This Meeting..... Donington Park..... Rounds 8 and 9
For this the fifth meeting of 2014 we head to Donington Park in Derbyshire for the eighth and ninth championship rounds of the 14 round 2014 series. This two day meeting at the British home of World Superbikes will see all the regular racing classes from the 125cc GP's to the Open and Powerbikes, plus we have the very popular FSRA F2 National Sidecars for all those three wheeler fans....
With classes for all race bikes out for track we will see everything from Liam Delves on his F125 and Mark Clayton on the RS125 Honda, through Anthony Van Looy on his F400 ZXR. There are also the frantic 600’s where winners can be picked from a list that includes Max Symonds, Corey Lewis, Sean Montgomery and Dale Thomas. The fastest laps though will come from the superbikes headed up as ever by Phil Bevan, who after a steady start to the year on his new ZX10 has now hit his stride and heads both the Open and powerike series.
Add to that lot Darren Rumley, David Irons and Dave Mackay in the Sound of Thunder…David Carson in the Super Twins….Aaron Silvester and Simon Low on the Mini Twins, plus other action in the Streetstocks with Richard Hughes, Ed Whitehurst and Daniel Tilley leading the 1300, 700 and 400 categories.
The Circuit.....
Donington Park is a truly historic venue for bike racing that dates back to 1931, although racing on the current circuit started when the track re-opened back in July 1977. It now is the host of the British round of the World Superbike Series. This 1.96 mile race track is fast and flowing with a series of high speed sweeping corners opening out onto the fast and undulating Dunlop straight. Donington is all about high corner speed and smooth riding. You will see a lot of high speed overtaking and bravery in the braking areas at Roberts, Redgate and the Old Hairpin.....but be warned get one wrong, and your lap has gone !
The Fastest.....
John Day holds the fastest NG lap here at 1 min 10.43sec. That is an average on 100.03mph on his WH Bond/Be Wiser ZX10 Kawasaki, set last May in what were ideal racing conditions......it will a tough time to beat !!.
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 racing 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 2014 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 and once more sits proudly at the top on this years points table.......can anyone beat Bevan to the title ?
The 250 GP ACU National Championship..... Once 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, with 100% Suspension and Watchwood supporting the NG Cup, and the new pre-'92 series. Reigning champion Chris Martin has taken five wins on the bounce and heads another past winner Ant Hodson by 19 points, with South African born Phil Atkinson now pressing hard in third.
The FSRA F2 National Sidecar Championship..... We are also hosing rounds of the popular F2 Sidecars with Conrad Harrison and Lee Patterson along with Ian and Carl Bell heading up the entry list along with other2014 race winners Alan Founds and Tom Peters, and Frank Leilas and Paul Knapton. This is a very strong series this year…..wins are hard fought and racing is close.
Ones To Watch..... Mike Hobbs (No 45) and Chris Hobbs (No 55) 1300/700 Pre Injection We have seen a number of Father, Son competitors over the years, but never have we seen a pair at the top of their respective championship tables at the same time. This year, Dad Mike Hobbs leads the 1300cc Pre Injection class whilst son Chris tops the 700cc points table. They both run in the same white and red DCI Refrigeration/Bin club Racing colours with Mike on an R1 and Chris on an R6……who will get bragging rights around the dinner table after this weekend ?
Preview by Russ Gardner