BMCRC and MRO Round 4 Pembrey
Hudson shows promise in Rookie and MRO 600s
Scott Hudson (Yamaha R6) extended his 100% record in the Bemsee Rookie 600s in Wales this weekend, and also showcased his talent in the MRO Supersport and Superstock 600s, taking his first win of the season.
Hudson left Wales with his unblemished Rookie 600 record intact, as the BMCRC and MRO visited the short yet fast circuit of Pembrey, and he also took the win in the first MRO Supersport and Stocksport 600 race of the weekend.
However, it wasn’t as comfortable a weekend as he has been used to in the Rookies.
Matthew Stone (Oakley Design Yamaha R6) pressed Hudson the whole weekend, with the two of them gapping the rest of the field in all four races, however Hudson managed to keep the green R6 at bay.
Stone took three second placed finishes, though he crashed out at the Honda Curve on lap four of the final race, pushing hard to stay with Hudson.
Jay Budgen (Yamaha R6) took third in race one, and was just edged to third in race two by Lloyd Sutton Foster (Yamaha R6) after a close battle between the two of them and Nico Cipriano (MMC Yamaha R6), with just two tenths of a second covering the three of them.
Aaron Drzystek (Suzuki GSXR 600) got a good start in race two before crashing out of third at Debeni on the opening lap, and was met in the run off by Robert Goodall (Triumph 675), who crashed out on lap seven.
Another close three-way battle was on for third in Sunday’s opener.
At the halfway stage Phillip Mulvenna (Triumph 675) occupied third but ran wide into Hatchet’s Hairpin, allowing Sutton Foster to go up the inside.
Mulvenna went back up underneath through Debeni but Sutton Foster’s line gave him the speed to retake third into the Esses and held the advantage into Brooklands. Cipriano sat fifth.
A lap later and Mulvenna would exit the race via the grass at Brooklands, and come the chequered flag Cipriano would edge out Sutton Foster for third.
Stone’s exit in race four allowed Cipriano to take second, ahead of Sutton Foster.
Hudson showed his talent by entering his second round of the MRO Supersport and Stocksport 600s, and after qualifying fourth went on to win Saturday’s race, his first MRO class win.
He just edged out Peter Hay (PH Paintworks Yamaha R6) and Jordan Simpkin (Wheelfit Yamaha R6), who were second and third, with less than half a second covering all three of them.
Hudson led the early stages, and on lap five they dived three abreast into the hairpin at turn one. Hudson managed to keep hold of the lead until they reached Brooklands, where Hay went underneath to hit the front.
A lap later and they barrelled into turn one three abreast again, Hudson and Simpkin going up the inside of Hay. Hudson made it stick, however Simpkin had to stay third.
Simpkin battled again with Hay for second, but neither could do anything to stop Hudson securing his first win in the series this season. Hay eventually won the tussle for second ahead of Simpkin.
Hudson was looking to continue his impressive form Sunday, and hit the front in the first race immediately, and set about gapping the rest of the field.
However, young enthusiasm got the better of him, and on lap six he high sided out of Debeni and out of the lead, the bike cart wheeling across the grass.
Hay took the win ahead of Simpkin with David Shelvey (Seton Tuning Suzuki GSXR 600) just bettering Chris Kent (Mellor Metals Ltd Yamaha R6) for third.
The final race of the weekend’s result was taken from eight complete laps when red flags came out on lap nine after Christ Mitchell went down hard at the Esses.
Hudson managed to get the bike back out and took second, while Simpkin took the win with his teammate Lewis Wright, third.
Gennaro Esposito (Metropolis Honda CBR1000RR) arrived in Wales heading the BMCRC Rookie 1000s championship by just nine points, and left having extended his lead with four wins out of four.
The first race of the weekend provided some fantastic racing, with five riders going for the win.
Esposito eventually edged it ahead of Tim Cripps (HM Racing BMW S1000RR) and John Aitken (Suzuki GSXR 1000).
Ian Pearson (Yamaha R1) crashed out at Debeni on lap five and Ales Bastl (Honda CBR1000RR) lowsided out at turn one on the final lap, both vying for the lead.
Cripps was second again in the afternoon’s race ahead of Bastl in third.
On Sunday Esposito took another two wins with Cripps taking another two seconds and Bastl another two thirds.
The DFDS Seaways Yamaha Past Masters were in action for their second round, and Pete Fishwick arrived leading the championship by just two points from 2010 winner Michael Smith.
And it was also Fishwick who qualified on pole, posing the question, could he beat Smith to the title this year?
But a cruel start to race one answered that question, for most people, with a ‘no’.
Fishwick’s chain snapped as he let out the clutch, meaning a DNF for the championship leader. Smith took the win ahead of Keith Roissetter and Graham Higlett.
Fishwick’s DNF meant he had to come from the back of the grid in race two; he managed to get himself up to fourth. Smith took his second win, with Higlett second ahead of Roissetter.
Sunday saw Smith take another two wins to pull away in the championship standings, with Fishwick and Higlett second and third in both races.
There were impressive rides from rookie Andrew Bown, who managed a fourth, a seventh and two fifths across the weekend.
Max Symonds (J&C Symonds Aprilia) ran away at the front of the MRO Superteens, the 2010 NGRRC 125 champion taking all four wins.
The 15 year old from Salisbury comfortably beat the likes of Oliver Fitz-Patrick (Aprilia) and Luke Harris (Aprilia) who were second and third respectively in both of Saturday’s races.
On Sunday Symonds took another two wins, while Fitz-Patrick and Harris were again second and third in both races.
Jordan Gilbert (M25 Copiers Aprilia) saw his title hopes dented. A distant fifth in race one, two fourths, and a non-start in the final race meant the young rider was all too ready to put the weekend behind him.
The EDI Asia sponsored BMCRC Formula 400s arrived at Pembrey with Steve Murphy (Kawasaki ZXR 400) heading the championship after a clean sweep at Snetterton. Richie Welsh (Yamaha FZR 400) arrived second, a point ahead of 2010 champion Steve Palmer (Ravenperformance.net Kawasaki ZXR 400).
A poor weekend at Snetterton meant Michael Smith (Kawasaki ZXR 400) was down in twelfth in the championship standings on 20 points.
A weekend’s close racing at the front ended with Palmer taking the win in race one from Smith and Murphy, however in race two Palmer was down in fourth with Murphy taking the win with Smith, again, second. Richie Welsh was third.
On Sunday Smith managed his first win of the season in race one, ahead of Palmer. Welsh occupied the bottom step of the podium with Murphy fourth.
The last race of the weekend was red flagged twice, one for a crash involving Murphy into Debeni on lap one.
However, the delay for the restart meant Murphy managed to get the bike back out, however he parked up along the Speedway Straight with technical difficulties.
Palmer took the win from Smith with Welsh again third.
Championship leader, Mark Lister, was absent from proceedings in the Bumpstop.co.uk BMCRC Thunderbikes, allowing those behind to close the gap in the championship.
Martin Cooper (Hugh Freeman Yamaha/Tigcraft 426) grabbed a hat-trick of wins before being forced to retire from the final race of the weekend.
Cooper’s retirement allowed Steve Palmer to take a race win to go with his three second placed finishes over the course of the weekend.
Sarah Jordan (Steve Jordan Motorcycles Ducati 748) managed three thirds, with James White (Louigi Moto Ducati 749) taking a third and a second on Sunday after he suffered a huge high speed crash at Honda Curve in Saturday’s opener.
Chris Rogers and Andy Saunders shared a win apiece on Saturday in the BMZRC 250 MZs. Jonathon King and Nick Murton-Jones were second and third in both races.
Sunday’s opener played host to some exciting racing at the front, with two former champions going at it. Rogers and 2010 champion Saunders were dicing at the front until a collision at turn one on lap six ended both of their races.
That left King to take the win with Giles Spencer second and Murton-Jones third.
Rogers and Saunders were back out in the afternoon’s race, and finished first and second respectively. King was third.
In the BMCRC Sidecars Mick Bleakley and Heath Lane took three wins in the F1s, with Kevin Cable and Guy Pawsey taking the other.
In the F2s Marc and Rik Vanniewenhuyse took three wins, while Ralph Remnant and Paul Skinner took the other.
The Bonhams British Historic GP was in action over the course of the weekend, and 2010 champion Glen English shared the spoils with Steve Tomes, the two riders taking two wins each.
The next round of the BMCRC and MRO is at the Brands Hatch GP circuit on May 21st/22nd.
Photo is of Steven Murphy, leader in EDIasia Formula 400’s 'Racing Line Photography'