As the 250 National Championship headed for the stunning Anglesey venue for the first time ever, no one predicted that events across the weekend would see title favorites Mark Davies and Jason Davis leave North Wales on exactly the same points in the series – with only one round to go!
Official testing was included on Friday to help with familiarization of the beautiful yet technical Coastal track. As always the drama started early for the 250GP competitors as title hopeful Mark Davies tangled with another rider on the fastest part of the circuit, on only his second lap, dislocating his shoulder in the high speed, awkward tumble.
As Yorkshireman Davies headed to hospital for Xrays, the general word around the paddock was the title chase was over in favor of series leader Jason Davis.
As timed qualifying got underway on Saturday morning, gritty Yorkshireman Davies passed a medical examination and took to the circuit along with the other 43 250GP machines, making this the largest 250 grid the National Championship has ever seen… Not bad considering the country is gripped by recession, August is the traditional holiday month, and Anglesey was the penultimate round of the series!
Jason Davis put his Yamaha on pole position but it took almost the entire session for the Chester ace to top the charts. Remarkably Mark Davies was quickest for almost 10 minutes, before being topped by Chris McAloran with 3 minutes to go, and eventually Davis’ pole lap was set with just 1 minute left.
Guernsey’s Andy Mecham completed the front row on his RS Honda, and is almost certainly the most improved rider of the year as he finds speed following his early season injuries. NG Cup Championship leader Dave Hampton was 14th fastest and the pick of the Cup qualifiers. Andrew Sawford suffered as he opted to stay on wets for the duration despite a drying track. He qualified in 9th as the leader board was stuffed full of Irish National Championship regulars such as Ronan Shanahan, Gavin Clark, John Ella, David Craig plus many others. NG Cup regular Paul McCullagh was a victim of the changing conditions as he wrecked his Amethyst TZ Yamaha in a high speed tumble. With significant front end damage, Paul’s weekend was over.
Saturday’s 13 lap encounter started got under way in dry conditions, with Mark “Dogs” Davies heading the 40 strong field away, chased by Jason Davis, Andy Mecham, Newark’s Rich Grinling, Ant Hodson and Irishmen Chris McAloran and Ronan Shanahan keeping the action – just a little frantic. The unmistakable St Neot’s Motorcycles TZ of Andrew Sawford was charging hard in an attempt to keep the leaders in sight and his title hope alive, but that changed at the end of the 3rd lap.
Exiting the final left hander to cross the line, Sawford’s day ended with a massive highside, effectively ending his title hopes. Although Andrew appeared uninjured, he knew he had been on the receiving end of a very big crash.
By lap 3 the BM Groundworks TZ of Jason Davis has eased ahead of a very uncomfortable Mark Davies, still suffering the effects of his Friday morning crash. Next up was the very determined Honda’s of Chris McAloran and Andy Mecham. Ant Hodson’s MDJ Racing TSM Yamaha had a strong race picking off the Murphy Plastering Honda of Ronan Shanahan on lap 8. One of the rides of the day was by Alex Kenchington who sat in 23rd at the end of lap 1, and made his way up to and incredible 8th by lap 8.
At the flag, Jason Davis was a worthy winner and extended his title lead to a massive 25 points over second place man Mark Davies, who was equally delighted with the damage limitation exercise considering his predicament and injuries just 24 hours earlier. Chris McAloran completed the podium with Mecham a creditable 4th, Ant Hodson 5th, Rich Grinling 6th Shanahan 7th and Kenchington’s Dennis Trollop Racing TZ in a superb and exhausting 8th, his first race since picking up injuries in May in a qualifying tumble at Snetterton.. The TSR Honda of Mark Kelly and a great ride from Paul Hedison completed the top 10.
Southampton’s Dave Hampton continued his winning run with another NG Cup victory over Jonathan Stamper, with Irishman Jonathan Murphy in 3rd. Dan Jackson had a solid ride from 26th on lap 1 to pick off some big names eventually picking up 13th at the flag, and the Dunlop Performance of the Day Award and a free rear tyre for his efforts.
As Sunday dawned over the Anglesey venue, the penultimate round of the 2009 250GP ACU National Championship & NG Cup was to go early in the afternoon. The math’s told the story - all Jason Davis had to do was lead Mark Davies home, and the title was secure, with only Oulton Park remaining. Given Mark Davies injuries, Jason Davis’ stunning form, and his pole position, most bookies had stopped taking bets !
As the awesome sight and sound of 40 250 GP machines were called to the grid for the photo shoot, and the start, little did the onlookers, teams and fans know that the series was about to be royally turned on it’s head!
The Championship was possibly just 30 minutes from being handed to Chester’s Jason Davis following a year long battle with Mark Davies and Andrew Sawford, among others – but as the grid came under orders, Davis took off from pole position before the lights had gone out, gaining him an instant 10 second penalty. The rest held their nerve and no one moved until the lights went out.
Davis’ aggressive first lap proved he knew he had to win by over 10 seconds to take the title, and as he came to the end of the lap the gap was almost 2 seconds. But, in a repeat of the Sawford crash the previous day, the TZ was not able to cope with the slight adverse camber of the final left hander and without warning Davis was airborne from another crunching highside – but the title race was back on!
On lap 4 Mark Davies’ took the lead and set about concentrating on a race tactic that would keep him just ahead on the road, without risking further injury. Andrew Sawford was the fly in the ointment though. The lap charts showed he was the fastest man on circuit although his 10th position on lap 1 was perhaps a gap too far. 2007 Irish National Champ McAloran was enjoying his best weekend of the series so far in second, before Sawford charged past on lap 12, in his hunt for Davies. Ant Hodson was having another great race, catching and passing Andy Mecham mid race for 4th.
After 20 grueling laps, Mark Davies had done enough to hold off Sawford in second, McAloran’s Honda in 3rd, Hodson 4th, Andy Mecham 5th, Ronan Shanahan 6th, Rich Grinling in 7th, Kenchington 8th, Another Irish charger David Craig 9th and a delighted Mark Linton in 10th, who is also finding late season form following a mid term injury.
The Dunlop Performance of the Day Award was handed to Mark Davies immediately after the race. His diary for the weekend will read “ Friday, hospital with a dislocated shoulder, Saturday second position, Sunday, a win to draw equal on points with his season long rival Jason Davis” – one for the grand children!
The NG Cup win was taken by Dave Hampton, who now leads the Championship by 25 points heading for the final round. The Graham File Tuning TZ of Jonathan Stamper was second and Adrian Martin’s J&RB Racing Honda was third.
Championship: Jason Davis 259: Mark Davies 259: Andrew Sawford 195: Ant Hodson 166: Rich Grinling 127: Chris McAloran 104: Tony Davies 96: Alex Kenchington 63: Daniel Jackson 62: Phil Guillou 54
Cup: Dave Hampton 257: Jonathan Stamper 232: Adrian Martin 181: Lou Goddard 138: Paul McCullagh 119: Richard Woollcott 107: Ross Willshire 100: Peter Keogh68: Peter Henry Cox 65: Sian Brooks 45
The series could not be poised better with only one round to go at Oulton Park on 19th September 2009. Both Championships are still up for grabs. Surely as Oulton is his home circuit, Jason Davis should start as favorite. But the normally inch perfect Chesterman showed signs of pressure at Anglesey, opening the door to Barnsley’s Mark Davies. If neither finish, it’s Jason’s title based on number of wins! In the Cup, all Hampton has to do is pick up one point and the title is his, over the luckless Jonathan Stamper who will know his Pembrey injury has cost him the title.