Monday September 12, 2011 at 4:40pm
The penultimate round of the Darley Moor Road Race Club Championship gets underway this weekend, Sunday 18th September, but not only catering for fans of 2, 3 and 4-wheeled modern machinery there will also be ‘races’ for the Classic enthusiast when the ‘Thunderfest’ motorcycles take to the tarmac.
A huge variety of machinery and sounds will be out on track, dating between 1956 – 1986, from British single cylinder ‘thumpers’ through to Yamaha’s 4 cylinder, 2 stroke TZ750. However, the ‘Thunderfest’ winner does not necessarily need to be the quickest rider around the track. After the practice session and a 10 lap race, each competitor then has 2 hours to predict their own race speed to Race Control for the next 10 lap race. The winner will be the competitor who completes the race with the time closest to that predicted.
When the usual Darley Moor Championship classes are out on track you can be sure of some exciting racing, with just 36 points left a number of 2011 champions are still to be decided.
Shane Pearson’s absence from the action at Round 6, due to an injury allowed Jim Hodson to secure both the Peak Cup and Open Solo Championships last time out but, if the injury allows he will have to defend his Runner-Up position in the Peak Cup from Richard Wardle, who is just 16 points behind. Wardle has had a terrific run on the 600cc machine against the 1,000cc machines that are favoured by others. The action will not just be between these three in the Peak Cup races though as another Stoke on Trent rider, Lee Vernon, currently 4th, will be looking for victory this time after narrowly missing out at Round 6. Danny Smith in 5th place was challenging Vernon last time and being just 3 points behind he will looking to turn the tables this time around. Should Pearson not return to the track for the remainder of 2011, Vernon will have the opportunity of claiming the Runner-Up spot in the Open Solo Championship, currently 25 points behind in 3rd place.
Wardle holds the upper hand in Formula 600 class, leading Hodson by 17points, with Smith a further 31 points back in 3rd. Jamie Medhurst was another member of the walking wounded at Round 6 and he currently shares 4th place in this Championship with Mark Burditt. Burditt, another rider running in both Peak Cup and Formula 600 Championships, scored two 3rd places in the 600 class and two 6th places in the Peak Cup last time.
However, Medhurst’s main priority will be to try and regain the Sound of Thunder Championship lead after his regular challenger James Ford took full advantage of the absence to secure a double victory and a 3 point lead in the standings. Both Chris Gardner and Neil Addy recorded a 2nd and 3rd place apiece last time, Gardner will be looking to claim a top 3 Championship position, whilst Addy is looking to get into the top 5.
Gary Dangerfield took advantage of Anthony Porter’s participation in the Manx Grand Prix to secure class victories in the Mini Sound of Thunder category; he has now reduced the gap to just 14 points behind Porter at the head of the table. Alex Woodhouse currently holds 3rd place over Stoke on Trent racers Nigel Holdcroft and Phil Johnson, with just 7 points separating them this battle for the top 3 will certainly go to the final Round.
Dangerfield wasn’t able to repeat the task in the Formula Darley Championship, Porter only needs to score three points to secure the title, but Dangerfield, in 3rd (35 points behind him) is wrapped in a battle with Chris Spooner, 2nd and Rob Hodson, 4th just 4 points separating the three. Spooner and Hodson, along with Ben Godfrey carry their battle over to the Lightweight Championship, just 9 points covering them, with Godfrey heading the standings by just 1 point from Hodson, Spooner in 3rd place. Ricky Tarren is currently 3rd in the GP125 Championship, 29 points behind leader Jamie Hodson, but just 7 points from 2nd place. Last time out he was involved in a superb battle for 2nd place before finally having to settle for 3rd. Asher Durham is just 3 points short of 3rd place in the Formula 125 Championship, after a 3rd and 4th place at Round 6 he will be looking to close the gap this weekend.
Roy Hanks and daughter Julie Hanks-Elliott have an unassailable lead in the Formula II Sidecar Championship, but this will not stop them again mixing it with the larger 1000cc sidecars of the Open Class. Round 6 saw one of the largest grids for a sidecar race for a while and they provided a fantastic race for the spectators. Rob Golling and Roger Dean are currently 3rd in the Open Class category, 34 points behind the leaders.
Just 10 points separate Gavin Salt and Jon Skelson at the head of the Pre Injection 600 class and these races will certainly keep the spectators on their feet, both races last time around being settled by less than 0.5sec. Skelson will also be in the mix when the Pre 98 machines take to the grid, the second race battle at Round 6 saw Skelson finish just 0.17sec behind race winner and this year’s up to 1300cc Champion Kevin Cooper. Whilst Cooper is Champion the battle for the Runner-Up place is far from over, 8 points separating 2nd - 5th places – Gavin Heath 2nd, Skelson 3rd, Sebastian Brooke 4th and Kevin Parker 5th. The up to 500cc Class is currently being led by Wez Pearce who holds a 25 point lead.
As always Practice begins at 10.00 AM with the first race expected at 11.30 AM. Entrance admission Adults £11.00, Senior Citizens £6.00, kids under 16 free, parking & paddock transfer free, with Programmes £3.00. Food is available throughout both days at the ‘Darley Diner’.
For further information please log onto the Club’s website www.darleymoor.co.uk where you can also listen to live commentary direct from the meeting if you cannot attend.
Championship Standings (after 6 Rounds)
Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 99pts; 2nd Shane Pearson 51pts; 3rd Richard Wardle 35pts
Open Solos
1st Jim Hodson 99pts; 2nd Shane Pearson 51pts; 3rd Lee Vernon 26pts
Open Sidecars
1st Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith 68pts; 2nd Allan Schoefield/Steve Thomas 54pts; 3rd Roger Golling/Rob Dean 34pts;
Lightweight Championship
1st Ben Godfrey 66pts; 2nd Rob Hodson 65pts; 3rd Chris Spooner 57pts;
GP125
1st Jamie Hodson 78pts; 2nd Andrew Fisher 56pts; 3rd Ricky Tarren 49pts
Formula 600
1st Richard Wardle 71pts; 2nd Jim Hodson 68pts; 3rd Danny Smith 37pts
Formula Darley
1st Anthony Porter 87pts; 2nd Chris Spooner 54pts 3rd Gary Dangerfield 52pts;
Formula 125
1st David Carson 96pts; 2nd Jordan Rushby 54pts; 3rd Rhys Hutchinson 34pts
FII Sidecars
1st Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks Elliott 69pts; 2nd David Saunders/Grace Bradbury 26pts; 3rd Dean Banks/Kelly Lewis 24pts
Steel Framed 600
1st Steve Price 90pts; 2nd Dave Thomasson 49pts; 3rd Dean Ephgrave 36pts
Pre Injection 600
1st Gavin Salt 76pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 66pts; 3rd Daniel Pritchard 38pts
Mini Sound of Thunder
1st Anthony Porter 90pts; 2nd Gary Dangerfield 76pts; 3rd Alex Woodhouse 29pts
Sound of Thunder
1st James Ford 75pts; 2nd Jamie Medhurst 72pts; 3rd Paul Martin 44pts
Pre 98’s (up to 500cc)
1st Wez Pearce 81pts; 2nd David Carson 56pts; 3rd Robert Garmory 25pts
Pre 98’s (up to 1300cc)
1st Kev Cooper 84pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 37pts; 2nd Gavin Heath 37pts