Rounds 10, 11 & 12 took place at the home of Welsh motorsport in Pembrey, South Wales where the paddock were fortunate enough to have secured two garages enabling most of the grid to co-locate and support some of the newcomers to our race series. For one debutant in particular, Conal Grier (555) support was universal, particularly in the newcomer's race when the entire grid lined the pit lane wall to cheer on a novice who otherwise may have been overwhelmed at his first race event.
The initial attempt at qualifying was red flagged after just one flying lap when Andrew “Danger” Howes (72) somewhat overcooked his exit at Dibeni to secure his one-way ticket to the medical centre in a fluorescent yellow taxi as well as making an early claim for the illustrious DesmoDue “Bonnet of Buffoonery” awarded to the racer considered most worthy by his peers at each meeting. For the restarted qualifying session, Dominic Cann (1) qualified fastest with a time of 107.816 on dry tyres on a drying track with Andy Hind (28) in second place pushing Dan James (12) down to third spot by over one tenth of a second. In B class, Brian Tipple (27) qualified two tenths of a second ahead of Floyd Moody (7) with Enrico Belsito (13) qualifying third fastest in class.
For the race on Saturday, Cann (1) completed his 12 laps to finish with a gap of six seconds over James (12) in second, with Jason Dixon (62) in third. In B class Tipple (27) crossed the line ahead of Moody (7) by just one tenth of a second. With Mike Smith (89) taking the third spot.
For Sunday mornings race, Cann (1) again led James (12) home with Dixon (62) in third place but with last season’s three-time Pembrey winner Scott Wilson (50) returning for a one-off ride and having started from the back of the grid finishing just a second down in forth. Wilson particularly impressed having done no practise and not being on the bike since Desmodue visited Cartagena in February. In B class Moody (7) led Tipple (27) home by nearly ten seconds with Smith (89) again occupying the final step on the podium
For Sunday afternoons race, Cann (1) again led the field home, but the real action was happening behind where Wilson (50) occupied second spot for most of the race only to be beaten across the line by James (12) who made his move through the backmarkers on the final lap. In B class, Moody (7) crossed the line ahead of Tipple (27) who was one second behind him with Smith (89) crossing the line marginally ahead of Belsito (13) to take the final podium position albeit a further 16 seconds back from the class winner.
As always, the Ducati Sporting Club would like to express their thanks to all of those at NGRRC for organising the event and especially enabling us to secure the two garages which really helped encourage camaraderie across the paddock. To the marshals and medical teams who looked out for our fallen riders, some of whom did require expert medical attention and to Dunlop and Clinton Howe for the tyre support.
If you are thinking of joining the series in 2023 or beyond, please seek out the “Desmo Due Paddock” page on Facebook or Ducatisportingclub.com for further information or come and have a chat with us in the Paddock.
Words: Andy Hind #28
Pictures: Colin Hill: hairybeastpix@hotmail.com