MOTORSPORT - Lobb's wins set up mouthwatering finale

Whangarei driver Caine "The Ginja Ninja" Lobb stormed to within one point of championship leader Matthew Lockwood by winning three of the four races in the penultimate round of the 2008-9 ENZED V8 Ute Series at the Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.
Lockwood has led the championship since the first round of the series in November but Lobb has made huge inroads in the last two weeks, winning all four races at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch last weekend before winning three of the four on offer at Timaru.
As a result of his late season burst, he will arrive at the final round of the series at Teretonga Park next weekend with 669 points while Lockwood will begin the round with 670 points.
Lobb won Saturday's race, the first of the round, in his Mark Cromie Holden from Simon Beirne in the Team McDonald's Falcon after a great dice all the way to the flag.
The pace was on as Lobb broke the lap record early in the race before Beirne lowered it further. On Sunday morning, Mack Peach won the second race in The Barn Company Holden. Peach led across the line from Lobb and Lockwood, in his H20 Sola Holden. Christchurch's Frank Van Shaijik had led for most of the race in his John Jones Steel Holden only to be turned around near the end of the race. Beirne lowered his lap record during the contest and ended the race in fourth place. The top six was rounded out by James "Huggi" Urquhart and Mike Pero.
Lobb came back to win the third race of the round although he took a long time to get past Matthew Lockwood who finished second. Beirne took third after an awesome battle with Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin in the BP2GO Falcon. Peach was fifth, followed by Peter "Rocketman" Robb of Wanganui. Pero struck problems during the race while Van Shaijik was hit by "Huggi" Urquhart at the hairpin while sideways across the track. The incident ended his race.
Lobb also won the final race, leading home Beirne, Lockwood, Peach and Paterson. Lobb said his Timaru victories were not as easy as those at Ruapuna last week.
"I had to be a little defensive but it was good clean racing."
Meanwhile Lockwood said he struggled for pace saying it was partly down to him not driving as well as he could and partly down to the older VU Holden.
Kiwi international driver Chris Pither did not make his much anticipated appearance at this round when engine parts did not arrive in time for his Cairns Bins Falcon. He should be on the grid for next weekend's racing.
The evenly poised series now moves to Teretonga Park in Invercargill for the final showdown.