World Championship Long Track action heads to the UK as the FIM World Team Long Track Championship takes place at Swingfield in Kent on the 18th August.
This will be the first time that the this championship final has been staged on British shores, but having narrowly missed out on the title last year – after a cruel mechanical misfortune – Team GB will be looking to take victory on home soil.
Team GB recently met at the ACU Head Office in Rugby, along with Team Manager Mitch Godden, for a team photo-shoot in their new sponsored race suits ahead of the event.
Team GB – consisting of Richard Hall, David Howe, Glen Phillips and Paul Cooper as team captain (and team reserve) will face tough competition from France, Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Finland and Australia who will be taking part in the event for the first time.
After recently winning the FIM World Long Track Grand Prix round at Marmande in the South of France, Richard Hall is in the greatest form of his career at the moment. Also taking third spot at the same event in Marmande was David Howe, while Glen Phillips finished in 8th place after engine problems hampered his progress.
Team GB’s strongest competition is likely to come from defending champions Team Germany, with first timers Team Australia being the dark horse
Also running alongside the World Long Track event is a support class of the Nation’s best 1000cc Sidecar, including reigning British Masters Champions Mark Cossar and Carl Blyth, Rod Winterburn and Liam Brown, Rob Bradley and Shaun Simpson, Rob Wilson and Terry Saunters, Paul Whitelam and Alan Elliott along with Colin Blackburn and Carl Pugh.
The Swingfield Circuit near to Folkestone in Kent can be found using the postcode CT15 7HF. Admission prices for the event are as follows, Adults £18, OAP’s and 12 to 16 year olds are £15 with Children under 12 Free. Practice will be starting from 8:30 in the morning on the Sunday followed by the first race at 1pm. Camping will be available for members of the public from Tuesday onwards at the small price of just £5. There will be a Licensed Bar and Live Music on the Saturday night.
For more information please contact the club via 07500 939122 or by visiting www.acu.org.uk/News/Track-Racing
Team Line ups
Great Britain –Richard HALL - David HOWE - Glen PHILLIPS - Paul COOPER © (Reserve)
France - Stephane TRESARRIEU © - Mathieu TRESARRIEU – Dimitri BERGE - Theo DI PALMA (Reserve)
Czech Republic - Josef FRANC - Richard WOLFF - Karel KADLEC –
Australia - Cameron WOODWARD - Cory GATHERCOLE - Kozza SMITH - Hunter ANDERSON (Reserve) –
Germany - Stephan KATT © - Richard SPEISER - Jorg TEBBE - Enrico JANOSCHKA (Reserve) –
Finland - Aarni HEIKKILA - Markku AUTIO- Simo PULLI –
Netherlands - Jannick DE JONG - Dirk FABRIEK - Theo PIJPER - Mark STIEKEMA (Reserve)