Ross Connolly came away from Snetterton with three race wins under his belt, a fastest lap award and the Championship lead following the second and third rounds of the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy.
The racing took place over the Bank holiday Sunday and Monday with two races on each day. The man on pole was Mark Cheetham with a time of 1min 14.4secs just 0.19secs ahead of GSX-R Trophy veteran Chris Hawkes. The front row was complete by Ross Connolly and Trophy stalwart Ross "Rossi" Richards.
Connolly capitalised on his front row start and took a flag to flag victory posting a race winning time of 12mins 41:73secs, ahead of the hard charging Mark Cheetham, who finished only 0:45 seconds behind in a time of 12min 42:18. R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy regulars Ross Richards and Chris Hawkes took third and fourth places respectively.
The second race of the day looked like it was going to Richards who got a lightening start and was being chased by Hawkes in a close second place. By the start of lap two, Hawkes had been relegated to third place, as the slow starting pole man Cheetham got into his stride. By lap three Hawkes had been relegated to fourth and Richards to third with Cheetham and Connolly resuming their unfinished business from race one. Some fairing and elbow bashing ensued as they tried to out-brake each other into Snetterton’s notorious chicanes. By lap six back markers from the Formula 600 race were starting to have an impact, at one stage blocking Cheetham into the braking zone as the trio of GSX-R’s dived into the Russell’s chicane and causing him to be relegated from first to third. Connolly and Richards seized this opportunity.
Cheetham was not to be deterred and eventually took Richards and Connolly on the final lap to win the race by 0:31 seconds in a time of 12mins 40:41secs. However, with both Connolly and Cheetham with a first and second a piece, aggregate times were needed to decided the round winner.
The overall win went to Ross Connolly with a time of 25mins 22:45secs over Mark Cheetham with 25mins 22:59secs. Cheetham picked up the pole position award which is a £50 voucher for Force Field Body Armour redeemable at Stamford Superbikes, with a time of 1min 14:40secs. He also managed the fastest lap with a time of 1min 13:51secs. The novice of the day was Paul Rogers who received the Express Insurance Top Gun Award. And the man nominated by the commentators as the most entertaining was also Cheetham and he received the Relentless Rider of the Day hoodie and supply of Relentless.
Day two got underway with the circuit bathed in sunshine as the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy rider took to the grid. As the lights went out to start race one it was Hawkes who out dragged pole man Cheetham into turn one, with a determined Richards in third. However, the drama came as an out of control Connolly tried to pull of the impossible by diving up the inside of Cheetham and Richards. With the bike sideways and his feet off the pegs, Connolly managed to keep his bike upright and on the tarmac, missing the back of Richard’s bike by inches. However, his move lost him track positions and he got back into the race in fifth place. However, by the end of the first lap Connolly was past Hawkes and on the wheel of Cheetham.
It only took another two laps to see Connolly take the lead and start to pull away from the chasing bunch. Once he had pulled a gap of a couple of seconds, Connolly got his head down and put in some blistering laps, with a best lap of 1min 12:98 on lap seven. Behind him, it was Hawkes, Richards and Cheetham who fought for the remaining podium places, swapping places at almost every corner and slip streaming each other on every straight. Lap after lap Richards would use the slipstream to out drag Cheetham on the Revett Straight, only to be re-passed on the brakes into the chicane. After the race Richards admitted that Cheetham was simply braver on the brakes. Connolly took the win, Cheetham was second and Ross Richards snagged third.
The second race of the day and Richards made the hole-shot leading the pack down the Revett straight for the first time. It took no time at all for Connolly to get to the front and pull away. It was then ‘business as usual’ as Hawkes, Cheetham and Richards swapped paint and position for the remaining two steps on the podium. Further back down the pack, it was eventual Express Insurance Top Gun award winner for the highest placed Novice rider Duncan Bedwell who provided the drama by out braking himself into Riches and doing a good amount of grass tracking, losing places on the track in the process. Bedwell wasn’t to be denied his award for top novice, having suffered a rear wheel puncture the previous day, and rode like a demon, passing three riders on the last lap to win the award and a cheque for £100. Ken Thompson, the only crasher of the weekend, after sliding off on new tyres in Sunday’s first race, got his race face on to secure a sixth position and the Relentless Rider of the Day award.
Connolly said: “What a great race and a great weekend! I loved every minute of it. Mark Cheetham made me work real hard in race one and with Ross Richards and Chris Hawkes breathing down my neck, it’s been brilliant racing. I’ve got to thank my girlfriend Vicki for the Go Faster meatballs and pasta she has fed me on all weekend – it made all the difference today! Also my mate James for the great work with the pit board. It’s been a real team effort today.
“Thanks also to my sponsors without whom I simply wouldn’t be here: Silkolene Oils, Arata Exhausts and Active Freight Management. Roll on Cadwell!”
Richards said: “A fab weekend really, I’m real happy. I tried to make a good start in both races and put a gap on the others ‘cause I know Ross and Mark were faster than me. Into the chicanes Mark was so brave on the brakes, he just gapped me.
“In the second race I tried real hard to use the back markers to help me and on the last lap of race two when Mark was as close as he had been all day, I managed to stick a back marker between us and it gave me the gap I needed. But a fantastic weekend and I am so excited about Cadwell.”
Cheetham said: “I am really enjoying some great racing with this GSX-R Trophy. The bike went well and certainly in the first race, I rode how I wanted. But this afternoon it was hot and I was tired, and I had to deal with the ‘Ross Factor’. It’s the Sea Gulls that done it. At four a.m. they were having a party outside my caravan and woke me up. Seriously, I’ve got to make sure I get some more sleep and then I’ll be on the top step of the podium. Cadwell Park – bring it on.”
Mark Dunkley, R&G Racing said: “What a brilliant weekend. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of racing and I can’t wait for the next round. The guys were on fire and the weather was superb too. It really couldn’t get any better.”
Day one overall result
1. Ross Connolly
2. Mark Cheetham
3. Ross Richards
4. Chris Hawkes
5. Paul Rogers
6. Richard Steadman
7. Christian Clarke
8. William Sawyer
9. Tim Sayers
10. Duncan Bedwell
Day two overall result
1. Ross Connolly
2. Ross Richards
3. Mark Cheetham
4. Chris Hawkes
5. Duncan Bedwell
6. Paul Rogers
7. Ken Thompson
8. Richard Steadman
9. William Sawyer
10. Tim Sayers
Championship standings
1. Ross Connolly 75
2. Mark Cheetham 56
3. Ross Richards 47
4. Chris Hawkes 36
5. Duncan Bedwell 30
6. Paul Rogers 29
7. Richards Steadman 23
8. Ken Thompson 22
9. William Sawyer 20
10. Christian Clarke 20