Wednesday April 29, 2015 at 1:40pm
AC Racing (Greg Allsop/Richard Charlton) won round two of the ACU/Towergate National 1000 championship at Cadwell Park to open up a 12 point lead in the series over T. Watson Bikes (Rick Dickinson/Tom Stephens) going into round three at Pembrey on May 2nd and 3rd.
It was a good result for AC Racing, a brand new team for the 2015 series, who were fourth home in the opening round.
T. Watson Bikes were also delighted to be among the front runners, running the same lap as the winners at the chequered flag, because of an on-going ignition problem on Dickinson’s big Kawasaki that was only solved shortly before the race.
T. Watson Bikes could prove to be an even bigger threat to the opposition here at Pembrey, with Tom Stephens out on a brand new Kawasaki ZXR10R.
Another new team, Fast Past Pits, was second overall, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Towergate National 600 class.
With the team absent because both Matt and Harry Truelove are racing elsewhere, the opposition, headed by Team Army 2 (Wayne Morgan/Richard Spencer-Fleet), will be keen to close their 17 point advantage.
Sorrymate.com would love to make up ground. Third in the standings, 25 points down on the leaders, the team are struggling with injuries.
Colin Norris suffered a broken collarbone at the last round at Cadwell Park and team mate, Warren Verweh, is slowly recovering from a high-speed crash at Craner Curves, Donington Park that put him into hospital.
Norris is far from certain he will be fit enough for a three-hour race and even if he is, not sure he can find anyone to race with him?
An added exciting ingredient for the meeting is the debut Endurance appearance of the Parish brothers, Jim and Chris on their 600s.
First Clubman 1000 team over the line at Cadwell Park, was Tech 5 Racing (Nick Ford/Matt Stevens), taking their season’s tally to 45, four more than their closest rivals, Team Army 1 (Peter Brown/Laurence Williams).
Liquidskinz Hydrographic (Stuart Fitton/Martin Tromans) won the Towergate Clubman 600 class in round two to maintain their unbeaten record.
They are now 19 points ahead of Mild Hogs Racing (David Ball/Patrick Hurst).
Team Big Lads (Joe Connolly/Bob Barton) were first Modern Classics home in Lincolnshire.
That win keeps TBL top of the Modern Classic class, ten points in front of yet another new squad in the series, GRS Racing (Karl Smith/Glen Rixon).
Go Racing Developments (Andy Carpenter/James McBride) are hoping for a change of luck this weekend.
At Brands they started from pit lane waiting to see if it was going to rain.
Then McBride collided with a slower rider at Druids, losing the team 19 laps. They battled on to finish ninth in the big class.
At Cadwell they were forced to use just one bike, when McBride’s machine had front fork problems.
A faulty petrol cap resulted in McBride being showered with fuel, costing them more time, finishing tenth overall.
For a pre-season favourite for the ACU/Towergate National title they hope it will be third time lucky at Pembrey.
Two more of the big teams who are aiming for that championship, will be out to bag a hat full of points in Wales.
Seton Tuning (Mark Clark/Andy Goddard) are 27 points down on the leaders.
Team Edge RST 2 return to action with team owner Nick Edgeley and Jonny Towers who are 22 points adrift of top spot.
Top Clubmans 1000 Rookie team are G&M Racing (Robin Green/Mark McIndoe), on a maximum 50 points.
Team Army 4 (Andrew Day/Leon Wilson) heads the Clubman 600 Rookies. They are on 50 points, ten ahead of Grit Racing (Kate Mustill/Ian Jack)
With 100 points available to be won in every round and a rider’s top nine scores out of ten to count, the sprint class champions could well be on 600 points or more by the end of the year.
That is why the early leaders have no cause to start celebrating yet.
Practice starts at 9.0am on the Saturday with racing underway at 11.0am.Warm-up gets started at 9.0am on Sunday, with first race at 10.40am.
Adult admission is £12 per day, with accompanied children under 14, free.