NESBITT TARGETS ANOTHER RICHARDSON STAR OF DARLEY TROPHY

Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 10:46am

The traditional finale to the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club’s season, the RICHARDSON Stars at Darley is set for this coming weekend, Saturday 11^th – Sunday 12^th October at the Darley Moor Sports Centre, near Ashbourne, DE6 2ET (or What3words: bounty.behalf.charm).

Firstly, the Club are grateful again for the help and co-operation from Martyn Richardson, West Midlands businessman, motor cycle road race fan, for supporting this 50th Stars at Darley, the 3^rd RICHARDSON Stars at Darley meeting. This milestone for the headline Trophy is to be supported by Club Championship classes that are still to determine their first 2025 Champion.

Both days will see the on-track action get underway at 1000hrs, with the Club Championships 20minute Practice sessions, followed by the RICHARDSON Stars at Darley Qualifying scheduled for 1155 – 1215hrs on Saturday and, a Stars Superpole just for the top 6 on the grid, at the same time on Sunday.

Racing is scheduled to start at 1220hrs with the first session of Championship classes each having a 6-lap race before the 12-lap Richardson Star of Darley race and then the second session for Championship classes with an 8-lap race. Points are to be awarded for all races, with a maximum of 60points up for grabs over the two days, so big changes possible in the Club Championship standings.

Entries for the Richardson Stars at Darley races are headed by Hawk Racing’s pairing of the current RICHARDSON Star of Darley, 2023/2024 victor, Charlie Nesbitt (Swindon) and team-mate, a certain TT legend, 6x Star winner, entering his 26^th consecutive Stars meeting, John McGuinness MBE (Lancaster). Last year’s Runner-up and former Darley Moor regular, Rob Hodson (Wigan) returns with his SMT Racing machine, along with 3^rd placeman last year, Ben Luxton (Bredbury) CFS Filtration Racing. G&S Racing return with Dutchman Jorel Boerboom, who was highest placed 600cc machine, at his first visit to Darley Moor, along with team-mate TJ Toms (Bridgenorth). Barry Burrell (Kirkby Mallory) returns with his Halliwell Jones BMW and last year’s winner of the John Newbold Trophy for highest placed Darley Moor Club competitor, Grant Thomson (Isle of Man) aims to repeat the feat. In addition to the solo ‘Stars’ competitors the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club are delighted to welcome Special Guests to the sidecar paddock former World Champion and TT Winner, Ben Birchall with new passenger Mark Wilkes (both Cumbria) and TT Winner John Holden/Phil Hyde (Blackburn/Leicester).

With regards to the 2025 Club Champions, Stephen Gorton (Leigh) is one of the most likely to be lifting at least one title whilst currently heading three championship classes. Most likely to be crowned 2025 Lightweight Champion, IF he can secure just a single point on Saturday, this would put it out of reach of his nearest challenger, Mike White (Atherton). However, these two are also battling it out for Wilson Trophy honours, which is likely to go down to the final race as just 4points is the gap at the head of the table. Gorton also holds a 35point advantage in the Golden Formula 400 class, this time over Steve Price (Stockport).

Matt Bell (Sheffield) heads into this final weekend with a healthy advantage over Adam Walters (Derby) in two Championship classes, leading Walters by 33points in the Open Solo class and 28points in the Ben Godfrey Trophy.

Benjamin Dale (Warrington) is also heading two classes, a 37point advantage over Liam Ashton (Hyde) in the Golden SuperSport 600, but just a 6point lead over Josh Froggatt (Worksop) in the Darley Cup standings. If Froggatt can turnaround that deficit, he also has the possibility of becoming a double champion, providing he can hold the 40point advantage he has over Stephen Taylor (Uppingham) in the Super Twins class.

Richard Hughes (Wolverhampton) holds just a 4point lead over Zac Leigh (Middlewich) in the Honda CB500/Suzuki Bandit 600 class, whilst Stephen Parsons (Carnforth) holds a slender 6point advantage over Matt Zschiesche (Stoke on Trent) in the Open 600 Class. In the Golden Superbike class Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) enjoys a 27point lead over Runner-up spot, but his nearest rival entered for the meeting, so far, is 3^rd Joshua Allen-Douce (Derby) with a 55point deficit to overturn in some way.

The two Sidecar classes have very different looking standings with Howard Baker/Matthew Rostron (Sutton Coldfield/Formby) enjoying a 43point advantage over Bill & Nick Roberts (Coventry) in the Formula 600 Sidecar class, but Alan Molyneux and Rob Coppock (Rufford/Runcorn) have just a narrow 4point lead over Anthony Eades and Ash Gibson (Hyde/Tameside).

What better way to finish the racing season off? Adult weekend tickets £34, Seniors £28, Kids Under 16 (and dogs; provided they are kept on a lead) Free. Day prices are £18 Adults and £15 Seniors, with Camping available from Friday through to Monday morning at £10 per night for tent, caravan or motorhome.

2025 Championship Standings (after Round 8)

Golden Formula 400

1^st Stephen Gorton, 105pts; 2^nd Steve Price, 70pts; 3^rd Corey Brown, 48pts

Wilson Trophy

1^st Stephen Gorton, 90pts; 2^nd Mike White, 86points; Corey Brown, 60pts

Darley Cup

1^st Benjamin Dale, 99pts; 2^nd Josh Froggatt, 93pts; 3^rd Jonathan Trezins & David Glossop 58pts

Ben Godfrey Trophy

1^st Matthew Bell, 120pts; 2^nd Adam Walters, 92pts; 3^rd Mark Ball, 51pts

Open 600cc

1^st Stephen Parsons, 97pts; 2^nd Matt Zschiesche, 91pts; 3^rd Jack Worth, 80pts

Golden Superbike