Image: Foremost Media.

A ‘wild’ final lap between Anthony West and Cameron Dunker in ASBK race one at Morgan Park saw the veteran Queenslander edge his teenage opponent for the final podium position on Sunday morning, the pair recalling the entertaining duel post-race.

Addicted to Track Yamaha-mounted West qualified P3 for the weekend, while Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha) started out of eighth, with the number three charging forward in the opening outing and subsequently linking up with West towards the latter stages of the 16-lap encounter.

Still just 17 years of age, Dunker made a move on West into P3 on lap 12 and began to give chase on Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati), but it was a gritty counter-attack from West that saw the pair involved in a tight exchange – one that 43-year-old West ultimately got the better of in the end.

“That was a pretty wild lap,” longtime international export West told CycleOnline. “Dunker was riding strong and a few places a bit erratic… I thought he was going to get Broc, because he was looking like making a move on him, and then both of them were just sort of like, not getting away, and I just didn’t think I had anything left.

“I knew all weekend that I’ve been strong in that [turn nine] area. I thought I could get him into turn 10, but then I saw the opportunity so, I’m like, ‘Maybe I just hold it on and don’t brake until he does into nine.’ I got him and I held my line pretty good – I didn’t go wide – but Dunker is pretty smart for a young guy and he shot back up the inside of me at 10.

“But he just ran wide,” West continued. “I was able to hold it, just got him back into 11 before the chicane. The front was tucking, and it was an on-the-limit move – I could have taken us both out! I know he’s quite an aggressive rider, but yeah, we didn’t touch each other.”

As for Dunker’s perspective, he felt that he and his YZF-R1 had the pace advantage over the front-runners in areas during race one, however couldn’t execute a pass inside the overtaking zones. This left him vulnerable to a relentless West, who made his final move count.

“Race one, I was very competitive,” reflected Dunker. “I got a good start, and I was there right to the end. I feel I had a better pace than the two guys in front of me, I was just sort of lacking a little bit in some of the areas where it’s key to overtake.

“And yeah, I got caught out in the end by Westy and sort of fought with him for third towards the end. He just got me to the line, but yeah, we had positives to take away from that – we were competitive and got a good start.”

West went on to finish fourth in race two to secure a popular second-consecutive podium overall and he comfortably sits third in points, while P6 in race two from Dunker placed him tied for fourth – fifth on countback – at the conclusion of the weekend. He has climbed to seventh in the championship.