WHATLEY WINS PATCHQUICK TROPHY TO MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW

Thursday June 26, 2014 at 11:33am

Report and Picture by Dave Rich

Back on Wednesday evening June 25^th it was that time of the year again for the annual Patchquick Trophy event at Phoenix Moto Parc, Kingsteignton in Devon. As with other years the event had kindly been sponsored by local businessman Barry Moore of Phoenix Tools and with what could only be described as a well prepped track with water been put down frequently during the evening to minimize the dust it was in prime condition to produce some excellent racing.

In the main event for the Patchquick Trophy it was Irishman Graeme Irwin on the Heads and all Thread Suzuki who was having his first ride at this event and venue that had set to fastest time in qualifying and had first pick at the gate, but it was the J B Racing KTM of Jordan Booker on the MX2 machine that had the holeshot in the first race from Jake Shipton on the Strudwicks/Crescent Racing KTM UK who was to hit the front by the end of the opening lap. Winner of the Trophy for the last two years and hot favourite for this year Kristian Whatley on the MBO Sport ASA Scaffold Yamaha was also to pass Booker on the opening lap as not to let Shipton get away. Irwin had a moderate start and was involved in a good tussle with Booker early on with Irwin eventually getting pass on lap 4, but Irwin didn’t seem to be able to close the gap on Whatley who with half the race completed was soon to be breathing all over Shipton who he managed to get pass on lap 10 and from there Whatley went on to notch up race 1 win with Shipton 2^nd and Irwin taking 3^rd.

In the second moto there was no mistaking the early leader and that was Whatley from the Phoenix Tools pairing on the Rocket Honda’s Alex Snow and Luke Hawkins. Whatley had a clear track in front of him and was soon in to his rhythm and was gradually easing away from Snow, Hawkins had made a mistake on lap 2 and up in to 3^rd had now come Irwin who was on a mission, but Snow who had plenty of local support was to hold Irwin at bay for several laps until Irwin got the better traction out of one of the tight right-handers and sneaked through, but he wasn’t going to catch Whatley who took the win with Hawkins coming through after his earlier mistake to get pass team mate Snow on the last lap to take a well deserved 3^rd.

The last moto was the best race of the evening as it was Booker again with the best start from Irwin and Shipton, but Whatley had a shocker of a start and was well back and by the end of the opening lap he was still back in 9^th. Irwin had taken over the lead from Booker and was flying at the front; Shipton was soon to be climbing all over Booker and eventually got pass as did Snow mid race to move in to 3^rd, but all eyes were on Whatley who was now in 5^th who was all over Booker desperate to get pass, but Booker who is no chicken was to keep him at bay which was thrilling the crowd with some really close racing, but in the end Whatley got through 3 laps later and was now after Snow who he managed to catch and pass 3 laps from the end, but he had to settle for 3^rd behind Shipton and race winner Irwin, but 3^rd for Whatley was enough to give him the overall and with it he was to win the Patchquick Trophy for the third time in a row.

In the Junior A class for the Vic Ashford Cup there was many really fast juniors as well as many up and coming youngsters who had moved up from the schoolboy ranks. After the restart of the first race which unfortunately was red flagged due to an accident it was Joe Clayton on the Wheeldon/Silkolene Honda who had the best start and was soon to show what he was made of as within 4 laps he had a cushion at the front of 7 seconds over Lewis Barfoot and was still to be pulling away. Stefan Little and Jack Roberts were to have a good battle for most of the race for 3^rd and 4^th and they were joined later in the race by the Oakleaf Kawasaki of Dave Anthony. Little was to make a mistake 3 laps from the end which was to leave Roberts under a lot of pressure from Anthony who was to get pass Roberts on the last lap to take 3^rd behind Barfoot and runaway winner Clayton. In the second moto this time it was Barfoot with the best start, but right behind him and in his wheel marks was Clayton. Barfoot was to hold the lead for the first three laps before Clayton piled on the pressure and soon found away pass, and from there was to go on untroubled to make it two wins out of two and with it was to win the Vic Ashford Cup, Lewis Barfoot was to take 2^nd with Bradley Barfoot getting the better of Anthony in the closing stages coming home in 3^rd.

Patchquick Trophy Event

1^st Kristian Whatley (450f MBO Sport ASA Scaffold Yamaha) 30 + 30 + 25 = 85

2^nd Graeme Irwin (450f Heads and All Threads Suzuki) 25 + 27 + 30 = 82

3^rd Jake Shipton (450f Strudwicks/Crescent Racing KTM UK) 27 + 19 + 27 = 73

4^th Alex Snow (450f Phoenix Tools Rocket Honda) 19 + 23 + 23 = 65

5^th Jordan Booker (250f J B Racing KTM 21 + 21 + 21 = 63

6^th Luke Hawkins (450f Phoenix Tools Rocket Honda) 23 + 25 + 7 = 55

7^th Luke Blanchard (450f Blanchard Wells/Meredith Mx Suzuki) 5 + 17 + 19 = 41

8^th James Dodd (450f TwoNineTwo/Factory Touch/St Blazey Honda) 13 + 10 + 15 = 38

9^th Kelvin Townsend (450f Phoenix Tools Rocket Honda) 15 + 13 + 9 = 37

10^th Dan Thornhill (250f Grittenham/Fowlers Honda) 8 + 9 + 17 = 34

Vic Ashford Junior Cup