Sensational Rookie, Carl Simpson (BMW 1000), leads the ACU Clubmans’ Championship by just eight points from Lee Wilson (Suzuki 1000) going into the fourth round of the series run by the Derby Phoenix club at Croft, on August 17 and 18.
Simpson, from nearby Stockton-on-Tees, only starting road racing at Easter, but has already produced some impressive results in the combined Derby Phoenix club’s 751-1300CC Four-stroke and ACU Series, despite not having raced at any of the circuits before, winning four of the 12 races run so far.
He regained the lead in the championship after the last round at Donington Park in June, overhauling Wilson.
It is a three rider scrap, with Jamie Harrison (Honda 1000) still very much in the hunt.
Simpson has 205 points, Wilson 197 and Harrison 190.
Wilson tops the Derby Phoenix club’s 700-1300 Allcomers championship on 125 points, but his two closest rivals Jamie Harrison and Liam Marchant are not far behind.
Just eight points cover all three.
Stuart Haslam, Leon Haslam’s cousin, left it late to start in this year’s Formula 600 championship.
Haslam, the reigning champion, missed the opening round at Snetterton, giving his rivals a head start, but he has made up since then.
Haslam has won of the eight races he competed in this year and lies third in the points’ table on 160, just one behind Lee Wells and 40 adrift of series leader, Stuart Martin.
With ten races to go, including four at Croft, it is not over yet!
Practice and qualifying on the Saturday starts at 9.30am, with racing following straight on. Sidecar warm up begins at 12.30pm on the Sunday, ahead of the racing.
Adult admission is £10 per day. Accompanied children, 15 years and under, get in free.