With recent weather conditions dictating the need for regular track surface maintenance and then a rogue but very brief thunderstorm intervening, it meant that Sunday’s 2025 ACU British Grasstrack Championships ran on maybe just a little later than hosts Grasstrack Banter Promotions had expected!
The wait, though, for those end-of-day all-important big finals to decide the destination of the 2025 titles was to be more than worthwhile! In four all-action, thrilling but dramatic encounters, it was Max Broadhurst (GT140’s), Ashton Vale(250cc), Paul Cooper(350cc) and Rob Heath/Kyle Fish (Left Hand Sidecars) who were to take home the honours. So many congratulations to them all.
Setting the flavour for the day, the very first ACU Championship heat of the day, a GT140’s battle was to provide the early drama. Tony Atkin had led it all the way under pressure from Mark Scopes, with defending Champion Ian Clark plugging away in 3rd. Then on the final lap, Atkin slowed with mechanical issues, thus allowing Scopes and Clark to pass. On the run into the flag, Clark then found the drive to steal the win right on the line from a surprised Scopes! Despite that late defeat, the impressive Scopes then reeled off three great heat victories to deservedly top the GT140’s qualifiers score chart. Also scoring heat wins in this one were Wayne Broadhurst (2) and Paul Smith, but the main surprise in this class was that Atkin was eventually not to make the final cut and did not compete in his last two outings.
So, in the race for the GT140’s crown, Clark, Wayne Broadhurst and Scopes were considered by many to be favourites, but instead it was young Max Broadhurst who led the way. Early on, Scopes held 2nd from Wayne Broadhurst as Clark began to make his move. Passing Wayne and Mark, he got up into 2nd and was closing in on the leader, only for mechanical gremlins to halt his march. Controlling at the front, it was Max Broadhurst displaying great composure and style for his young age, with the Oxford Chargers speedway lad styling it all the way to victory as his dad made it a memorable family double by passing Scopes, then resisting a late challenge and just about holding on for the runners-up spot. Taking 4th was Smith with Steve Newsham, Luke Wicks and Kevin Gwillam the other finishers.
Determined to retain his 250cc crown, Luke Harris started with a great win in his opening heat despite coming under serious pressure from Ashton Vale. These two fast pilots certainly laid down a marker for the rest of the proceedings, clearing off and leaving the rest of the pack in their wake! Also taking a heat win in his opening ride was Rick Scarboro, who looked equally quick. Unfortunately, though disaster was to strike in his second outing when a broken chain caused him to fall awkwardly, bringing down Ben Phillips in the process. For both riders, it signalled the end of their proceedings with Scarboro requiring a trip to the hospital. Get well soon, Rick and Ben! Back to the racing and after that first heat defeat, Vale was right on the gas, scorching to three untroubled wins. Harris also maintained the pace with another couple of victories as a delighted Thomas Vining, the 2024 Intermediate Youth Champion, recorded his own 250cc maiden heat success on his way to final qualification.
In the final, Harris led the charge to turn one with David Knowles for company, but seeing an inside line suddenly appearing, Vale went for the gap and thus surged into top spot. Early on, though, Max Derrick had suffered a fall, so the red flag was out and a rerun was on the cards. In the restart, Vale took an early advantage, but Harris was right on his tail and looking for a way through.
Unfortunately, the Champs challenge was halted when he shed a chain, leaving Vale, another Oxford Chargers speedway rider, to race clear and onto victory from Knowles, a 250cc Champion right back in 2004, the hard-charging and always entertaining Simon Hammersley, Austin Riches, Vining and Tim Greig.
With the 350cc big three of Paul Cooper, Jack Roberts and Cameron Taylor sharing the qualifying heat wins, the final destination of the title looked to be a very open affair! And, when the tapes went up for the decider, what an epic struggle it was to be! At the first time of asking, Roberts was fastest away before both Cooper and Taylor pulled alongside. For the next lap or so, they swapped positions for fun, racing wheel-to-wheel and at high speed. Riding the outside line, Taylor kept just about edging into the slightest of advantage, only for this absolute classic to be halted by a red flag after Luke Clifton fell.
So, the question now was, could the fun be repeated in the rerun? Well, you bet it could! In another fantastic scrap, it was just about a replay of take one until Taylor, the great entertainer, unfortunately pulled up stating, “I couldn’t see, and the result of that was I almost went through the ropes, losing some places in the process! So, I left it at that, but will go again next year.” With the unlucky Taylor out, Cooper took control, storming to his fifth 350cc title despite tremendous late pressure from Roberts. The final place on the 350cc podium went to Barry Powell, whose day had not started too well due to mechanical issues during practice. Dave Mears, Karl Miles and Jamie Fenn-Smith were the other 350cc final finishers.
With a classy ride, Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge came through from 3rd to pass Will Penfold/Freddie Wood and Rob Heath/Kyle Fish in the opening Left Hand Sidecar heat. Josh also won his second outing whilst defending Champions Danny Hill/Callum Ray scored a brace of heat victories to top the final qualifiers. Following the thrilling solo finals, the sidecars then followed suit with a dramatic stormer of their own.
As the tapes went up, it was Will Penfold and Rob Heath who were fastest away, with Josh Penfold and Danny Hill hot on their heels. Quickly, Josh moved through into top spot, but the action was totally red hot and about to catch fire in an incredible last lap! Working hard, Hill passed Will Penfold, then went round Heath on the pits turn before closing in on leader Josh Penfold going down the back straight. With one last-ditch big effort to retain his title, Hall then produced another daring outside swoop going around the outside of Josh on the last turn. But dramatically on the exit and with just the run in to the flag to come, the two battling crews made contact, the Champions coming off worst and crashing spectacularly. With Josh Penfold slowing and stopping before the finish line, Rob Heath blasted past on the inside line to take the win and title. Will Penfold was the second-place finisher, with Tony Penfold/Karl Beddingfield 3rd and Michael Phillips/Conor Measor 4th.
Also, on the programme at the Bantasia Arena was the introduction of a Bahnrekord attempt and Youth racing. It was certainly great to see the Bahnrekord resurrected at a UK event, and with a total of £250 prize money up for grabs, it proved to be a very competitive affair! Taking home the £150 first prize and the Norman Pike Memorial trophy was Paul Cooper, with Cameron Taylor the runner-up and Ashton Vale on a 250cc machine in 3rd. Some of the prize money for the Bahnrekord had been put forward by an anonymous donation, so many thanks to them!
Giving the Youth riders a chance to rub shoulders with the stars and sample the big event atmosphere, the Autos/Cadets got proceedings underway. Continuing his recent great form, Albie South won all four heats after seeing off the fast-starting Dakota Wright. In the Autos, Dakota’s brother Dalton beat Levi Collins in a last heat decider to claim the overall win as Kobi Gutteridge took 3rd.
The Juniors also went down to a last heat decider as Luton James Mcalinney and Archie Whitelam were right on it! Whitelam won the first two heats with Mcalinney in tow before the roles were reversed in the deciding couple of tussles. Those victories for Mcalinney saw him take the overall with Digby Clearl 3rd, Braydon Blyth 4th, Harry Little 5th and Charlie Dowd 6th. Struggling with mechanical issues early on, a heat two DNF for Blyth certainly proved to be costly in the race for podium places.
Three E-Bike riders contested the meeting on Sunday with Kody Pay dominating all four heats ahead of Harry Wicks and Max Kennett, watched and encouraged by Dad, a certain Mr Edward Kennett! And so, to the final Youth class, those fast Intermediates. After Archie Rolph had won the opening three heats despite close attention from Ollie Binns and Finley Theobald, it was all change in the last one! Missing the gate, Rolph had to chase for a change, and despite getting up to 2nd, he couldn’t catch the flying Binns. Overall, it was still Rolph taking top slot from Binns, Theobald and William Offen.
Massive well done to Grasstrack Banter Promotions on hosting the 2025 ACU British Championships, and many thanks to all of the sponsors and supporters who helped them make it happen.
Results
ACU British Championships
GT 140’S 1 Max Broadhurst 2 Wayne Broadhurst 3 Mark Scopes 4 Paul Smith 5 Steve Newsham 6 Luke Wicks 7 Kevin Gwillam 8 Ian Clark 9 Duncan Burton 10 Charlie Hall 11 Connor Sargeant 12 Tony Atkin 13 Ron Steward 14 Kevin Bundock 15 Lee Harding 16 Darren Sargeant.
250cc 1 Ashton Vale 2 David Knowles 3 Simon Hammersley 4 Austin Riches 5 Thomas Vining 6 Tim Greig 7 Luke Harris 8 Max Derrick 9 Jake Breeze 10 Adam Hawker 11 Rick Scarboro 12 Ben Phillips 13 Luke Tuck 14 Richie Knight 15 Karl Beddingfield 16 Shane Knight.
350cc 1 Paul Cooper 2 Jack Roberts 3 Barry Powell 4 Dave Mears 5 Karl Miles 6 Jamie Fenn-Smith 7 Cameron Taylor 8 Luke Clifton 9 Will Thurlby 10 George Pardoe 11 Luke Tuck 12 Jody Hodgson 13 Ryan Ashcroft 14 Tim Curnock.
Left Hand Sidecars 1 Rob Heath/Kyle Fish 2 Will Penfold/Freddie Wood 3 Tony Penfold/Karl Beddingfield 4 Michael Phillips/Conor Measor 5 Danny Hill/Callum Ray 6 Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge 7 Tommy Penfold/Warren Atkinson.
Norman Pike Memorial Bahnrekord 1 Paul Cooper 19.17 seconds 2 Cameron Taylor 19.35 3 Ashton Vale 19.40 4 Jack Roberts 19.70 5 Luke Harris 19.97 6 Dave Mears 20.49.
Youth support
Autos 1 Dalton Wright 22 points 2 Levi Collins 22 3 Kobi Gutteridge 16.
Cadets 1 Albie South 32 points 2 Dakota Wright 28.
Juniors 1 Luton James Mcalinney 30 points 2 Archie Whitelam 30 3 Digby Cleal 20 4 Brayden Blyth 17 5 Harry Little 15 6 Charlie Dowd 14.
Intermediates 1 Archie Rolph 31 points 2 Ollie Binns 29 3 Finley Theobald 24 4 William Offen 15.
E-Bikes 1 Kody Pay 32 points 2 Harry Wicks 28 3 Max Kennett 24.
Race Report and Images by Mike Wood