Despite the angry weather with blustering winds and rain showers making conditions tricky for their first two day meeting of the year the NEMCRC completed their two day programme at Croft in North Yorkshire on time and with all classes completing their four races. A big thank you to all marshals, officials and competitors who stayed the course and contributed to the success of the meeting. The trophy races for Ken Redfern and Mac Hobson events had new names to be inscribed on the plinths at the end of racing whilst the Laird of Croft was again won by James Cowton.
Ken Redfern Trophy
Lee ‘Willy’ Wilson made up for the disappointment of last year by finally getting his hands on the magnificent Ken Redfern trophy, again like last year it was a close thing between Wilson and Barry Teasdale. But this time throughout the four races Wilson piloting the MSG Racing Suzuki 1000 always had the advantage on points, they had a couple of wins apiece but Wilson snatched a brace of seconds to Teasdale’s second and third placed finishes.
Andrew Tasker looked threatening on Saturday but the YPE Kawasaki expired during the warm up on Sunday and he took no further part in proceedings. Neil Bainbridge impressed first time out this weekend on the Hare Bulk Haulage Kawasaki with two thirds and two fifths to his credit while Steve Parson’s rode well to finish fourth on each occasion as well as fourth overall.
Laird of Croft trophy
Three start to finish victories gave James Cowton enough points to fore-go the final race and still retain the Laird of Croft trophy for the second year in succession. Wayne Humble notched up a brace of seconds before claiming victory in the final outing, Ross Jackman was quick on the Ian Bell Motorcycles R6, while Sammi Tasker and Brad Vicars impressed immensely each snatching a well-deserved third place finish on Sunday.
Mac Hobson trophy
Lee Crawford and Luke Capewell cruised to three convincing victories in the open sidecar races, although they were beaten by Greg Lambert/Kenny Cole and Dean Lindley/ R Bell in the other one they were well ahead in points and delighted to win the Mac Hobson trophy. Tony Thirkell with Dean Kilkenny in the chair notched up two excellent second places on Saturday while Lindley claimed the runner’s up slot on Sunday.
In the club championship part of things it was pretty much the same winner in each race with James Cowton taking all four in the Supertwins but he did have some stiff opposition from Brad Vicars who took the pole position there was some frantic racing between the pair with Vicars having to settle for second. Sadly, Vicars was forced to retire out of the lead on Sunday with mechanical problems and Dominic Herbertson rode well to claim both runner’s up slots. Mike Minns was unbeaten in the Stocktwins as was Gillian McGaw in the Formula 400.
David McConnachy looked smooth and stylish taking all four wins in Pre Injection 600 ahead of Crichton Campbell and Patrick Forman. Graham Ashbridge beat Paul Noble in all the Thunderbike outings, John Andrucci took the honours in the Senior Post Classic, Andy Blyth the Junior and Richard Johnson in the CB500.
Full results obtainable from the clubs web site www.nemcrc.co.uk