Diabolical conditions pushed riders to the ragged edge in the 2020 Master of Mac Park feature race, which was swept up by Arthur Sissis.
With puddles strewn across the slippery 2.4km circuit, the class of Sissis was evident for all to see after a fierce battle with 2019 winner William Strugnell.
Starting from pole position Sissis led into the first corner from Strugnell, Ty Lynch, Evan Byles and Dallas Skeer as the 21-rider field battled for track position.
However, by the completion of the second lap Strugnell snatched the lead, while Skeer jumped up two positions into third place after Lynch was forced to retire early.
The fight for first was intense with Sissis all over the back of Strugnell.
Eventually the pressure was too much for the defending champion and Sissis got the job done with a dive down the inside at the tight left-handed turn one on the fifth lap.
Strugnell had no response for his rival and it did not take long for Sissis to establish a handy lead to his nearest rival.
In the space of five laps the lead grew to almost eight seconds, while Skeer settled comfortably into third position.
As the race wore on it took its toll on the machinery and seven riders were forced to pull off and retire.
Meanwhile Sissis experienced no dramas and cruised past the chequered flag to secure his second Master of Mac Park victory in three years.
Strugnell was the runner-up five seconds behind ahead of the fast-finishing Skeer, who rode a mature race and trimmed the gap from nine to under two seconds.
Alex Phillips-Hughes ensured the top four positions were all Suzuki riders, while Graham Snaith edged ahead of Byles to take fifth.
All riders impressed in the challenging conditions with not one incident during the potentially dangerous 15 laps.
Sissis was satisfied after the win in his first motorbike race since February and his maiden experience of a wet McNamara Park.
He said he enjoyed the ride to victory on a circuit he loves despite a late- race scare.
“It was nice to get the win,” Sissis said.
“I reckon this is one of the best tracks in Australia and it is good fun to ride.
“My visor fogged up with maybe six laps to go and I could not see anything.
“But luckily I had the lead that I built other wise I would’ve been stuck.”
The opening laps were also full of nerves with Sissis and Strugnell battling side by side, but the former Moto3 podium finisher prevailed and said it helped him find the racing line amid the spray.
“I was a bit slow in the first few laps and broke a little bit too late at the first corner and there were puddles there, so I didn’t want to turn in and Will went past me,” Sissis said.
“But once I saw where Will was going, I thought I could pick up the pace, overtake him and go.”
The Master of Mac Park consolation race was led from start to finish by John Chiodi, while there was an upset in the Sidecars event.
Chasing a hat-trick of wins, Stephen and David Jones found trouble and were forced to retire with mechanical issues, while Mark Schuppan and Rebecca Boggiano claimed a crushing victory.
