This week’s ‘What’s on Weekly’ features a selection of just a few events taking place around the country this weekend and next week.
Motocross
This Sunday (1st April) the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship makes the trip to Canada Heights in Kent for Round Two of the season. The event is hosted by the Sidcup and District MCC at their superb venue, which is sure to create more fantastic racing as the Championship moves forward. The MX2 class will see the battle for the Red Plate heat up after Zach Osborne as a non-starter after a practice crash last week. This opens the door for the like of Mel Pocock, Graeme Irwin and Arnaud Tonus to take charge at the top of the table. Canada Heights will be a vital round for Elliott Banks-Browne as he looks to recover from a DNF at the first round, while French star Nico Aubin will be looking for a strong improvement in his result following a slow start to the season at FatCat. Sunday’s MX1 class will feature current Red Plate holder Kevin Strijbos on the HM Plant KTM UK machine looking to continue on from his dominating performance at the opening round where he took three race wins. Gert Krestinov on the Route 77 MVR-D Honda and Matiss Karro on the Team STR KTM will be looking to close the gap on Strijbos along with former Champion Shaun Simpson and Ireland’s Martin Barr. Dutch star Marc De Reuver, showed some great potential at the first round, albeit hindered by some small crashes and little mistakes that limited him to 11th overall and will be looking to close the gap on the series leader on aboard his Lanes Kawasaki. Last year’s runner up, Kristian Whatley suffered a heavy crash in qualification at round one and rode in pain for 14th overall and will be looking to improve at Canada Heights. This event will also mark the opening round of the British MXY2 Youth Championship, with a number of last year’s front runners moving up into the main classes. This will allow for a several new faces to take over at the front of the field as they look to make an impression on the British scene. Riders to look out for are sure to be Joe Bamfield (Evo Tech Stevens Honda) after making the podium at the last round of the 2011 season, young Tommy Alba on the Oakleaf Kawasaki who has recently been scoring strong results in the Premier MX Expert Championship in the South West. Another name to look out for will be Ben Watson, the youth sensation of recent years now moves up to the 250f machine looking for glory. Sunday’s action starts at 9am with Practice and the first of eight Championship races starting at 12:15pm. For more information please visit the Official Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship website on www.MXGB.co.uk.
Trials
The South Birmingham Motor Club get the A.C.U. Luscombe Suzuki Leeds British Sidecar Trials Championship moving on Saturday and Sunday with an ambitious double header championship weekend at the popular Clee Hill venue in Shropshire. It promises to be a cliffhanger in the championship class with father and son Adrian and Aaron Smith aiming to retain their grip on the title chase. The Isle of Man crew will have neighbors Gary Flowers and Antony Smith tracking them and hoping to close down the twelve point championship lead. After a dismal Isle of Man trip Rochester’s other family pairing, Rupert and Chris Kimber will be attacking, as they always do. That no score at Peveril rocked the Kimber boat. Robin and Sam Luscombe will be hoping to get on track after a missed round and a third and fourth in the West Country. The series sponsor is waiting to see whether the Smiths can hold form and just when will the Kimbers really get into their stride. School grounds man Peter Dale and landscaper Barry Pocock hold the ace card in the inter class but Tony Crabtree and Jamie Howe intend to change Peter’s hand. Daryl Dale, champion in class, rides on a no pointer with Hannah Etherington. Mark Kemp and Bob Chapman rule the clubmen but Ian Allaway is back in the hot seat with Mark for this double header. Paul Churchill and Kevin Parnell miss the Mansell on Saturday so Mike Jewell/Graham Clarke, Phil Sparkes/Roger Tuck and Karl Jarvis/Bob Chapman crews will have a field day. In the newcomer category Cornish crew Alan and Rosie Maynard are up for another twenty points to add to their maximum scores. The Club has the very experienced Tim Fairbrother as clerk of course. Tim has a twenty five mile road based trials course marked out for two days of championship trailing. Twenty five Midland Centre solo competitors will ride the Clee Hill Trial on Sunday. Parc ferme is the Royal Oak Hotel on the Ludlow to Cleobury Mortimer road. Start time each day is 11.00 am.
North Derbyshire Youth MCC will hold the Allsop Cup Trial, incorporating the final round of the East Midlands Centre Youth Championship at Victory Quarry, Doveholes, near Buxton (signed form the A6, just North of Buxton) on Bank Holiday Monday 9th April, starting at 11am. The trial will have have the usual club format with three routes for the Youths and Adults. Adult classes will include Expert to Beginners, Over 40 and Twin-Shock. The club is re-introducing a Conducted Route for the smaller bikes and riders. These will have separate sections with two routes sited away from the main trial. This is a Youth Championship round but Adult riders are more than welcome. The Centre Championship has, so far this year had poor support so with the help of the Centre the club is offering FREE rides for C and D class youth. No matter which Youth Championship Class you enter you will be assure of a satisfying ride as they will be given sections that they will be able to ride without too much difficulty. The Allsop Cup will be the main Club Trophy of the day and goes to the top Class A rider on the Hard Route. Class A and B will be given the choice of the Harder route or the Intermediate Route plus a 50/50 Route. You may enter on the day but early entries accepted. Conducted Route riders are asked to notify the club in advance. An entry form is on the Club website. Any questions regarding the championship, venue or trial, phone Ruth or Alan on 01332 559813
Enduro
Easter Sunday will see the first round of the 2012 ACU British Twinshock Enduro Championship hosted by WTRA. The Drovers Enduro will be the first of the seven round Championship, with two different Championship classes, the Championship Class and the Clubman Class.
Grass Track
This Sunday the Ledbury Motorcycle Club will be hosting the Ledbury Flyer which incorporates the Roger Williams Memorial Trophies. All proceeds from the event will be going to the St Michaels Hospice. Practice starts at 11am and the first race will be setting off at 12:30. Sunday’s event is being held at Orlham Farm, Leddington, Nr Ledbury, HR8 2LN. Admission prices are £9 for Adults, £7 for Concessions and Programmes will be charged at £1.
Road Racing
Croft Circuit’s 2012 track racing season roars off with a very special start this week with the North East’s biggest motorcycle racing event of the year on the weekend of 31 March/1 April. Significantly the event will also mark the beginning of the organising North East Motor Cycle Racing Club’s 50th birthday celebrations. With some special races and additional displays to celebrate. Ticket prices for adults is just £12 per day and FREE all weekend for children aged 16 and under – a family-friendly policy that is in place for all of Croft’s motor sport events in 2012. All admission includes access to the race teams’ paddock, enabling the public to rub shoulders with the star riders. Saturday: First Practice starts at 9am the first race will immediately follow practice. Sunday: First practice (for Sunday entries only) starts at 12 noon the first race will follow practice (no engines after 6pm)
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 pr@acu.org.uk with details of your event.