For this the second meeting of 2014 we head to Oulton Park in Cheshire for the third championship round of the 14 round 2014 series. Round one at Brands Hatch threw up a few suprises with new riders on new bikes, so this already looks like it will be a very exciting season……and Oulton is proving to popular with very strong grids
Oulton Park is a difficult circuit to learn and requires the rider to be inch perfect over the blind crests and complex series of turns. There are though, plenty of overtaking opportunities, so good close racing is always on the cards. Experience around Oulton is vital and precise consistent racing will be rewarded
This Meeting.....
Oulton Park is the venue for this the third round of the NG championships, and as ever its will reward us with great racing. Experience of Oulton really is an advantage so expect 13 time NG champ Phil Bevan to be up the front in the Superbike races on his ZX10. He will not have it all his own way though as Roo Cotton, Mark Compton and Darren Rumley are in good early season form.
This meeting is also ideal for all of the BSB runner to get some track time before the national series rocks up here, that is why the whole of the Ice Valley by Motosave trade BMW Team are on the entry list, headed by Peter Hickman.
Some of the most frantic action will come from the 600's. National Evo 600 series runner Dave Manley on his R6 will be out to get the better of a strong grid that sees Max Symonds, Sean Montgomery, Paul Jeffery and Peter Carr who are all proven championship winners from other classes on the entry list. Add to them Oulton regulars Billy Mellor and Chris Mort and this will be one of the races of the day.
The pint-sized teenage sensation Mark Clayton will be out on his RS125, he tops the point’s table at this early stage ahead of Asher Durham and Joe Thomas. With Anthony Alonso and Jordan Weaving on their Moto 3 mounts
Simon O'Donnell and Richard Hughes already look like they will be head and shoulders above the rest in the Streetstocks class, with O'Donnell on an S1000R BMW and Hughes on his trusty Blade.
Wayne Axon heads up the new to NG Super Twins class, but in the Sound of Thunder it's not so easy to pick one front runner. Darren Rumley on his KTM RC8 will start as favourite, but Paul Willis, Sean Smith and Dave Mackay all had issues at Brands Hatch and are already chasing Rumley. Other Thunder class men that could spring a surprise are Andy Payne on his Aprilia and James Harrison on the all new 675.
So with all the main classes plus Streetstock….. Pre Injection….. Mini Twins…. Super Twins, it all stacks up to 8 hours of on-track action.......settle back and enjoy..... "The chase for points continues....."
The Circuit.....
Oulton Park is one of the most testing…and some say dangerous track in the UK. It is not a track that is easily learned and here there really is no substitute for experience. The long 2.77mile circuit repays precise riding and a well set up bike over the lap with it’s complex turns and cambers in the corners. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, so good wheel to wheel racing is always on the cards.
The Fastest.....
Jack Kennedy (....now running up front in World Supersport) set the fastest NG Road Racing lap here at Oulton back in September 2010 on his PR Racing R1. He hustled the big Yamaha round in 1min 40.43 seconds....that’s an average speed of almost 96.5mph.
The Phoenix Open.....
This is the premier NG Road Racing series, and is again supported by Phoenix Motorcycles from Trowbridge. All the fastest riders of the meeting battling it out for one of the biggest prize funds in the country. The Open competitors have timed qualifying and longer races to earn their points for the gruelling 20 round championship, ensuring that the very best will end up as champion. Phil Bevan is back and on a new ZX10 Kawasaki to defend his title.
The 250 GP ACU National Championship.....
One more we are promoting the UK's premier Grand Prix based series. These former 250cc world championship spec machines are pure race bikes and are designed with one thing in mind......to race. The main series is backed by The ACU and Dunlop along with 100% Suspension Cup and Watchwood, and the new pre-'92 series. Jonathan Stamper leads the way in the National series after Brands Hatch, with Dave Hampton in second.
One To Watch.....
Darren Rumley, on his KTM RC8 has taken the Sound of Thunder championship for the last two years. This is the circuit where he took his maiden win two years ago.....and hasn't looked back since. He started the year with a double win at Brands, and will be looking to continue his form here.
Race Day Timetable
Saturday
7:00am – Technical Inspection
8:30am – Practice and Warm-up
P1 Solos 10min
P2 Solos 10min
P3 Solos 10min
P4 Sidecars 10min
P5 Solos 10min
P6 Solos 10min
10:30am – Qualifying Races - 6 laps
1 Powerbike
2 600cc
3 GP125 / Formula 125 / Formula 400
4 250GP ACU National – 15 Minutes Timed Qualifying
5 Streetstock / Pre Injection
6 500cc
7 Mini Twin
8 Open – 15 Minutes Timed Qualifying
9 Sidecar
10 Sound of Thunder / Super Twin
13:30pm to 14.00pm – Lunch Break
14:00pm – Championship Finals - 7 laps
11 250GP ACU National (10 laps)
12 Powerbike
13 600cc
14 GP125 / Formula 125 / Formula 400
15 Streetstock / Pre Injection
16 500cc
17 Mini Twin
18 Open (8 laps)
19 Sidecars
20 Sound of Thunder / Super Twin