Round three of GP Originals took our band of post-classic racing 250 and 350 two-stroke GP bikes to one of the UK's most iconic circuits, Donington Park. This was to be our last outing of the season with hosts NG Road Racing before we move camp to Wirral 100. With an all new super smooth and grippy surface for 2023 lap records were sure to fall.
Testing out the tarmac
Many of our riders had supported the NG Road Racing Friday test day with all our machines successfully making the noise levels required.
Our own dedicated scrutineers Reg and Jean were again allowed to check through our bikes and clothing directly, making the whole process stress free and super-efficient.
Setting the pace
With a fairly relaxed start we completed our warm-ups with some riders, even managing to get out in two sessions. Timed qualifying began just before lunchtime in pleasant conditions, over 15° and around 58% humidity.
Allspeed/Tenpin rider Scott Carson had suffered another test day disaster with a seizure that was caused by rubber debris blocking a main jet. Now rebuilt and ready to go, the young rider was on it straightaway. By the second lap of qualifying Scott Carson, Ant Hart and Jason Davis were already circulating in the 1:16s. At the end of the session, we saw that Phil Atkinson had upped the ante at 1:15.251, claiming the Motocarb Motopole 350 £50 reward. Davis was next up just 0.525 adrift and Carson only 0.189 away completing the front row.
Phil Stead posted an impressive 1:16.367 to pocket his Motocarb Motopole 250 fifty-pound notes. Steady's nearest Maxton Suspension supported 250 rival, Gary Vines, has his head firmly focused on the imminent TT. Despite this distraction Vines delivered 2nd fastest at 1:19.193 with the wily Nigel Palmer back in action on his Lat 1:19.595.
Our CBG Contractors' Master’s were headed up by the ever-present Nick Williamson at 1:18.348. Eddie Roberts' man, Dean Mitchell however was close with a 0.638-time difference.
250 stalwart Palmer rounded out the fastest three Masters.
Points make prizes.
Nine rows of our post-classic, two-strokes lined up for the first of three championship races.
Andrew Taylor had to try and cure some leaks following qualifying which served him another back row start. The capable rider would need to make some moves early on.
The pace was fierce from the off with Carson handing out his now expected lightening start. Ant Hart made an early lunge, loose and optimistic; his Avon tyres completing their third race day.The FW Developments' 250 of Phil Stead charged through the first and second laps in 2nd spot overall - lap two produced a new GP Originals 250 lap record at 1:16.378 and earning the Staffordshire Triumph 250cc Fastest Lap £50 reward.
Davis experienced a Hart-attack as he was shown the underside of Ant's rear tyre on the brakes. Davis recovered his composure to overhaul Hart and take 2nd behind Atkinson who had managed to build a 2-486 gap to safety. Davis posted the fastest lap of the race at 1:15.298.
Scott Carson felt his revs wane after such a good start and proceeded to battle it out for 4th spot with the smaller machine of Stead now in 5th and experiencing coil trouble. The TZ350 of Dan Jackson was in 6th and clear of
Silverstar /iHeat supported rider Chris Moore. Chris is another man with his focus on the TT and was recovering from a heavy Craner Club front ender in the earlier ACU 250 race.
0-432 back from Moore arrived RBM Industrial rider Nick Williamson. Again, the first of the over 55s followed by 250 mounted Master Mark Linton. Dean Mitchell eventually succumbed to the 250s on lap six to take third of the Masters.
250L Captain Linton earned his stripes by pipping Vines by a mere 0.099. Whilst chasing down Mitchell, Nigel Palmer claimed third 250 along the way. Close racing ensued between Roy Chapman, Sian Brooks, Darrell Higgins, Andrew Taylor, Andy Green and Mark Edge.
Higgins retired halfway as he was struggling to change gear promptly followed by Taylor, leaving a gang of four to battle it out.
The 350 of Andy Glasgow headed up the 250s of Ian Longstaff and 2022 Champ Michael Grigson who discovered a broken ring upon his return to the paddock. We welcomed back Steve Boam and Nick Turner as they rejoined GP Originals for their first outings this season.
Nigel Dearden and Warren Beese campaigned their 350 and 250 TZs, both came in buzzing after such an eventful race.
Sunday drive
Sunday morning's mist soon cleared to a bright and comfortable day. Ideal for two-strokes and another session of practice for those who wanted it. Lea Gourlay worked like a trojan again throughout the weekend to help Darrell Higgins as well as his regular rider Mark Edge. Every step an improvement but building a bike whilst racing it is fraught with challenges. This pair have seen it all before.
Julie Taylor flexed the spanners, working hard to get Andy back out on track with an engine swap. The pair make a great team, and they were ready in time.
The first race saw another fast-opening lap with Carson showing a clean set of heels. Davis, Atkinson, Hart and Stead were on him at the first pass of the line. Hart pushed too hard and crashed out at McLeans, a mistake that brought a full stop to his weekend's racing and a slip from P1 to P3 in the AD Modular supported 350cc championship.
Davis and Atkinson diced for the lead providing the Redgate spectators some excitement.
Eventually the Rose MOT rider, Atkinson took the win but Tw2 rider Davis claimed a new lap record at 1:15.258 collecting £50 cash for
the Staffordshire Triumph 350cc Fastest Lap. Phil Stead gave the green plate supporters something more to cheer about with a 3rd on the-road and another 250cc victory. Scott Carson was tucked in tight but missed beating Stead to the line by 0.0174 with Dan Jackson in his draft by 0.182.
With a little breathing space to play with Nick Williamson again showed his Master's edge pulling a gap on Dean Mitchell. This would be Nick's fastest lap of the weekend at 1:18.055 - a note regarding the pace this year, he was faster in 2022! A very on-form Mark Linton trailed just 0-413 from Mitchell collecting 3rd Master and 2nd 250. Equally close was Nigel Palmer another Fast Master on a 250. Andrew Taylor benefitted from Julie's mechanical skills and came through to round out the top 10 finishers.
The final race
The weather held nicely throughout the afternoon. Our final race took its turn closer to the end of the timetable, having benefitted from early slots at Brands and Combe. With 24 riders still present on our dedicated GP Originals grid
We prepared for the final showdown of the weekend. A total of 659 laps of quality racing and qualifying were shared between us.
As the lights went out, we filled the air with 1970’s-early 80’s atmospherics. Nick Turner was an early retirement suffering ongoing detonation problems across the weekend. As per the textbook, Carson led for the opening lap as Atkinson and Davis bided their time.
Soon enough the pair came through and began more heated exchanges.
Dean Mitchell took a long excursion off track at McLeans in the opening lap but rejoined to make a charge back up to 16th spot by lap
six. Sadly, at this point, Ian Longstaff high sided out of the Old Hairpin and Mitchell found himself with nowhere to go. The incident caused a red flag and a result called. We wish both Dean and Ian a speedy recovery and everyone in the GP Originals paddock sends their very best wishes.
Davis had made a pass at Redgate but on the red flag count back to the line Atkinson secured another victory by just 0.060 from Davis. This brings Phil to the top of the GP Originals AD Modular 350 title standings. In the final result Carson was 3rd with Jackson 0.493 behind.
First of the 250 finishers was again, Phil Stead just 0.341 off the rear wheel of Jackson's 350. Williamson claimed 25 Masters points as he held off Moore by 0.260. Gary Vines took 2nd 250 spot from Linton by 0.601.
Roy Chapman surpassed Mark Edge for third in the over-55s. The two 350 Andrews, Taylor and Green, sandwiched between this set of Masters. Michael Grigson made improvements getting himself ahead of Nigel Palmer who had been reminding his muscles that racing was much more physical than he remembered. Brooks chased down Boam making a pass in time before the red flag came out and Warren Beese enjoyed finally getting his 250 ahead of Nigel Dearden.
Well-deserved acknowledgement
We've been so impressed by Nigel's commitment this season. At 69 years young, the son of Reg Dearden has a legacy to
maintain. Nigel has been making long journeys on his own from Carlisle. Our first two meetings were Brands and Castle Combe and both were new circuits to add to his repertoire. Three knee replacements and shoulder injuries over the years haven't dampened his spirit and he's become a welcome asset to GP Originals. Tony Green would like to award his silencer voucher to Nigel for this dedication and effort.
RACE RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
Start money - £25 back into your race
Thank you to all our helpers
Thank you to the team at NG Road Racing who were our hosts for the third and final time this season. Michelle distributed the EBC
Brakes early entry rewards and did the Raffle run with Carol along with Sue helping to prep the tickets for the draws. Yvonne kept shop and managed our merchandise. Reg and Jean did another swift and totally hassle-free round of scrutineering. Richard Freeman and Chris Ingram installed the starter rollers in the assembly area and Team Allspeed looked after the rollers in their garage. The Carthy supervised tea urn was kept hot and topped up, along with the biscuits and sweet selection.
Thank you for their Gin donation for the raffle by Steve Carthy Racing. It was all hands on deck to whip down the awning, thank you to the many who jumped in. The determined J emma did a great job of calculating the points remotely with Lorna prepping the winners list. Mark Linton and Steve Pond zipped through the prize giving to allow us all to get away pronto. Thank you to Chef Mendes for making a superb coffee cake and helping in the assembly area. Roy Chapman with the help of Ian Cowles for hosting two get-togethers in his awning with drinks and nibbles. Delicious homemade cakes and flapjacks courtesy of Fay Beese.
As always, we saw a wealth of riders and teams pull together to get us all out on track with loaned parts, gifting their time and enthusiasm. Thank you to riders and team members who stayed to help get Ian and Dean's gear sorted.
On track photography provided by: Hairy Beast Pix