That is the question we are all asking ourselves after yet another dominating 100% win record at Pembrey as he remained unbeaten in the Phoenix Open and Simon Consulting Powerbikes. Winning seven races from seven starts on his Phil Bevan Track Days ZX10R Kawasaki.
He did not have it all his own way though as Julian Hughes, James Kiff and Michael Blank, all on ZX10’s pressured the Welshman. Roo Cotton too was getting back to the form we know he is capable of, just missing out on a podium on a couple of occasions on his DTR Racing R1. 18 year old Max Symonds was the surprise package though in Sundays second final as he and his SMW ZX6R lead in the early stages. On a track that is known to suit a well set up 600 Dale Thomas and Corey Lewis had dips at the podium. However as soon as Pembrey lap record holder Bevan got into his stride he proved his metal once more by underlining the fact that he is the only man to be able to reel off 58 second laps again and again……at that point his rivals are left wanting in his wake.
Bevan’s faultless weekend sees him secure both the Powerbike and open titles for an unprecedented 7
th time. So the question still remains….who can beat Bevan ?.
Simon says thanks to the B & B Team with the title.
After almost two and half seasons out of racing due to lack of funds, Simon Low the former BSB 125 GP runner is back in 2014 as part of the Black and Blue Racing Team line up in the Mini Twins class. Simon may not have ridden a bike over 125cc before but after a steady start to the year soon got to grips with the new SV650 and this weekend picked up two wins over rivals Tom Blackwell and Aaron Silvester to secure the class title for 2014. The team were so confident that Simon would grab to points he needed this weekend that they had already got the 2014 Mini Twins champions T shirts printed (….although Simon knew nothing of this !!). Paul Wardell still hangs on to second in points table but the newly crowned Newcomers champ Silvester is closing in with just one round left.
Hallam, Silvester and Tilley take title glory.
Pembrey was the final meeting of the year for the Newcomers series and despite Paul Williams on his BMW1000 RR taking the race win a strong fourth place was enough to see Stuart Hallam crowned Open champ on his R6. With four wins from 5 starts Aaron Silverster, the former off road UK short track star lifted the Mini Twins category on his Stralia Race Tech SV. In the 500 series it was a case of, what could have been for this weekends race winner Ben Harrison. He took three wins in the series but two DNF dented his chances leaving the way open for Daniel Tilley on the Plumbase-LCS-DDR ZXR400 to end the year with yet another podium and to points to take the title.
Dale digs deep to regain his form.
After a series of big crashes at BSB Superstock runner, young Welshman Dale Thomas needed a confidence-boosting weekend on his Cardiff Motorcycle Centre R6. He along with other teenage 600 stars Max Symonds, Corey Lewis plus National Triumph Triple Cup leader Sam Thompson as well as James Harrison and Dave Manley fought it our at close quarters for the big points. Saturday had Symonds take the win from Dale by 0.13 after a four man dash to the line, whilst Sunday saw roles reversed with Thomas this time heading Max over the line by just 0.15 of a second. Dale set the fastest laps both days with a best of 59.41sec, as all the front runners dipped underneath the magic minute around Pembrey.
A welcome return for the Sidecars.
Pembrey saw sidecars back on the programme and as ever the technical 1.456 mile circuit proved that a good F2 outfit is the tool to have as Mike Cookson and stand-in passenger for this meeting on the 600 Ireson Honda went home unbeaten despite some strong opposition. The North Wales pairing had wins over reigning NG champs Tom and Thomas Quaye as well as Andy King and Paul Skinner. Not even top Scottish crew and also former NG champs Jim Hamilton and Mick Fairhurst with their Open LCR Suzuki could catch Cookson. The Quaye’s looked set to challenge both days but struggled to find grip in the unseasonably warm conditions that had them on the grass four times over the two days but their pace when on track was good. Setting the fastest lap of the weekend…..as they recovered from the grass-tracking trips !!!
The rest of the action in brief.
Liam Delves continues to impress with another unbeaten weekend on his Crucial Sauce backed F125 RS Aprilia. Whilst in the GP class it was a win and a DNF for Mark Clayton after his radiator blew whilst leading on Saturday. Kai Masters was never headed in the GP45’s who shared the grid with the F400 machines where it was a win each for Daniel Tilley and Chris Swyer as Anthony Van Looy crashed out of the lead of both races. Ton Vear too a pair of wins in the 700 Streetstock races…both times from the back of the grid !!. Whilst James Kiff and Richard Hughes shared the honours in the big class. In the smallest Street class, the 400’s had wins for Antony White and Geoff Stubbs.
Kevin Clayton took his first ever win in Saturdays 1300 Pre Injection but his bike blew in Sundays race leaving the way open for Mike Hobbs to take the win…and the 2014 title. It was a maiden win in the 700’s too as Brian Tucker lead the way on Saturday with Chris Hobbs getting back to winning ways on Sunday, setting a new lap record in the process.
Sam Thompson, James Harrison, Paul Willis and the injured Darren Rumley headed up the Sound of Thunder. Harrison took Saturdays race with Thompson getting his revenge on Sunday, in a race that saw defending champ Rumley crash out for the second time in two meetings. Stephen Sweetman bagged a pair and a new lap record in the Super Twins.
Jonathan Stamper and Paul Metcalfe had a win each in the 500 open but Dave Hampton impressed again with podium finishes on the tiny 500 Single cylinder Tigcraft.
Isle of White based female rider Kara Rann took a heavy tumble from her R6 Yamaha and Hatchets hairpin, and was airlifted from the circuit. All at NG Road racing wish her a full and speedy recovery
Performance of the meeting.
Just a couple of days before his 19
th birthday, Max Symonds showed why he is now just 4 points from being crowned 2014 600cc Open champ. With a win and a second place in the 600 he has one hand on the title with just Thruxton to go. He also lead the Phoenix open feature in the early stages and bagged three top six finishes up against the big 1000cc bikes on his SMW backed ZX6R, the best of which was a second place behind seven-time champ Phil Bevan on his ZX10.
This meetings special award winners…
Performance of the meeting Max Symonds
Bardahl Newcomer of the meeting Alan Pearce
Jay Russell – Jay Care Sidecar Performance Award Mike Cookson / Tony Darby
Report by Russ Gardner Images by EDP – www.edpphoto.com