BSB 1000 Superstock runner Josh Day (Be Wiser/ WH Bond / NMT Shipping ZX10R) turned out at Cadwell, no team behind him, just him and his Dad and the old van to get some track time at a circuit which is not his favourite. After two days of racing Josh the 2010 National Superstock champion went away with seven race wins, and was never headed across the line on any lap. He even won Saturday’s Open final in the wet with a set of old slick in. He grew in confidence all weekend enjoying “…a relaxing weekends racing”. The rest of the podium places were very hard fought for with Corey Lewis heading the best of the rest in all three Open races on his R6 Yamaha.
Josh’s Powerbike wins were over Mark Compton and Darren Rumley who squeezed in Cadwell before he set off for his first race in the NW200.
Mark “The Reaper” Compton, certainly had the pace to run up front but a series of errors saw him on the grass a few too many times, but still managed to bag a brace of podiums, was still grinning from ear to ear saying “….he just loves to beat Phil Bevan !!”
Defending champion Phil Bevan looked to struggle all weekend with his new ZX10, so it is a mark of the man that he still came away with a couple of podiums and an increased lead in both Open and Powerbike points tables.
During the weekend everyone suffered with tyre choice problems as in went from wet… though dry… then showery… with the odd thunder and lighting storm thrown in, but Josh just got on the bike a rode the wheels off it.
The most notable run of results though were three runners up spots in the Open by Corey Lewis on his Moto Engineering and Refined Recruitment R6….and incredibly set the fastest lap in Sundays race which was run in the middle of a torrential downpour that saw Cadwell shrouded in dark skies with Charlies and Park being lit up by lightning bolts.
“Max attacks….but Corey bounces back…”
Max Symonds (Protint ZX6R) and Corey Lewis (Moto Engineering/Refined Recruitment R6) shared the wins to each grab a maiden 600cc class win. Corey had lead the whole of Saturdays race on wet tyres in the drying conditions, whilst Max had a dry set up. Corey’s set-up went off as Max’s got stronger, and despite heading into Hall bends in the lead on the final lap Max had the drive to get the better of Corey out of Barn for his first win. Sunday had Corey once more out on old wets on another drying track but this time he was in no mood to be headed and took a 12 second victory over Keenan Armstrong and Symonds. Dale Thomas, Jordan Rushby, Dave Manley, Sean Montgomery and Mark Hughes, all played their part in the battle for podiums but Max and Corey were delighted with maiden class victories in the Simon Consulting 600 Open.
“Thunder wins for Dave and David….”
Speedy Fasteners.com KTM RC8 rider Dave Mackay took his first ever Sound of Thunder win in Saturdays wet race that saw many caught out by the conditions. Mackay though, last years top rookie headed home Luke Smith on the True Heroes 675 and Antony Porter on his new 675 who has switching from the Mini Twins last term. Darren Rumley, two-time thunder champ and current series leader made an error with tyres and slipped and slip round in 12
th position just behind another regular front runner James Harrison. Sunday’s race was for the Edna Gardner Trophy and the vastly experienced David Irons on his Tom Warner Racing 1098 Ducati lead from lights to flag. Mackay was in second until the final lap, but a hard charging Michael Tustin caught and passed him and even started to press Irons. Experience told for Irons who said “…..it was great to be back winning again”
“The rest of the action in brief....”
BSN Search for a star pick Rory Skinner heading home Joe Thompson in both F125 finals whist 125GP honours were shared by Sam Johnson and Adrian Bowman who was happy to pick up the win in his first race back after breaking his pelvis. Sam Wilford continued his 2014 unbeaten run in the Open 500 class and was also top man in the GP45’s along with Alex Baker.
Joe Sheldon-Shaw had a pair of stunning wins in the F400 class, whilst And Green and Daniel Tilley bagged a win each in the 400 Steet class.
16 year old former UK short track champ Aaron Silverster shared the Mini Twins wins with Simon Low, whilst Will Leaning and David Carson took one apiece in the Super Twins.
Phil Hacker and Mike Hobbs took the maximums in the big Pre Injection class with Phil Webber and Chris Hobbs sharing the wins in the smaller class.
Richard Hughes took a convincing pair in the 1300 Streetstock with Eddie Whitehurst and Justin Collins picking up podium topper each in the 700’s.
Leif Williams headed up the Open Newcomers, Aaron Silvester the Mini Twins and Ben Harrison the 500’s. Harrison suffered injury in a later race and was air-lifted from the circuit, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Top sidecar crew was the Scottish pairing of Jim Hamilton and Mick Fairhurst on the Jebs LCR Suzuki
“Performance of the Meeting....”
Corey Lewis the 19 year old former NG F125 champ returned to racing last year after a couple of years out and proved he still had what it takes on an old KR1S. This year he has an R6 Yamaha backed by Moto Engineering and Refined Recruitment. Corey defied the weather to take three runner-up spots in the Phoenix Open and his maiden win in the Simon Consulting 600. These rides made him an easy pick for the judges of the performance award.
This meetings special award winners……
Performance of the meeting Corey Lewis
Bardahl Newcomer of the meeting Leif Williams
250 GP Dunlop performance tyre winner Simon Hunt (Saturday) – Ant Hodson (Sunday)
Streetstock Metzeler performance tyre winner TBC
Jay Russell – Jay Care Sidecar Performance Award Joe Heys/Mark Maier
Full Results can be found at http://www.ngroadracing.org/results_data/2014/diary.htm
Report by Russ Gardner
Images by EDP - www.edpphoto.com