The ‘GSX-R Trophy’ provided an incentive for track day enthusiasts to obtain their first road race licence, free of charge and take part in a full season’s racing, at a realistic cost. With guidance and assistance from experienced racers and champions in the form of ACU Academy Coaches Clive Horton, Shaun Brown and Nigel Bosworth, many have become talented racers showing great potential. A glance at the ‘Trophy’s’ website forum, http://gsxrtrophy.boardonly.com/, created by the competitors themselves shows the camaraderie between them and the enjoyment achieved by competing.
The package not only proved popular with track day enthusiasts, but many experienced racers also switched to the ACU Suzuki GSX-R Trophy because of the one off cost of £12,040, covering ready to race machine, entry fees, purchase of tyres and clothing, the only cost implication being the fuel to go racing! Suzuki, the ACU and many of this years competitors are extremely keen to continue the Series into 2008 and details will be launched at the National Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC, 23rd November – 2nd December 2007.
Jim Parker said, “The ACU Suzuki GSX-R Trophy has succeeded beyond our expectations. With 2007 Champion, Lee Hodge and Under 23 Champion, Jay Dunn British motorcycle racing has two impressive talents that will continue to further their careers onto British Championship level and beyond. My thanks go to both Suzuki and Dunlop Tyres for sharing our vision and continuing to reveal our future road racing stars.”
Suzuki Marketing Manager Paul de Lusignan commented, “The GSX-R Trophy has been a fantastic success in its first year. From a fully subscribed grid at the beginning of the year, with a mix of novice and experienced riders, through to a strong championship with great depth at the end of the season, accomplishing its task in bringing new blood into the sport in an affordable manner”.
The Colin Appleyard 125 Academy Cup has also proven to be a ‘breeding ground’ for exceptional talent and providing the spectators with excellent racing. At the start of the season riders in the 125 Open Class, using tuned 125 GP machines, were crossing the finish line, as expected, before ‘Academy’ riders on the standard machines. From the second half of the season many Academy riders were showing their potential and not only mixing with the Open class machines but, taking the chequered flag in front of them. The talent shown by several riders has seen several British 125 Championship Team owners showing a huge interest in the ACU Dunlop Tyres MotoStar Cup paddock, Colin Appleyard 125 Academy Champion, Martin Glossop receiving assistance towards the end of the season from one of the most dominant Teams in the 125 British Championship, Team KRP.
The Sport Production classes, 125 and 80’s, are another two classes that have given competitors the ideal opportunity to start racing, especially for young riders from the age of 12 years. Whilst the competitors are the youngest on the grid, the competition has been no less fierce, the podium places throughout the season being shared by no less than 12 riders. Although a dominant performance from George Hogton-Rusling, with 5 race wins gave him the Championship, but the 80cc Championship was decided by just 1 point, with consistency beating race wins. Champion Edward Rendell winning 2 races and having just 1 DNF, against Runner Up Aiden Simmons with 5 race wins, but 2 DNF’s.
The Yokohama ACU FSRA FII British Sidecar Championship, given official British Championship status after the first round, was also decided through consistency. Simon Neary and Stuart Bond lifting the title after 2 race wins and finishing off the podium just once throughout the season, beating John Holden and Andy Winkle by 24 points after 2 DNF’s proved to be their downfall in an otherwise dominant performance.
The return of a British Championship for quarter litre machines proved to be a popular re-introduction for both competitors andspectators alike, providing the superb sound that had been missing from grids in this country for a short period of time. A dominant performance from seasoned campaigner Lee Dickinson, who finished off the podium just once, on his Joker playing Round at Croft, beating his younger rivals, Andy Sawford and Alex Kenchington.
The ACU Clubmans Open Championship proved to be another close finish with Charlie Corner lifting the title by just one point from Series leader, since Round 2, James Slater, after winning the Final Round at Cadwell Park. Having an extra race at each Round on his GSX-R Trophy machine, Jay Dunn finished the Championship in third place, an excellent performance on the 600, against the more usual 1000cc machines.
Final Championship Positions
ACU Dunlop Tyres Sports Production 80 MotoStar Championship
1st Edward Rendell 166 pts 2nd Aiden Simmons 165 pts 3rd Tom Weeden 154 pts
ACU Dunlop Tyres Motrac Racing Sports Production 125 MotoStar Championship
1st George Hogton-Rusling 182 pts 2nd Peter Sutherland & Cameron Wilson 109 pts
ACU Dunlop Tyres Colin Appleyard 125 Academy Cup
1st Martin Glossop 177 pts 2nd James East 118 pts 3rd Toby Glenn 110 pts
ACU Dunlop Tyres 125 Open MotoStar Championship
1st Jonathan Lodge 165 pts 2nd Charles Wallace 147 pts 3rd James Lodge 136 pts
ACU Replicast UK Bikesport News British 250 Championship
1st Lee Dickinson 186 pts 2nd Andy Sawford 141 pts
3rd Alex Kenchington 132 pts
ACU Suzuki GSX-R Trophy
1st Lee Hodge 189 pts 2nd Jay Dunn (Under 23 Champion) 180 pts
3rd Chris Hawkes 119 pts
Yokohama ACU FSRA British F2 Sidecar Championship
1st Simon Neary/Stuart Bond 184 pts 2nd John Holden/Andy Winkle 160 pts 3rd Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall 136 pts
ACU Clubmans Open Championship
1st Charlie Corner 95 pts 2nd James Slater 94 pts 3rd Jay Dunn 70 pts
For more details on the ACU Dunlop Tyres MotoStar Cup or any of the individual classes, please contact the ACU Road Race Department on 01788 566406 or email [email protected]