Martin Powell (Suzuki 1000), the reigning Crewe and South Cheshire club 450-1300cc champion always knew it was going to be a tough task to retain his crown this season, with talented opponents like Jamie Devine (Kawasaki 600).
But at the half way stage in this year’s series at Tonfanau, it has become much harder still. Devine’s form has been formidable all season. After the opening round Devine led Powell by 29 points to 28. But things went badly for Powell in this second round.
Devine won all three races, making it five wins from six outings. Powell, sixth at the end of lap one, was only fourth home in race one, beaten by Devine, Barry Evans (Yamaha 600) and Scott Smyth (Suzuki 600). Powell made a better start in the second race, but could not catch Devine and finished second, over seven seconds adrift. Worse was in store for Powell in the third and final race. He collided a rival attempting to outbreak most of the pack going into the first corner and crashed out, uninjured. Devine won again, setting the fastest lap for the third time, with Evans second.
With six races run and six to go, Devine now leads the series on 59 points, with Evans second, 11 points adrift and Powell third, trailing by 15.
Steve Nugent (SGN) could not get near the all-conquering Scott Dootson (Kreidler) in all three 50cc Racing Machines races, but with three second-places to his credit, the 64-year-old still holds a comfortable eight-point lead over John Lee (Minarelli). Dootson now has 30 points, 27 adrift of Nugent at the halfway stage of the season.
Craig Hauxwell, with 16-year-old daughter, Kristy in the chair of the CLK Ireson Honda 600, maintained his unbeaten run in this season’s sidecar races. Paul Bateman and Neil Gregory (Suzuki Windle 600) provided the main opposition, but they never came close to catching the father and daughter combination. The Hauxwells beat Bateman by over six seconds in the first two races, but the winning margin was down to 3.66 seconds in the final outing.
With six wins from six starts Hauxwell now leads Chris Wade and Paul Hauxwell (WH Racing Yamaha 1000), who had three third places, by nine points. Mike Carter’s unbeaten run in the 400 Supersport class this season came to an end in his first race of the day.
He was at the back of the starting grid, in 23rd spot, but had climbed through to third, ready to hit the front, when the red flags came out.
The re-run was over just five laps, but this time his get away was not so good and at the end the first lap he was down in 12th place. Time ran out before he could do better than fifth place, less than three seconds behind the winner, Nicholas Ward (Honda)
He won the remaining two races to stay firmly at the top of standings on 56, five more than his closest rival, Anthony Varey (Kawasaki), who had two seconds and a third.
Carter remains undefeated in the Forgotten Era 251-500cc class, though. Six wins in a row on the Honda 400, gives him a maximum of 60 points, nine ahead of Nick Ward (Honda).
Dave Thorpe (Ducati 250) is still unbeaten in the Classic 125 and single cylinder 250 class. He is seven points clear of Steve Porter on another Ducati.
Just three points cover the top three in the Classic over 501cc class. Mark Crompton (BSA 750), who missed the first round in March tops the table on 30 points after an hat-trick. One point behind is Trevor Anderton (Seeley Norton 750) who raced in round one, but was absent in this meeting. Third is Paul Johnson (Triumph 750) who was runner up to Crompton in all three races.
Adrian Day (Honda 350) tops the Classic 251-500cc class with a win, three second places and a third to give him a tally of 53 points, 12 clear of Anthony Norris on his Honda 350. Chis Ganderton (Suzuki) holds an eight point lead over Wayne Martin (Suzuki) in the Minitwins class, despite Gary Gittens (Suzuki) winning all three races.