Thursday August 24, 2006 at 12:00am
Photo - Brad Anderson leads Patrick Caps (Photo by Zack Snaps)
Patrick Caps wins the first MX2 race at the Ken Hall after a terrific battle with Brad Anderson, Australian Codie Mackie was third, David Willet fourth and former Ken Hall trophy winner Greg Hanson in fifith. Greg thrilled the crowd by taking the lead, losing it to Caps and then coming back for another lap at the front before dropping back.
The MX1 race one was all Josh Coppins, the Irish GP winner from the day before was racing for a hat trick of wins in the event. Sven Brugglemans from Belgium chased for second, Neville Bradshaw was third folllowed by Mark Eastwood and Mark Jones who had completed a race long fight.
Internatonal sidecar races are rare in the UK these days but the Ken Hall remains as the traditional sidecar spectacular on a track made for three wheels. A hard race on a drying track was won by Belgian team Jan Hendrix/ Tim Smeuninx, taking the lead on lap six from Latvian team Maris Rupeiks / Haralds Kurpnieks. Brits Scot Wilkinson/ Gary Burt were a fine third, Joris Hendrix / Eli Piccart, sandwiched between them and the Watson Brothers.
The second leg of the MX2 was not quite as good as the first but still packed a punch as Tough northener Brad Anderson chased through the pack to take second from Wayne Smith with a lap to go. First race winner Patrick Caps was flying and but for a few laps when Jake Nichols held first place he was always going to be the MX2 Ken Hall Trophy winner 2006. Commiserations must go to David Willett having his best ride for a while and holding a podium place in fourth slipped back to fifth as Cody Mackie passed him halfway round the last lap to make the third place podium his.
Josh Coppins came to the line looking for his third big International win in two days and didn't disapoint his British fans, the New Zealander forced on to take the lead and secure his third consecutive Ken Hall Trophy win. James Noble resisted a stern challenge from Mark Hucklebridge to take second but Neville Bradshaws fourth place was enough for second overall which gave Hucklebridge third overall.
A relaxed programme of races meant that the final race of the day, the second leg of the Ken Hall sidecars came before five o'clock and the large crowd remained to the end to see Jan Hendrix and Tim Smeuninx take the lead from Scott Wilkinson and Gary Burt. Rupeiks /Kurpnieks eventually squeezed into second to re enact the first race finishing order and the final podium positions.