzled to victory in heat 1.

He stormed through the field in his second heat to finish third and start preliminary feature 1 from the front row.

Blight downed Craig Vosbergen by 1.017 seconds in the 20-lap final, one of two preliminary features held on night one.

As a result Blight is the top point scorer with 135 heading into the final night on Saturday.

Blight, who turned 27 on Monday, said he was very excited to be taking on the best drivers from Australia and the US at the national title.

“Any time you get to race twice in a week is awesome, but being the biggest race of the Australian year, it really amps me up,” Blight said.

“The reason I race is to compete in these big shows. I love this time of year.

“We unload every week with the aim to be on the podium.

“It’s the best way to give exposure to our partners and if you keep up the pointy end of the field, the wins will come.

“This week is no different be smart, stay out of trouble and be there at the end, hopefully up front.”

The final night of the championship will be held on Saturday with one remaining heat race, a top six pole pursuit race and then a B-main and A-main.

The A-main consisting of 24 cars will be held over 40 laps.

Blight said it was such a talented field he will compete against but felt confident in his machine.

“We threw a lot of new ideas at the car for Boxing Day and I was very happy with our car,” he said.

“There is one small area I’m trying to improve on, but I would be a fool to stray too far away from where we had the car coming into the biggest race of the year, given how our last couple of shows have been. It’ll be the toughest event for a while, everyone has great equipment, driving well and making good calls on set-up.

“Guys like Tyler Erb and Joe Godsey who do this for a living will be super hard to beat but the Aussies like (Craig) Vosbergen, (Paul) Stubber, (Warren and Jamie) Oldfield, (Kodee) Brown etc all know how to win big races.

“I’m just excited to be a part of it and put on a show.”