The top three teams in the ACU/sorrymate.com National 1000 Endurance championship, all covered by just 12 points, will clash at Donington Park on Sunday, June 9.This one-day meeting is round three of the 2013 Hottrax Motorsports series.
Topping the points’ table is Go Racing Developments, made up of Andy Carpenter and Greg Allsop. Carpenter crashed racing in a supporting class at the opening round at Oulton and then had a fall, whilst testing at Mallory Park, three days before round two at Anglesey.
Despite the drama Go Racing Developments were the winners in Wales, but less than 45 seconds in front of Team Traction Control (Steve Mercer and Ben Neeves) after their own eventful three-hour race. Team Traction Control is third in the champion, just four points behind IBL Racing.
At Oulton Park IBL Racing’s Hudson Kennaugh was penalised two laps for missing qualifying because of work commitments. That relegated the team from number one spot to second place. Kennaugh could not ride for the team at Anglesey, because he had racing in the Superbike World Championship round on the same weekend.
Kennaugh’s stand-in was Jesse Trayler, who despite never having ridden in an Endurance event and who was making his debut at Anglesey, helped the team to fourth place. Missing Anglesey hurt Kennaugh, but the extra practice he had round the Donington Park could be ample consolation in the three-hour race to come.
It is close in the other classes, too. Team Sorrymate.com head the National 600 series, but are only five points ahead of Power Projects Racing, with Triumphs Over Adversity three points further back.
TDM Racing top the Clubman 600 class nine points clear of Thunder Chickens.
TANC 2 Racing lead the Clubman 1000 series, by four points from Anglia Interiors/Insignia Signs.
Angelo Derosa holds a slender two point lead over Graham Hornby and six points over Andrew Haines in the Motogrande 1000, but their battles for points could be affected by riders like Michael Blank, Julian Hughes and Tony Keilty.
Derosa lies second in the Motosolo series, just two points behind Colin Norris.
Stephen Bridle is already 18 points ahead of Paul O’Connor after just six races in the Motogrande 600 class, but riders like Luke Mossey and Luke Stapleford might make life difficult for the Hottrax regulars.
Greg Allsop missed the Michelin Power Cup 1000 races at Anglesey y and it cost him dearly.
He was leading the class with a maximum 50 points, but now he has slipped to fifth in the standings, trailing Tony Keilty, the new leader, by 61 points.
Allsop is lined up to re-join the fray at Donington, but he has a lot of ground to make.
Five rides and five wins leaves William White comfortably clear of the opposition in the Michelin Power Cup 600 competition. He has a 31 point advantage of Richard Charlton.
Andy Pike tops the Ducati Due Class A on 86, one more than James Gerrard and six clear of David Wood Jr. All three riders have notched wins this season.
Thomas Hallifax dominates the Class B winning all five races this season. He leads his closest rival, Dave Jenkins, by 47 points.
The organisers, Hottrax Motorsport, face a tough task to fit in six practice and qualifying sessions, plus 13 races, including the three-hour endurance race.
Practice starts at 9.0am with racing underway around 10.40am.