The Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Race Club’s championship resumes this forthcoming weekend, 18th June 2017, when Round 3 takes to the track at the Darley Moor Motor Sports Centre near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET).
In addition to the usual championship classes for solos, sidecars and regular guests, the Superkarts, there will be a round of the ACU 50cc Championship, showcasing some of the smallest racing machinery available. A number of these machines are from an era in which they formed part of the Grand Prix paddock, a time when the World Championship classes were for 50cc, 80cc, 125, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc.
Practice begins at 10am and the first of 23 races is scheduled to start at 11.30am, there will be plenty of action on track with many local riders in the hunt for race wins and trying to keep their championship aspirations alive.
Chris Moore (High Peak) is currently at the head of the table in the Lightweight class with a comfortable 17 point lead over Graham Wilson (Kidsgrove), James Hind (Nettleton) a further point behind in 3rd place. Moore is also lying 3rd in the Formula Darley class, 14 points behind the leader.
Howard Baker and passenger Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Lincs) have a 7 point advantage in the Formula 600 Sidecar Championship, whilst Macclesfield’s Gary Knight and passenger Dan Evanson (Crewe) are 3rd in the Open Sidecar class.
Dean Ephgrave (Hucknall) has a very healthy 20 point lead in the Steel Framed Championship, over Wally Bradbury (Chesterfield), with Luke Southworth, 3rd (Birmingham) a further 4 points adrift.
The Pre Injection 600 machines will be on track at the same time as the Steel Framed bikes and Andy Lowe (Stone) currently holds a 16 point advantage at the head of that table, Richard Shipley (Kirk Hallam) is in 3rd place, 22 points behind the leader. Lowe also takes the same machine to the track in the open class Pre Injection races and currently lies 2nd place, 20 points behind leader Jamie Pearson (Derby), with Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) just one further point behind in 3rd spot.
Jamie Medhurst (Long Eaton) has a 12 point advantage over Lloyd Shelley (Burntwood) in the Sound of Thunder class. The Mini Sound of Machines run alongside these machines on the day and Stuart Hall (Rugeley), currently 2nd, will be looking to close the 10 point gap to the head of the table.
Matlock’s David Bradley heads the Classic 1000 championship by a very comfortable 24 points. The, new for 2017, CB500 class is currently headed by Paul Sawyer (Nuneaton) with Andy Whale (Birmingham) just 5 points behind.
If the opening two rounds are anything to go by there will be some excellent racing throughout the day and, at the time of writing, the long range weather forecast looks to be good, so be sure to get to the circuit early to claim a good vantage point.
The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £12.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £8.00. Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00. Adult admission to the Test Days is £6.00, Senior Citizens 65 and over £4.00.
For the Stars at Darley event on 9th October the adult admission price is £16.00 and Senior Citizens £10.00.
Advance Tickets at discount prices are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details -
http://www.darleymoorstore.co.uk/.
There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £5.00 per unit per night. Camping will normally be available from 4.00 pm on the Friday evening until 10.00 am on the day after the meeting or by special arrangement with the circuit management – Call 01335 343833.
Darley Moor is one of the few circuits in which dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead at all times during race day and the owners act in a responsible manner.
2017 Championship standings after Round 2 Peak Cup 1st Jim Hodson, 28pts; 2nd Steven Procter, 17pts; 3rd Julian Tillotson, 16pts
Open Solo 1st Jim Hodson, 24pts; 2nd, Julian Tillotson, 22pts; 3rd, Ben Scranage, 15pts
Open Sidecars 1st Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen, 21pts; 2nd Brian Wilson/Mike Fairhurst, 20pts; 3rd Gary Knight/Dan Evanson, 18pts
Lightweight 1st Chris Moore, 33pts; 2nd Graham Wilson, 16pts; 3rd James Hind, 15pts
Formula 600 1st Steven Procter, 30pts; 2nd Lloyd Shelley, 18pts; 3rd Jamie Hodson, 20pts
Formula Darley 1st David Carson, 28pts; 2nd Jamie Hodson, 18pts; 3rd Chris Moore, 14pts
Formula 125 1st James Bull, 36pts; 2nd Ben David, 17pts; 3rd Jorge Halliday, 12pts
Formula 600 Sidecars 1st Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth, 25pts; 2nd John Lowther/Jake Lowther, 18pts; 3rd Allan Schofield/Steve Thomas, 15pts
Steel Framed 600 1st Dean Ephgrave, 36pts; 2nd Wally Bradbury, 16pts; 3rd Luke Southworth, 12pts
Pre Injection 600 1st Andy Lowe, 36pts; 2nd Chris North, 20pts; 3rd Richard Shipley, 14pts
Mini Sound of Thunder 1st David Carson, 28pts; 2nd Stuart Hall, 18pts; 3rd Jamie Hodson, 18pts
Sound of Thunder 1st Jamie Medhurst, 30pts; 2nd Lloyd Shelley, 18pts; 3rd Jamie Horner, 14pts
CB500 1st Paul Sawyer, 26pts; 2nd Andy Whale, 21pts; 3rd Scott Gregg, 15pts
Pre Injection up to 1300cc 1st Jamie Pearson, 36pts; 2nd Andrew Lowe, 16pts; 3rd Mark Brailsford, 15pts
Classic 250 1st Geoff Hadwin, 36pts; 2nd Andy Wilson, 22pts; 3rd Charlie Ollis, 7pts
Classic 350 1st Simon Collins, 36pts; 2nd Mark Cockerton, 22pts; 3rd Alec Whitwell, 10pts;
Classic 500 1st Oliver Presswood, 23pts; 2nd Dave McCoy, 21pts; 3rd Frank Melling, 18pts
Classic 1000 1st David Bradley, 36pts; 2nd Andrew Lee, 12pts; 3rd Mike Harding, 10pts