Pickering & District Motor Club held its first Grasstrack of 2023 at High Marishes on the 2nd July. The crowd got to witness a spectacular day’s racing with 7 classes competing during the day.
The MX competitors locked horns all day, with Jonathan Dowd, from Manchester, eventually proving the best, over a hugely spirited Graham Charlton and Jonny Holmes with local rider Josh Fowler also mixing it with the more experienced riders.
The youth class saw a new local star in Pickering’s own Niall Ferguson, on his first outing on a new bike, he had to work hard over Sam Thomson of Kilburn, on his 85 Kawasaki.
In the 250s Lee Gray had a great chance of winning the final after mechanical woes in the heats, only for his machine to blow up letting an injured Rick Scarboro come through to win after Jack Breeze crashed on the pits bend.
GT140 had New British champion Ian Clark making the journey from Chelmsford, Essex, Ian went unbeaten, only headed once, by Droitwich rider Kevin Gwillam, who claimed 2nd over a fast-charging Duncan Burton who challenged Ian and Kevin all day.
350/Upright class was a closely fought class with Jack Robert’s putting in a stylish ride to win over Steve Garside, and the evergreen ex Hull Viking, Phil Kynman, taking a well-deserved 3rd place.
In the words of out commentator Simon Ashworth “the 500cc solo, possibly the best final in the last 35 years or more. Arran Butcher was unbeaten going into the final, whilst New Zealander, Bradley Wilson Dean, who, was having a very rare ride on a Grasstrack bike made steady progress through the heats getting faster each race. Arran flew from the gate, with Bradley in 7th, a long way adrift, two laps in, he moved up to 3rd, then 2nd in one magic move….. Arran still quarter of a lap in front….. the last two laps, spellbinding, and when Bradley flew by Arran, on the OUTSIDE…… wow, then went on to win, how he stopped on the bike defies gravity”.
Crowd favourite the spectacular 1000 RH Sidecars had some of the country’s finest crews in attendance. With no crew being unbeaten through the heats a closely fought final was anticipated. Local crew Rob Bradley/Josh Fowler emerged from the first bend with a small lead after taking a wide fast line, Colin Blackbourn/Carl Pugh and Trev Heath/Andi Simpson were fighting each other for second place, while making the Bradley/Fowler pairing work hard to maintain their lead which they held on to by a bike length at the chequered flag.
The next Grasstrack meeting will be at High Marishes on the 30th July. Racing starts at 1pm.
All photos by PW Pics