Martin Powell (Yamaha 1000), the 2012 Tonfanau 401-1100cc Open champion, opened up a two-point gap over his closest-rival, Barry Lee Evans (Yamaha 600), in this, the third round of the four-meeting Crewe and South Cheshire club’s series. Evans, the 25-year-old from Anglesey, made Powell work for his points.
He won the first, eight-lap race, by over two seconds from Powell after the lead swopped and changed throughout. Powell bounced back to win the next two, just three tenths of a second ahead of Evans in race two. Powell then took victory in the next, a reduced, six lap battle, by over seven seconds clear of Evans. Powell passed Evans at one stage in the race, but Evans was still fighting hard. He re-took the lead, only to overshoot at the hairpin allowing Powell and four others to go. Evans climbed back to second, but he could not get near the winner.
He is on 53 points, 23 behind Powell and 21 adrift of James Evans (Yamaha 600). Steel Frames and Minitwins. Barry Lee Evans is also in with a chance of winning the Steel Frame Championship, after notching up two more victories on his Honda. Nick Jefferies stayed top of the standings, on 57 points, after finishing fourth in both races.
Mark Robinson took sixth and a seventh, taking his tally to 51, the same as Lewis Clark, who took two fifths, with Evans on 50. Chris Ganderton (Suzuki 650) tightened his grip on the Minitwins series with two wins and a second place. He won the first race by six seconds, from Gary Gittins (Suzuki 650).
Gittins took revenge in the second, winning by just three tenths of a second. Gittins failed to start in race through when the engine stalled on the grid, leaving Ganderton to win race three from Anthony Harrison (Kawasaki 750).
Ganderton tops the championship, on 78 points, 15 more than Michael Brookes (Suzuki 650), who ended the day with two fifths and a third.
CLASSIC 251-500cc
Mark Griffiths (Terry Woods Honda 350) remained top of the Classic 251-350cc points’ table, despite crashing out of race one, won by Ken Bartley (Drixton Honda 400). Griffiths was back out for race two and despite starting at the back of the grid, won his class by over four seconds from Bartley. Griffiths started at the back of the grid again in the third race, but through the pack to beat Bartley home by 11 seconds. Despite that early fall Griffiths has a comfortable 15 point lead over Adrian Day going into the final round.
SUPERSPORT 400
Mark Griffiths (Honda 400) was out again in the Supersport 400 class which was even more eventful that the Classic event. Race one was finally abandoned after two red flag.
Griffiths started 12th on grid in race two, but won the 400 class by five seconds. Griffiths made a poor start in the final race and then crashed at the Hairpin. He was disqualified for re-mounting.
SIDECARS
Charlie Morphet/Paul Halliburton (Windle Honda 600) took advantage of championship leaders, Tony and Martin Cunliffe (Suzuki 600) failing to finish in the second race to close within three points. The Cunliffe’s now have 76 points to Morphet’s 73. Mark Griffiths, without doubt the busiest man at the meeting, was out as sidecar passenger for Gary Wilson, using Craig Hauxwell’s outfit. The pair finished fourth, third and fourth in their three outings.