Peter Baker, the Kings Lynne motorcycle dealer and habitual club championship winner wheeled out his new for 2013 ZX10R Kawasaki at Mallory Park in a bid to find a good base setting after struggling with handling issues on his last few outings. So long a Suzuki man the experienced Baker returned to the NG paddock for a one off ride against some very fast opposition in a hunt for a lap time. He managed to set a fastest lap of 53.13sec and rack up 7 wins over the two days. Although that 53 was his fastest ever lap of Mallory his aim was John Ingrams NG lap record….. but that was not troubled and stays at 52.68 seconds.
Despite some very good weather, a strong breeze and a slight lack of track grip meant that the lap time was not quite there……although the handling issues were getting better as the weekend went on. as ever the fastest riders of the weekend all congreagete on the grid for the Phoenix (Trowbridge) Open. Baker along with NG’s own habitual winner and five time Open champ Phil Bevan, Roo Cotton, Leon Jeacock, Dale Thomas, Stephen Tiffen and Paul Shook lined up for Saturdays race. Baker took the win from a stunning Dale Thomas on his Fast Rads ZX6R who headed Bevan and Jeacock over the line. Sunday morning and the second outing for the Open boys…… it was Baker again, but this time from Leon Jeacock on his one-week-old BMC ZX10. Bevan was third this time visibly suffering from the ribs he damaged at Castle Combe. The third Open of the weekend looked again like more glory for Baker, but not the bast of starts saw him down in 4
th place early on as first Roo Cotton on the DTR R1 then Leon Jeacock. Jeacock wrestled his barely-run-in ZX10 round infront for 7 laps, but as they his the backmarkers Baker saw his chance and forced his way to the front pulling in a run of low 53’s to drag away. Behind it was Jeacock, Bevan and Paul Shook who still manages to get the results on his now 8 year old ZX10 with Matt Smith having his best outing with 5
th spot to round off the weekend.
So when all was done Baker had a bike that worked far better…… Phil Bevan now leads both Open and Powerbike series……. Leon Jeacock is revelling in the extra power of the big 10…. And Dale Thomas the 19-year-old Welshman showed a 600 in his hands is more than a match for a tricked out superbike with 200bhp plus.
www.Simon Consulting.info Powerbikes
Phil Bevan soon overhauled Roo Cotton who made his usual fast start and lead things ‘til half race distance on Saturday, before Peter Baker burst through and then dragged out half a second plus per lap until the end of the race. Baker and Bevan were well clear of Leon Jeacock in third. Jeacock though, who had only picked up the new BMC Racing ZX10 on Wednesday got faster and faster with each and every race, and by the time the Powerbikes came to the grid on Sunday afternoon he was flying. He beat the whole field despite the best attentions from Baker, Bevan, Cotton, Stephen Tiffen, Laim Murtagh, Matt Smith. Paul Shook and Darren Rumley, who squabbled over the placings.
Wayside Garages 600cc
Young Welshman Dale Thomas took a stunning 12 second victory in Saturdays 600 open final on the Fast Rads ZX6R, bus left the circuit overnight as they were off to prepare for Snettertons BSB meeting. That left the way open for someone to make a name for themselves, and we were treated to a great race between Peter Carr, Andrew Fisher, Dave Manley and Jason Brown. But it was 18 year old Ben Godfrey on his BMC R6 who burst through with two laps to go to take the win
125GP / Moto 3
John Lea showed everyone a clean pair of wheels on Saturday as he took the 125GP win over Mark Carkeek. Sunday though saw his have to fight harder on the PG Lea Plumbing Honda as he did not get the best of starts.... Once at the front though it was all plain sailing. Once more heading home Carkeek. Novice Rider Daniel Walling impressed many with a great meeting toped off with a fine podium on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Lynham Formula 125
Young 14-year-old Aprilia Superteen rider Joey Thompson dominated both Formula 125 finals as he lapped all of his rivals on the Teesdale Motorcycles of Thirsk RS125. The battle for the minor places was a much more frantic affair though with Liam Delves and Trystan Finocchiaro bagging the best-of-the-rest placings. Delves is now just half a dozen points behind series leader Jake Archer.
Fraser’s of Gloucester 500cc Open
Aprilia RRV 450 GP riders Keenen Armstrong and Louis Dawson shard the spoils in the 500cc class but Adam Hoare set a new class lap record. Hoare though made a few to may mistakes…..namely at the Edwinas Chicane to grab top spot. Manxman Paul Metcalf kept his seasons title hopes alive with two third positions on his RS250 Honda.
GP45
Again in the GP45’s it was one apiece for teenage tearaways Keenan Armstrong and Louis Dawson on those barking RRV 450 Aprilias. Keenan set a new lap record on Saturday….. but it was short lived as Louis lowered it even further on Sunday. Two podiums for Richard Gothard on his Profibre KX 450 Kawasaki sees him lead the title table by just one point over Mark Carkeek who parted company from his Kawasaki on Sunday afternoon.
A and R Racing Formula 400
She may still fighting back to full fitness but Shannon Hale is bang on target to grab her third F400 class title in three years as she picked up the double at Mallory on the trusty Black Lion Transport ZXR 400 that she has nicknamed Bridgette (……don’t ask me why !!!). It could have been very different though as Mark Walker looked odds on to take Sunday’s race. Leading a F400 race for the first time Walker decided to take a look over his shoulder as he exited Edwinas….. This totally upset the bike and he was spat high over the handlebars…..handing Shannon her fourth win of the year and a bigger series lead over Chris Baker.
MPH Bikes Mini Twins
With a weekend off from his 848 Ducati series campaign Dean Brown, made the short rip from his Nuneaton home to ride one of Neil Pearsons NP Motorcycles Mini Twin SV’s. He had a very interesting weekend…… Saturday saw him qualify on pole, then get a jump start penalty in the final. He set off in a bid to make up the 10 seconds and with just one lap to go he had stretched out 11.8 seconds over the field to lead on the road and the timing sheets. 15 year old Jordan Rushby held off a late charge from series leader Kevin Davies for his best results of the year. Sunday saw Rushby harry Dean Brown early on but another fine second place ahead of Davies shows that young Jordan has really clicked with the Alliance Steel backed SV.
Peter Hammond Motorcycles Sound of Thunder
Defending Sound of Thunder champ Darren Rumley bagged two more wins over former class champ Paul Willis ( both on KTM’s) too open a a small 10 point lead in the series as we head to Oulton….. a circuit that Rumley likes and Willis openly dislikes !!!!. Max Symonds took a fine podium on Sunday. It has been a long road back from injury for young Max…… but he is now regaining strength….speed and that extreme hang-off style that we all remember.
Metzeler and DTR Streetstock (400cc / 700cc / 1300cc)
Ex BSB 125GP star Corey Lewis did his usual demolition job on his rivals. Despite riding a very elderly KR1S 250 Etass/Lewis Racing Kawasaki he bagged two more impressive wins and another 50 points in his bid for 400 Streetstock glory. James Harrison and Murray McConnachie shared the wins in the 700cc Streetstocks Harrison setting a new lap record on his way to victory. The very tight 1300 Streetstock class saw very little to choose between Simon O’Donnell, Paul Dawson, Tom Cook and Richard Hughes. Dawson and O’Donnell shared the spoils although Daswon could have bagged two wins but for a crash in qualifying forcing him to start well down the packed grid.
TPC Construction Pre Injection (700cc / 1300cc)
Mick Corrigan wheeled out and old FJ1100 in NICMORNA Racing colours and former top British runner, who is credited with giving James Toesland his big break lauched the big FJ from the back of the grid to take a very entertaining win. He was not on the grids on Sunday so reigning champ Tom Palmer was able to rack up another 25 points in his title defence on the Palmer Plastering R1. Meanwhile Kevin Davies took his third double win of the year on his NP Mini Twins SV to pull more point over Phil Webber who again followed Davies home.
CSC Racing Sidecars (Open / Formula 2)
Simon Gilbert and stand-in passenger Jed Pilmor-Brady made a winning return after the big accident for Gilbert and regular chairman Nathan Rodinson at Knockhill. The epayme.com R1 outfit wore the Scottish battle scars but 50 points were well earned. In the F2 class Andy King/Kenny Cole and Tom Quaye/Thomas Quaye are still locked on the same points after a win and a runner up spot each the Quaye’s set a new lap record but missed out on the double win after running through the Edwina’s chicane.
April UK Newcomers
Dave MacKay on his Speedy Fasteners KTM RC8 racked up his third win in four rounds to keep the pressure on the fast improving Andy Payne in the open Newcomers, whilst Mark Strudwick on his 125 Honda capitalised on Mark Reeves crashing out to now lead the 500 class. The Mini Twins saw a great battle between Sean Montgomery and Mark Labudek with both on SV’s. Montgomery had to et a new class lap record to hold off Labudek to keep his 100% win record going with just two rounds of the newcomers series left.
Wayside Garages Performance of the Meeting
No 47 – James Harrison – 1
st Choice Vehicle Dismantlers R6 Yamaha – 700cc Streetstocks/600cc Open
Bardahl Top-Oils Newcomer of the Meeting
No 161 – Daniel Walling – JD Services RS125 Honda – 125 GP