Thursday April 28, 2011 at 2:24pm
Rounds 3 & 4 of the 250 GP National Championship headed for riders favourite Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on 16th 17th April, where the 2010 Champion Andrew Sawford kicked off his title defence with an immaculate show. Chippenham’s Paul McCullagh also pulled off a stunning double victory in the NG Cup as well.
Qualifying was dominated by Sawford on his St Neot’s Motorcycles TZ Yamaha, with local boy Ant Hodson (DJG Construction / TSM Yamaha) trading places throughout with Lee Goddard’s LLG Racing RS Honda and Newark’s Rich Grinling, who narrowly headed the series after the Brands opener and being his local circuit, hoped to push for a win. 5th on the grid was occupied by Melksham’s Darrell Higgins on his Dennis Trollope Racing Spares TZ. The DWH Racing Honda of Carl Hudson was next in 6th, Peterborough’s Bruce Dunn 7th and Brands Hatch round 2 winner – Dan Jackson and his Tem Sigie TZ took 8th.
The NG Cup runners were headed by Taunton’s Henry Cox on his PHC Yamaha, followed by the Chippenham Motorcycles TZ of Paul McCullagh and Scuthorpe’s Simon Hunt.
From the off, Round 3 of the Dunlop Tyres, Willis Developments and ACU backed series was a cracker, with the number 1 Yamaha of Sawford making the most of his P1 start slot to lead from the off. The battle on the road was just behind him with Ant Hodson, Dan Jackson, strong starting Lee Goddard and Rich Grinling all setting their sights on a podium finish.
At the flag, the bright yellow St Neot’s TZ was 5 seconds clear, opening his 2011 title defence in fine style having sat out rounds 1 & 2. Sawford’s only scare was on lap 8 as he was forced to take avoiding action of the high siding Henry Cox in the middle of the technical Hall Bends section. Despite posting some very quick laps mid race in a bid to stop Sawford, Dan Jackson collected a strong 2nd to add to his win from Brands, meaning he led the series overnight for the first time. The final podium step was occupied by Ant Hodson. Darrell Higgins picked off Goddard and just caught Grinling on the last lap to pick pocket 4th with Goddard happy in 6th at the end.
Carl Hudson had an uneventful race, but a great performance in 7th; former NG Cup Champion Dave Hampton was 8th on his J&RB Racing RS Honda. John Lewis had a good dice throughout with Hampton but settled for 9th on the Hicks Heating & Plumbing TZ Yamaha and Guernsey’s Phil Guillou rounding out the top 10.
The NG Cup was won by Paul McCullagh just 5 seconds clear of runner up Simon Hunt from Scunthorpe on his RS Honda. Colchester’s Gary Vines took his RS to 3rd, just holding off the determined Lou Goddard, in her first outing of the series on the second LLG Racing Honda RS.
Sunday’s round 4 result was a repeat of the previous day and in the process, Sawford smashed the class lap record for good measure! Jackson was 9 seconds adrift in 2nd after 14 very hot laps but none the less pleased with his very fast and consistent lap times, plus Jackson heads for Pembrey next month leading the series. Hodson in 3rd had to see off the early attention of the duelling Lee Goddard and Carl Hudson who were both picked off by a strong finishing Bruce Dunn who collected 4th and his best result so far.
Willis Developments
With Goddard and Hudson 5th and 6th, John Lewis completed a good weekend in 7th, Rich Grinling 8th, Guildford’s Tom Snow in 9th and a great ride to 10th on the road for the NG Cup winner Paul McCullagh, completing his double for the weekend
Another local star – Daniel Hudson took a brilliant 2nd in the cup championship race on his RS Honda and a delighted Henry Cox rode through the pain of the previous day’s big crash to collect a well deserved 3rd.
The popular and very welcomed Dunlop Performance of the Day awards went the way of Lou Goddard in Saturday’s race for her run through the pack. On Sunday, a front Dunlop GP was awarded to Andrew Sawford for his stunning display from front to back – taking pole position, 2 race wins from 2 and shattering the 250 lap record on the way. The rear Dunlop tyre was handed to Henry Cox, who recovered – just enough from his Saturday crash to collect a podium finish in the NG Cup on Sunday, despite heavy bruising and cuts – not to mention a very poorly TZ!
Sunday’s Championship race trophy and additional prize funding was put up by the family and very close friends of Trevor Smedley, the life long 2 stroke tuner who worked with some of the very best 250 and 350 rider’s the UK has seen. Trevor sadly passed away in January this year and, with Cadwell being his local circuit and of course the 250’s National series being so close to his heart, it was very fitting to name Sunday’s round 4 Championship race the “Trevor Smedley Memorial Race”. Trevor’s wife Jay was a special guest for the day and was on hand to present the trophies after the race. Close friend and 250 racer Jez Wilson later added “The presentation of the "Trevor Smedley" Memorial Trophy was a great success and his wife, Jay was not only emotional, but very proud and full of joy.”
Championship standings:
Jackson 75, Grinling 59, Higgins 51, Sawford 50, Hodson 48, Dunn 38, Goddard 38, Hampton 32, C Hudson 32, Guillou 26.
NG Cup:
McCullagh 95, Hunt 49, Harrison 49, Barrett 45, Skaife 41, Cox 35, D Hudson 31, Vines 27, Rhys Hardisty 18, Lou Goddard 13.