PORT Macquarie’s Michael Page is the Australian Formula two powerboat champion, after a strong performance on his home circuit yesterday.
Page took second place in both F2 races to win the title over a fast finishing Matt Smith and Malaysian driver Yando Kadri.
It was a great end to a mixed weekend, with windy conditions forcing the cancellation of Saturday’s racing.
It’s Page’s second championship victory, and he said, with the ups and downs of this season, it was “by far the sweetest”.
He described the 2012 season as a “rollercoaster”, after winning at Taree, then being disqualified.
“Then the disqualification was lifted, then I was disqualified again,” he said.
“I won at Grafton, then I had problems at Wagga.
“After all that, it’s the best thing that could happen.
A strong qualifying performance allowed Page to qualify second for the first race yesterday.
Ten boats were separated by just half a second.
“To come here and win against the strongest field, it’s great,” he said.
Page said others doubted his ability to finish off the season.
“They said ‘he’s too old, he can’t do it’,” he said.
“But there’s life in the old dog yet.
“I might come back and have another crack at it next year.”
Gold Coast driver Damien McKenzie took out the formula one class, with 4100 points.
Central Coast’s Gavin Simmons racked up 2533 to take second place, and Penrith’s Shane Vella came in third with 2019 points.