SHIPTON WINS PATCHQUICK TROPHY

Friday July 24, 2015 at 11:11am

Report and Pictures by Dave Rich

Back on Wednesday evening July 22^nd motocross fans from far afield made their way down to Devon for the annual Patchquick Trophy event. The 2015 event this year had been organised by the West of England Motor Club along with South West Off Road and was to take on a new venue in the shape of Little Silver Moto Parc, Exeter. This was a first time at this venue and it proved to be very popular with spectators who were there in numbers, and the entry was pretty good as well even though there was no prize money up for grabs, they just wanted to get there name on that famous Trophy.

In the main event for the Patchquick Trophy it was young 17 year old Josh Gilbert who had set the fastest time in qualifying and had first pick of the start gate in the opening race, but there was only one holeshot winner and that was Jake Shipton who had a blistering start from Luke Dean with young Gilbert there in 3^rd. Shipton soon had the throttle wound back and was in to a rhythm and was gradually pulling away from the rest of the field. Dean was put under huge pressure from Gilbert for the first couple of laps and the pressure seemed to tell as Dean made a slight mistake and through went Gilbert and Todd Kellett who were to have a real battle mid race which was thrilling the crowd. Meanwhile back at the front Shipton had a comfortable lead and was to maintain this lead and went on to take the win with Gilbert coming home in 2^nd, but a last lap mistake from Kellett had let Dean come back to take 3^rd.

In the second moto it looked as if it was going to be Shipton again with the hole shot as he entered the first corner on the inside, but he was to get hit on the back wheel by Dean who was out of control along with fellow Meredith rider Ross Keyworth who both went down, but keeping out of trouble and getting the hole shot around the outside was Jack Stevens who was the early leader, but this was short lived as Shipton got pass him on the opening lap, but Shipton nearly lost it as he nigh on went right back over as he jumped the double when blinded by a low sun, he did go off the track momentarily, but was soon back where he wanted to be back in to his rhythm. Stevens was also caught and passed by Gilbert on the opening lap who was trying his upmost on the 250f to stay with Shipton who was on a 450, but Shipton was to get the upper hand and soon pulled out a comfortable lead. Joe Clayton was soon in 3^rd and was being persued by Kellett who hadn’t had the best of starts by his standards and was to really pressurise Clayton on lap 5 and eventually found away pass, but he wasn’t going to catch the leading two as Shipton took the win, Gilbert 2^nd with Kellett taking 3^rd.

Unfortunately there was a long delay for the third Patchquick Trophy race due to a rider getting hurt and with the first aid busy with that rider and the light fading fast the organisers had no option but to cancel the last race so the Trophy was decided over two races with Shipton being declared 2015 Patchquick Trophy winner.

In the Group 2 races which was for the Speed Trophy and consisted of the second fastest 40 riders there was some real good entertainment as in the first race it was Justin Carpenter who led early on before he was caught and passed by Luke Oldfield. Jordan Gosling was a man on a mission in this one and soon passed Carpenter and was up in to 2^nd, but Carpenter was to stay with Gosling until on the final lap he made his attack and got pass Gosling to take 2^nd behind runaway winner Oldfield. In the second moto there was no stopping Gosling as he hit the front from the start and showed his class and took a convincing win and with it was overall winner of the Speed Trophy.

Group 3 races was for the remainder of the riders and this was for the Holne Trophy which was to be won by Mark Ferris who put together two fine wins

Patchquick Trophy Event

1^st Jake Shipton (450f Strudwicks Crescent Racing KTM) 45 + 45 = 90

2^nd Josh Gilbert (250f Route MVRD St Blazey Honda) 42 + 42 = 84

3^rd Todd Kellett (250f Dave Thorpe Off Road Honda) 38 + 40 = 78

4^th Luke Dean (450f Meredith Mx Suzuki) 40 + 36 = 76

5^th Joe Clayton (250 Wheeldon Farm KTM) 33 + 38 = 71

6^th John May (125 St Blazey Mx Husqvarna) 31 + 32 = 63

7^th Billy King (250F Kawasaki) 34 + 28 = 62

8^th Olly Jones ((250 KTM) 27 + 34 = 61

9^th Scott Ardren (450f Ardren Racing Kawasaki) 29 + 31 = 60

10^th Bill Farleigh (250f Tyremarks KTM) 35 + 25 = 60