Todd Kelly

Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Todd and Rick Kelly are conscious that preserving their soft tyres will be the key to success at the Ipswich 300 at Queensland Raceway this weekend. This weekend will see Dunlop's softer 'option' tyre used as the only tyre used for racing for the first time in V8 Supercar history.

Racing drivers by instinct want to extract every ounce of pace out of there machines but with the softer compound tyres having both higher grip levels and higher wear rates, drivers will need to conserve their rubber if they want to be competitive over the entire race distance.

While lap records are expected to tumble this weekend, the Kelly brothers say that drivers will have to hold back their enthusiasm to ensure that they do not wear out their softer rubber too quickly, leaving them to flounder to the finish while those with a more conservative approach benefit.

Hi All,

I finally got half a day off on Anzac day to go for a decent ride on my new KLX450.

Brain Hands from 'Hands On Kawasaki' in Lilydale organized the ride with a few of the crew from Kawasaki.

We started off in Warburton and rode up into the mountains. There was quite a lot of rain over the weekend which made the tracks extremely muddy and slippery.

I have been riding bikes since I was only 2 ½ years old up on the farm in Mildura however my bush riding skills didn't prepare me for riding in the mountains on wet clay.

After the first 2 minutes we arrived at a massive hill that was wet and slippery with guys stuck on either side all the way up it trying to restart their bikes. As I was barely warmed up I decided to give that one a miss and ride around it.

The main aim for the day was to get out the other end with a straight bike and with me still in one piece as I had only 2 days until I was on a plane to our QLD round.

We rode through the mountains from Warburton to a place called Reefton and along the way endured some really challenging riding up and down hills, through deep ruts and mud puddles up to waist height.

Somehow I got all the way to Reefton without dropping my new bike which I was rapped with.

After a bite and beverage at Reefton, myself and Brian left the group and cruised back along the highway to top off a great day. I only wish I had more time for enjoyable rides like that one. It's great to get out and ride a nice bike like mine and a great opportunity to experience and enjoy nature and the mountains that are so close to Melbourne.

Todd Kelly

To view photos from the ride click here

Jack Daniel's Racing has finished with both its Commodores in the top 10 in the final race of the ITM 400 in Hamilton, New Zealand today.

Rick Kelly made it two top 10 finishes for the weekend with sixth place in today's 59-lap race, with older brother Todd Kelly not far behind in eighth place.

But it could have been even better for both drivers, with an equipment failure in pit lane costing both precious time at the final round of pit stops.

This result is the first time that both Jack Daniel's Racing Commodores have finished in the top 10 this season and the first time since the Saturday race in Perth last November that both Todd and Rick have scored a top 10 in the same race.

Today also marked the first time that Kelly Racing has had three cars finish in the top 10 with Jason Bargwanna coming home in ninth place today.
Rick Kelly remains in seventh place in the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series points standings after eight races, just four points outside the top five. Todd Kelly sits in 20th place.

To view images from the weekend click here

Jack Daniel's Racing driver Rick Kelly has driven consistenly to finish eighth in the opening race of the ITM 400 at the Hamilton street circuit in Hamilton, New Zealand today. It was a relatively uneventful race for Kelly, who is keen to improve the car speed of his #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore so that he can pursue a podium finish in Sunday's race.

It was Rick Kelly's sixth top 10 finish from seven races so far this season, meaning he maintains seventh place in the championship standings.

Rick qualified in seventh position for today's race, his third top 10 qualifying effort for the season (not including qualifying fourth at the non-championship Australian Grand Prix event two weeks ago).

Jack Daniel's Racing team-mate Todd Kelly showed strong car speed in his #7 Jack Daniels' Racing Holden Commodore today but luck was not on his side around the 3.4-kilometre street circuit.

Jack Daniel's Racing team-mates Todd and Rick Kelly have gained confidence for this weekend's ITM 400 after practice at the Hamilton street circuit in New Zealand today. Rick Kelly set the 12th fastest time of the day aboard his #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore, while brother Todd Kelly was 15th fastest overall.

But both drivers opted not to run new tyres in the final stages of today's practice session, deciding to save as many sets of new 'greens' for this weekend's two qualifying sessions and 59 lap races.

Indeed, Rick Kelly sat second fastest on the timesheets for the majority of the fourth and final practice session of the day, but slipped down the order as others fitted new rubber.

Garth Tander set the fastest time in practice for the ITM 400 in Hamilton today ahead of Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen.

Jack Daniel's Racing team-mates Todd and Rick Kelly have both showed impressive pace to roar up the order in the final race of the BRC IMPCO Challenge at the Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Victoria today. Todd Kelly started from the rear of the grid at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit following brake problems in yesterday's race, but showed great speed aboard the #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore to race through the pack to finish in 10th position.

Rick Kelly was hit from behind and spun in a hectic first corner at the start of today's race, but recoverd to emulate his brother's performance and charge back through the field to finish in 13th position.

The pace showed by both Jack Daniel's Commodores is an impressive sign ahead of the fourth event of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, the ITM Hamilton 400 in Hamilton, New Zealand on April 16-18.