This weeks ‘What’s on Weekly’ features more events from around the country. Here is a selection of just a few events taking place.
Motocross
Following six action packed rounds which all kicked off in the snow at Brampton in March the BYMX series then went on the road visiting both Scotland and Northern Ireland and it all comes to a thrilling climax this weekend at Milton Park near Northampton. A total of seven new British champions will be crowned and the ACU flagship circuit in the capable hands of BA Promotions will play host to what should be the best championship decider of recent years. Adam Sterry has had his pedal pressed firmly to the EVO Tech Honda metal throughout the second half of the season and following sensational victory at the previous three rounds he now jointly leads the way in the Youth Open section. Sterry drew level with the long term leader of the series Nathan Watson on the HM Plant Red Bull KTM. The situation in the BW85cc division is just as tight as that found in the Open section with another three guys quite tantalisingly up for the ultimate gold prize. Brad Todd on the Ian Ridley backed Honda, Liam Knight on the RMJ Maverick KTM and Jack Gardner on the MX World Honda are the names in the frame and currently just six points separate them. In the remaining two sections the championship spoils are very much clearer cut. Alexander Brown on the MotoOne KTM heads the Junior 65cc standings - twenty six points clear of Jed Etchells with Ireland's Callum Meara a further twenty nine back in third. Somerset's Conrad Mewse leads the way in the SW 85cc ranks holding a virtually unassailable thirty eight point margin over second placed Jay Hague. Hague has in turn a forty two point advantage over third placed Jordan Eccles.
As an added bonus there will be a fifth youth champion crowned when in Saturday action the auto class pilots go head to head over four heats for the 2011 British title. And in Sunday action the British Adult Two Stroke champions will also be decided.
This Sunday top class Motocross action will take place at Tiverton Moto Parc, Nr Uplowman with the penultimate round of the 2011 Phoenix Tools Premier Motocross Championship. Bristol based and defending MX1 Champion John May has a slender lead and will be hoping to capitalise on it, but as with a lot of riders this is a new venue and there could be a few surprises. South Molton rider Luke Hill lies second in the Championship and knows this track well and will be a threat as will the likes of Belgium rider Maarten Cremers, Luke Blanchard, Sam Chapman, plus many more. As with the MX2 Championship things could change as Championship leader Jamie Skuse is a doubtful starter after breaking his collar bone a couple of weeks ago so things could get tight with the likes of defending Champion currently lying 2nd in the Championship Luke Mellows from Taunton out to take advantage as will Exeter’s Wayne Shimell, but all support will be for local Tiverton rider Harry Snow who currently lies 4th in the standings. Tiverton Moto Parc has excellent viewing and will be signposted off the M5 junction 27 and off the A361 with the first race at 10-30.
Trials
This weekend sees the annual ACU's Inter Centre Team Trial run this year by the Mid Wales Centre who are celebrating their Diamond Jubilee aniversary. This year sees almost a full house in both the youth and adult solo competitions and the competition looks very open with several teams looking for wins in the various events. In the youth class the reigning champions Yorkshire return with 4 out of their 5 winning riders from last year lead this year by Sam Yeadon with Jack Stones, Jack Price, Sam Johnson and James Stones replacing Richard Sadler who has moved up into the Adult team. Last years runners up East Yorkshire have a team lead by the capable Peace Brothers, while Southern are in with a shout with a team containing Chris Stay and Bradley Cox, Midland Centre team are headed by top C Class rider Sam Yeoman and the home Mid Wales team are led by B Class star Iwan Roberts. The adult competition so long the property of the Yorkshire centre have in recent years been eclipsed by the South East who bring most of their winning team lead by Sam Conner, James Fry and the two Ben's Morphett and Wibberly with the only change to last year's team being Chris Short replacing Graham Jarvis. Yorkshire are out to recapture their crown with a strong team lead by James Dabill, Jack Challoner and Jon Richardson fresh from the world championships backed by top national runners Dan Thorpe and Richard Sadler. These two teams will need to be on top form as East Yorks have a strong team lead by Michael Brown, Midlands have Ross Danby leading their squad and South Midlands have Alexz Wigg and Sam Haslem fronting a strong team. The sidecar competition is without the defending champions the Isle of Man but this opens the door for the South East team lead by Rupert Kimber, East Midlands team with Robin Morewood and the Wessex centre team lead by former British Champion Jon Tuck to fight for that coveted title. The trials start at 10am both days at Green Hall, Llanfyllin, Powys which is to the west of Welshpool / Oswestry off the A490 / A495 roads
Enduro
This weekend the Swindon and District MCC will be holding the Foxwell Enduro at Circencester Park in Cirencester. The Foxwell Enduro is set in the grounds of the country estate of Lord Bathurst just outside Cirencester, Glos, the terrain is a mix of woodland and open tracks. Check length of over 12 miles ensures a challenge for all, and with the special test being timed electroncially with timing beams - the event is at the forefront of enduros in the UK today. Classes are only Clubman and Sportsman with normal ACU capacity sub-classes (except Sportsman). Trials tyres on the rear wheel are mandatory to preserve the excellent location, which has been running on the estate for over 30 years.
Grasstrack
This weekend the Midshire Grasstrack Club will be hosting the Masters of Midshire Grass Track event at Tedstill House Farm on Sunday 11th September. The meeting will consist of 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and Pre 75 Solos along with 500cc Sidecars and 1000cc RH Sidecars. There will be a bahnrecord for the three fastest 500cc Solos and three fastest 1000cc Sidecars from practice and each rider that qualifies for the bahnrecord will receive a cash award with the winner of each receiving a further cash award. There will be a special award made to a rider which will be the Dave Harris Memorial Trophy and this will be accompanied by a cash award of £100! The club are pleased to inform spectators that the admission prices have been held for a third successive year with Adults being admitted for £10.00, OAPs/Concessions £8.00 with Children under 16 free! This enables a cheap family day out and with free camping from Friday until Monday why not make a weekend of it. The 1000cc Sidecars look to be a strong line up with Colin Blackbourn/Carl Pugh, Rod Winterburn/Liam Brown, Dave and James Goudge, a rare Midlands appearance of Richard Thomas/Jason Barry, Steve Smith/Dave Hogan, Paul Whitelam/Alan Elliott and Gareth/Nathan Winterburn. The 500cc Solos is currently headed up by Jamie Rodgers and Tim Nobes but with Charlie Saunders, Josh Dingle and Oliver Greenwood on their toes they won't have an easy time.
Practice takes place at 11.00am with the Bahnrecord at 12:45pm and the First Race off the line at 1:00pm. The venue is Tedstill House Farm, Middleton Scriven, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 6AH. The event will be signposted with Castrol arrows from the Friday morning before the event.
On Saturday the 500cc Sidecar Association will be hosting a Floodlit Grasstrack event at the Lower House Farm at High Easter. The meeting will be featuring both Solo and Sidecar Racing and will be incorporating both the Lester Goodwin and Ben Heath Trophy races. Racing will start at 5:30pm but the practice session will be starting at 3pm. Admission prices are £15 for an Adult, £10 for concessions, £5 for Under16’s and Students and Under14’s are free. Also available during the weekend is Hot Food and a Bar, Camping for the weekend is at a charge of £2.
On Sunday the Yorkshire Junior Grasstrack Club will be holding Round 4 of the Club Championship at Liley Lane, Mirfield. The event is Round 4 of the White Rose Championship and will feature both Adult and Youth Solo Grasstrack and MX classes. Pracitce will be starting at 11am and the first race is due to start at 11:30am. For more information about the event please visit the clubs website www.yorkshiregrasstrack.co.uk.
Road Racing
Classic Racing returns to Cadwell Park on the 10th and 11th of September with the seventh round of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Clubs championships. There is a packed programme of 35 races on both days catering for pre 1972 Classic and pre 1984 Post Classic solos and sidecars. Feature races include the 1300cc Classic Racer Syndicate Race, the Colin Breeze Trophy Race and the fifth round of the ACU UK 350 Post Classic Championship with Stu Hall leading the championship with Andy Muggleton and Chris Bishop hard on his heels.
Practice starts at 9am on Saturday and Sunday with racing following on shortly afterwards.
There are still a few places left for the Thunderfest Speed Trials which will be held at the Darley Moor National Road Racing circuit on Sunday 18 September. The Thunderfest is a development of the time trials which have been popular in Europe for years and have occasionally been run in Britain. However, instead of aiming for an average speed set by the organiser, Thunderfest competitors decide their own target speed - fast or slow. Entries are open to all bikes - road and race - made before 1990 and riders can purchase a single event ACU licence on the day of the Thunderfest. Thunderfest is very much a test of riding skill, consistency and smoothness. Faster riders, using race machines, can set target times at racing speeds whilst road riders, on slower bikes, can ride more gently. Both fast and slow riders have an identical chance of winning one of the many trophies on offer. The idea is to make Thunderfest ultra safe for everyone - especially riders without competition experience or those who no longer want to get involved in flat out track battles. The whole event is aimed at classic enthusiasts and there will be no modern bikes taking part. Rather, there is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with the emphasis on nostalgia and enjoyment. We will have our own, reserved, area in the Darley Moor paddock so that there is a real classic feel to the event. The entry fee is £115. This will include camping, a souvenir for every rider and three track sessions comprising free practice, timed qualifying and the time trial.
The DMMRC is looking to extend the actual time trial element of the event into a really long session – perhaps 20 minutes – subject to time constraints on the day so you riders will get plenty of track time.
For more information contact Frank Melling on 01928 740 498 or e-mail us at [email protected] and a rider pack will be sent to you electronically.
If your club is running an event in the coming weeks and would like to be a part of this feature please contact Richard Blyth on [email protected] with details of your event.