PERFECT CONDITIONS PROVIDE EXCELLENT RACING

Tuesday July 23, 2013 at 10:47am

Fans of the Darley Moor circuit were treated to a superb couple of days racing last weekend when not only the Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Race Club held Round 5 of their Championship on Saturday, but the East Midlands Racing Association also held a round of their own on Sunday, all in perfect conditions!

On the Saturday the Darley Moor Club had their usual twenty-one race programme, 4 of these races decided by less than 0.5sec. The closest finish being that of the final race of the day, the non-championship Newcomer’s Handicap race in which Alex Desmond just managed to hold onto the lead from Ashley Blake by 0.02 sec, with Jake Hingley just a further 0.56sec away! Prior to this Desmond had recorded a 7th and 5th in two other races that had seen very close finishes, the combined Steel Framed & Pre Injection 600 races. The first of these was won by Jamie Pearson, from Anthony Porter in close pursuit, the pair separated by little more than 0.3 sec throughout the entire race, the victory finally being sealed by just 0.27sec! Third place went to Jon Skelson on that occasion, but in the second race it was Skelson who was fighting for the lead with Porter, although this time Porter came out on top after taking the lead on lap 5, in a similar battle, taking the win by just 0.4sec at the finish line, with Pearson 3rd.

For this weekend the four-wheeled entertainment came from the 2013 Superkart Championship, both races being won by Darley regular Lionel Sifleet, the first by 1.5sec from Tom Hatfield, 2nd and Mark Gellatly, 3rd. The result was the same in their second race, but on this occasion the victory margin was just 0.08sec!

The Peak Cup and Open Solo races are usually very frantic affairs, but this weekend Jim Hodson had an easier time than usual after Danny Smith’s machine suffered a holed radiator during practice and was unable to race. Subsequently, with his main rival out Hodson was able to take flag-to-flag victories in all races. Louis Turner-Laurent 2nd in both the first Peak Cup and Open Solo races, but failed to record a finish in both of the second races. Paul Wood managed to hold-off Richard Wardle for 3rd place, following Turner-Laurent home in the first Peak Cup race, whilst Carl Morris followed him home in the first Open Solo, only after getting the better of Matt Smith on the final lap. Morris was the beneficiary in the two races that Turner-Laurent failed to finish, following Hodson home, with Smith and Stephen Woods taking 3rd place in the second Peak Cup and Open Solo races, respectively.

In the combined Formula Darley and 125 races Brad Vicars and David Carson were 1st and 2nd on both occasions, this taking care of the Formula Darley points. Mark Tyrell was the first 125cc machine across the line on each occasion, with Wes Seaman and Emma Franklin sharing a 2nd a 3rd place apiece. The Vicars/Carson ‘pairing’ continued their formation style into the Sound of Thunder aces, both riders taking similar positions in the Mini Sound of Thunder class, whilst Steven Hill and Ryan Oliver were 1st and 2nd on the track, on their larger Sound of Thunder machines, in both races.

As normal, the largest grid of the day belonged to the Formula 600 class, although this did not worry Richard Wardle, another rider to take flag-to-flag victories on both occasions, with Jamie Hodson taking 2nd and Ashley Blake 3rd each time.

In the combined Lightweight and Classic races Adam Hoare took the victory in both, aboard his Lightweight machine, Matt Zschiesche came home 2nd in the first encounter, with Fred Burbidge 3rd. With Zschiesche not taking to the grid in the second race Burbidge took 2nd and Mark Tyrell moving up a position from his first race, into 3rd. Anthony Redmond was the first Classic machine home, taking the honours for the 1000cc machines, whilst Paul Rogers was the first 350cc and Roy Hook the first 250cc machines home.

In the Sidecar category rather than just Championship points there was a little more at stake this weekend – the Graham Bird Trophy. Graham Bird was a Darley Moor and EMRA regular up until 2010, unfortunately this sidecar driver, engineer and former Club Champion lost his battle with cancer in 2010. For this weekend both Championship leaders showed their class, Dave Holden/Heath Fairbrother for the Open Class outfits and John Shipley/Ian Cunliffe on their 600cc outfit took victory on both occasions, although Shipley/ Cunliffe had to fight for their class win with Dean Banks/James Stonier pairing. The Open Class saw Thomas/Aslaksen take 2nd place in the first race from Thompson/Jones, but in the second a mistake from the Shipley/Cunliffe outfit gave 2nd place to Thompson/Jones. The Graham Bird Trophy going to the overall winners on the day - Dave Holden/Heath Fairbrother.

Both Pre98 races proved to be ‘the Pearson show’ with brothers Shane and Jamie (Derby) taking 1st and 2nd respectively in the larger category, Shane on the larger 750cc and Jamie on the 600cc machine. Following them home on both occasions was Ian Morgan on his 1000cc machine. Fred Burbidge and Alex Woodhouse were 1st and 2nd in the ‘up to 500cc’ class on both occasions; in the first race the two riders were having a superb battle of their own.

The weekend has seen a number of riders strengthen their grip on championships, whilst others looking certain to go down to the final round. With just 3 rounds remaining the season is definitely getting down to the business end of the year.

Round 6 is due to take place on August Bank Holiday, 26th August 2013. Practice will still begin at 10.00am and the first race is anticipated to start at 11.30am, the cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £11.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior

Citizens are £6.00. Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00.

For the Stars at Darley meeting adult admission is £15 and Senior Citizens £10.00, adult admission to the Test Days is £5.00.

Advance Tickets at discount prices are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details - http:// www.darleymoorstore.co.uk/.

There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £5.00 per unit per night. You can normally arrive after 5.00 pm on the Friday and stay until 10.00 am on the morning after the meeting.

Championship standings after 5 Rounds

Peak Cup

1st Jim Hodson, 78pts; 2nd Danny Smith, 52pts; 3rd Louis Turner-Laurent, 21pts

Open Solos

1st Danny Smith, 75pts; 2nd Jim Hodson, 57pts; 3rd Alan Hughes, 25pts

Open Sidecar

1st Dave Holden / Heath Fairbrother, 73pts; 2nd Ray Thomas / Neil Aslaksen, 44pts; 3rd Tony Thompson / Jack Jones, 39pts;

Lightweight

1st Adam Hoare, 51pts; 2nd Matt Zschiesche, 43pts; 3rd Fred Burbidge, 38pts

GP125

1st Mark Tyrell, 30pts 2nd Ricky Tarren 27pts; 3rd Reg Richardson 18pts,

F600