Yokohama/ACU British FII Sidecar Championship

Double and tops for Holden and Winkle History repeated itself at Cadwell Park in the third round of the Yokohama/ACU sponsored FII Sidecar Championship when John Holden and Andy Winkle (D&A Walmsley LCR Suzuki) scored a memorable double victory, just as they did in the corresponding meeting last year.

As a result they moved from 6th in the championship table to leading it, by a clear five points from Ben and Tom Birchall (Mitchells of Mansfield LCR Honda). Birchall had been fastest in qualifying from Holden with Gary Bryan and Robert Bell (Drury Engineering Baker Yamaha) and Nick Crowe and Mark Cox (Dave Hudspeth Carpets/HM Plant LCR Honda) on the second row of a full grid. Holden led from the start with Birchall and Crowe tucked in behind, with Simon Neary and Stu Bond (Neary Racing Baker Suzuki) and Roy Hanks and Dave Wells (Dorwingear Ltd Molyneux Suzuki) next up having edged ahead of Bryan.

Birchall took Holden through Coppice on lap two and opened up a gap on the chasing Holden and Crowe. When Crowe retired on lap four with oil pressure concerns, Birchall upped the pace and with a record lap on the fifth circuit, now led Holden by nearly five seconds with Neary, Hanks and Bryan still battling it out for third. Phil Dongworth and Gary Partridge (WAS Racing Ireson Honda) were sixth ahead of the leading FII Cup competitor, Wil Smith (Team Porter Racing Shelbourne Honda) who had elder brother Andy in the chair in place of injured Sean Starbuck.

Birchall looked set for victory but on lap seven with a misfire increasingly causing problems, they went off at Chris Curve and by the time they regained the track, Holden was through and over four seconds clear. Neary remained third but was under pressure from Bryan while Hanks in fifth had the charging Andy Laidlow and James Neave (Team LFR LCR Suzuki) for company, Smith having retired with fuel pump problems on lap nine. Holden took the victory by 4.1 seconds from Birchall, Neary holding on to third but Laidlow gained fifth place on the last lap.

The FII Cup honours went to Dean Henry and Ian Smith (Magnam Racing Windle Suzuki) who extended their lead over Stephen Kershaw and Robin Wilson (Blinkbonny Quarry LCR Suzuki). Holden and Winkle secured the double with an ultimately comfortable victory in the second race on Monday. They led in the opening stages from Crowe and Birchall but on the third lap, Birchall went off at Barn. Holden and Crowe had a tremendous battle swapping the lead and paintwork but that came to an end on lap eight when handlebar grip problems caused Crowe's retirement.

This elevated Bryan to second spot, narrowly ahead of Neary. Holden cruised to a 3.13 second victory with Bryan and Bell a delighted second – their best ever championship result. Neary and Bond secured another podium having survived a practice prang as well as Bond's visor coming loose during the second race. A superb five-outfit battle for fourth entertained the spectators with Dongworth and Steve Coombes and Paul Knapton (Dave Hudspeth Carpets Ireson Honda) finally edging clear of Smith, Laidlow and Ian and Carl Bell (Ian Bell M/cs LCR Yamaha). Henry and Kershaw completed the top ten and these two also took the remaining podium places in the FII Cup section.

With half of the championship having taken place in a frantic five week period, Holden now leads on 94 with Birchall second on 89, then Neary 75, Crowe 70 Dongworth 68 and Coombes 64. In the FII Cup, Henry leads with 140 , Kershaw 112 with Dean Lindley and Mark Sayers (Motorcycle Parts Leeds Bellas Yamaha) third on 74 and Dave Atkinson and Jane Wheatcroft (DW Atkinson Buliders LCR Suzuki) now fourth on 58.

RESULTS: Race One, 12 Laps, 26.04 miles.

1. John Holden/Andy Winkle (Suzuki) 20m 2.03s, 78.35mph.

2. Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall (Honda)

3. Simon Neary/Stu Bond (Suzuki)

4. Gary Bryan/Robert Bell (Yamaha)

5. Andy Laidlow/James Neave (Suzuki)

6. Roy Hanks/Dave Wells (Suzuki)

7. Phil Dongworth/Gary Partridge (Honda)

8. Ian Bell/Carl Bell (Yamaha)

9. Conrad Harrison/Lee Patterson (Honda)

10. Steve Coombes/Paul Knapton (Honda)

FL: Birchall/Birchall 1m 38.36s 79.79 mph (Record).

Race Two, 12 Laps, 26.04 miles.

1. Holden, 20m 7.81 s, 77.97mph.

2. Bryan

3. Neary

4. Dongworth

5. Coombes

6. Wil Smith/Andy Smith(Honda)

7. Laidlow

8. Bell

9. Dean Henry/Ian Smith (Suzuki)

10. Stephen Kershaw/Robin Wilson (Suzuki)

FL: Birchall/Birchall 1m 38.98s, 79.29mph.

Download the report here

2009 YOKOHAMA/ACU BRITISH FII SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIP

2009 YOKOHAMA/ACU BRITISH FII SIDECAR CUP