This spectacular 1.55 mile Anglesey Coastal circuit overlooks the Irish sea and the Snowdonia Mountains and offers competitors and spectators something very different to almost any other race venue. It is one of the few circuits to be designed and constructed with an entirely new concept. They have taken full advantage of the undulating landscape with two hairpin bends and banked corners….plus the extremely popular corkscrew. The track offers a host of overtaking opportunities for the competitors, so riders and spectators alike are in for a real treat. It is a track that need the rider to be fully committed to the racing line from the high speed uphill coastal sweep past school gate to the all out drop down through the corkscrew. You really do need to know where this track goes to reap the rewards and get the results.
250 GP ACU National Championship
Again NG Road Racing has secured the rights to run the 250cc GP ACU National championship. This year though as been a real up and down affair with all our front runners suffering with either mechanical or self-inflicted (….ready crashing !) problems. Dan Jackson leads the way from Adam Hoare in the championship table, but race wins are easily on the cards for Lee Goddard, Darrell Higgins, Ant Hodson and John Lewis. Jackson though has eased to a commanding lead in the yearlong series, but still cannot relax with plenty of points still up for grabs
Phoenix Open
Phoenix Yamaha in Trowbridge, Wiltshire are once more the title sponsors for this the Club’s Premier class, historically this is where the fastest riders congregate on the grid to find out who is the best of the best. Phil Bevan has won this championship four times out of the last five years. This year though Peter Baker has taken the fight to Bevan and Chris Pope is once more proving his speed, and consistency and goes well here, could this be his big breakthrough weekend.
NG Championships
Let’s take a quick rattle through the individual classes to see who is likely to come away this weekend with the points they need to put them in prime championship position with just two more rounds left after this Anglesey double header.
Starting with the 125cc GP class and Andrew Fisher is starting to look good for glory as he fends off defending champion Jamie Ashby. In the Formula 125 for road base 125cc bikes Joseph Thomas is in prime spot with his challenge likely to come from Mark Clayton, Jake Archer or Kurtis Drew.
Shannon Hale needs just one more win to secure the F400 crown for the second year running, Can Max Alexandre get his form back to stop her?. Chris Beverley has taken on all comers in the 450cc open this year and the formbook once more says it is his race too loose.
With four rounds still to go Peter Carr has done the almost impossible and has won the GP45 class, James Stacey is now his nearest rival after last years champ Matthew Andrew has parked his 450 Single. After a series of no scores as he Matt now concentrates on his new 600 Suzuki in preparation for 2013. In that 600cc class former newcomers champion Darrel Jones has stepped up to the mark and is the man to beat, although his list of challengers includes Dean Richards, Scott Pitchers and early season front runner Richard Connell.
Moving onto the superbike classes and Phil Bevan the defending Open and Superbike champion has put himself in prime spot to rack up both series in 2012. Peter Baker will be going all out for stop him though as will Michael Blank and Chris Pope, who was so unlucky not for grab good points last time out at Cadwell after qualifying on the front row only to have his chain snap on the warm up lap.
After taking his first ever race win at Oulton Park Darren Rumley has grown in confidence on his KTM RC8 and sits squarely at the top of the points table. Paul Willis on a similar KTM is getting back to form after breaking a whole host of bones early season. Dave Manley is the new boy in the pack, he’s fast and consistent on his 675 Triumph and is keen to et his first Sound of Thunder win.
Mark Ireland heads the 400 Street stock entry but the inform Martin Parkhouse would love to grab another double top score to repeat his Cadwell maximum. It may be just a bit too early for a comeback from Josh Jones who broke is collarbone last time out. The 700 Streetstock class is boiling up nicely and David Mictchell and Dean Richard will one more fight it out for supremacy they have traded the wins over the last six rounds. The 1300 Streets class though it’s a three way affair with very little to choose. Who will come out on top this weekend Mark Skinner, Paul Dawson or Simon O’Donnell…. Skinner is probably just a slight favourite…. But then Dawson won last time out….and O’Donnell has podiums at the last seven rounds….. I think we need them to settle it out on track. Pre Injection wise Mark Pask and Tom Pamer lead the way in their respective 700 and 1300 classes with both getting faster as the year goes on.
Jim Hamilton and Mick Fairhurst could wrap up the Open Sidecar title with a win this weekend, whilst the F2 class is very tight between Rob Handcock/Basil Bevan and John and Jake Lowther…. Someone needs to make a move this weekend
Dave Manley (Open), Dale Thomas (Mini Twin) and Joseph Thomas (500) go into this weekend leading their respective newcomers class championships. These will be decided this weekend as newcomers only run at two-day meetings…. Don’t slip up now !!!
Keep an eye on ....... The Mini Twins class
Again for this meeting rather than single out any one rider I am giving the nod to a class. The Mini Twins backed by MPH Bikes from Newport is turning out to he a head to head between defending champion Ben Marsden and class new boy, 18 year-old Dale Thomas. Thomas who has taken the fight to Marsden and has stormed to five wins from the nine races, but Ben’s consistency has kept him right in the title chase. Although it is almost certain the title will go to either one of them don’t discount Jody Hayes for race wins. Luck has not been on his side this year but four podiums prove he has the pace when all is on song. The all use very evenly matched SV650 Suzuki’s in their bid for glory.
Wayside Garage Rider of the Meeting
As with every meeting in 2012 there is a new focus for all NG Road Racing riders. Marcus Bridewell from Wayside Garages has put up £100 per meeting for the one adjudged to have been worthy of the cash and silverware for their efforts. All classes are eligible and it is never an easy decision for the judges. Peter Carr got the decision last time out with a faultless display and a new class lap record in the GP45 class