Sunday 16th April 2017
Meeting Report
Bristol Grasstracker Chris Malone appeared to be targeting
an iron man award on Sunday at Cornwall Solo Grasstrack Club’s excellently ran
event at St. Erme. The experienced Bristolian stood on the podium in three of
the four solo classes held during the day and in all of his 15 races, he never
finished lower than 4th. Along with Malone’s heroics, several stand-out
performances were witnessed throughout the 49 races, all completed on a decent
racing surface by 4:30pm.
The only solo class that Malone did not compete in saw
another gargantuan effort, albeit from a racer at the very beginning of his
career. Young Plymouth Devils racer Henry Atkins took the first of his two
event wins in the 250cc class, never looking troubled throughout the day.
Although beaten from the gate several times, the Exeter teenager had all five
races fully under control by the exit of the first turn. A day-long battle
ensued behind him, with two-stroke campaigner Kevin Bull looking most likely to
pick up the second. However, a non-finish in his 3rd heat, followed
by a determined ride by Atkins’ team mate at Plymouth, Saul Bulley in their
final ride pushed Bull back to 4th. Consistent riding from local
racer Julian Collings meant that he was able to capitalise on Bull’s non-finish
and he took the final spot on the rostrum.
The second of Atkins’ wins came aboard the same 250cc
machine, but this time in amongst the 350cc racers. In the first heat, he led
home Cornishman Jake Quintrell, with the latter keeping within striking
distance of Atkins. However, in the second heat disaster would strike
Quintrell. After gating well and passing Atkins in the first turn, his frame
snapped. He used all of his experience to maintain control of the machine, but
his day was done, and from here on it was straightforward for Atkins. Following
him home in the remaining four rides was Chris Malone, with several good dices
between Steve Pearce and father and son riders Mark and Stevie Anderson occurring
behind the leaders. Anderson Snr looked most likely to take the 3rd
spot, but again a non-finish in his third ride cost him dearly. The five heat
wins for Atkins meant 10 out of 10 for him in a gruelling day’s racing for the
youngster.
The Upright class began spectacularly, but as several front
runners fell by the wayside, Chris Malone was left to cruise home and win the
class. Another Plymouth Devils rider Richard Andrews looked to be the
favourite, but only managed to finish one race, coming home 2nd
behind Malone. Another impressive looking rider was Luke Cox. He pushed Malone
hard, but was defeated after an incident on the back straight. This opening
Upright heat was highly entertaining and it was a shame that all of the top racers
had indifferent days. Eventually, Chris Bovingdon and Steve Cox were left to
tussle over the 2nd and 3rd placings, with Bovingdon
winning the race for runner-up.
The open solo class proved to be a two-horse race, featuring
returning Cornish star Josh Dingle and fresh from a 15 point maximum for
Plymouth Devils the previous Friday, Steve Boxall. Boxall, trialling his new
Grasstrack machine, clearly was struggling with set up as several times he
overshot the pit corner, running wide. Dingle though looked like he’d never
been away. Several strong rides saw him battle from behind the fast-starting
Boxall in all of the heats. The most entertaining of Dingle’s exploits occurred
in their third heat, where it looked like Boxall had finally got the better of
him, only for the Cornishman to dive underneath him exiting the final corner,
taking another win. A fine overall win for Dingle, leaving the crowd wondering
if retirement really was the right decision for this highly skilled Grasstrack
racer. Iron man Chris Malone picked up second place after Boxall failed to
finish his fourth ride. The third of Malone’s rostrum performances of the day.
Cornish ex-pat and his Cornish passenger Myles Simmons and
Kevin Woodley looked very impressive during the heats, storming to four heat
wins. Closest to him was Welsh racer Neal Owen crewed by another Cornishman,
Jason Farwell. It had been Simmons/Woodley who had got the better of the
Welshman in the opening race of the day. Several strong rides from Bridgwater
crew Simon Heal/Rowland Broomfield ensured them a place in the final, whilst
their Somerset compatriots Joe Mogg/Jake Cutler had pulled out of an earlier
heat after colliding with Heal/Broomfield. The non-finish placed them in the B
Final, which they duly won, earning them a spot in the main A Final. Pete Shaw
paired with former 2x British Masters champion Carl Pugh to take two heat wins
throughout the day and a comfortable spot in the final.
In the final itself, Simmons/Woodley once again made an
excellent start, the Ducker Suzuki really working out of the trap. But
Owen/Farwell managed to squeeze past the early leaders in the middle of the
first bend, with contact occurring as the two outfits fought for the same piece
of Cornish turf. Try as they might, Simmons/Woodley couldn’t get back on terms
with the Owen/Farwell, who really had shown a great turn of speed. Mogg/Cutler
and Heal/Broomfield engaged in an excellent battle of their own for 3rd,
with Mogg managing to get the better of
Heal on the final lap.
The visiting Lefthand sidecar class put on several fine
races, and a tie on points at the end of the day was testimony to how open
their meeting had been. British Champions Will Penfold/Ricky Pay started the
day with an excellent win, having to fight their way to the front, but from
there on their day was anything but plain sailing. Relative newcomers Gary
Potter and Will Naden are proving something of a sensation in the Lefthand
class. After some trademark fast gating, they managed to win two heats, whilst
another British championship winning crew Martin Cuff/Colin Clarke upset the
apple cart by rounding both crews to win the third leg. Added to this
excitement was several fast gates by Welsh crew Darren Morris/Craig Pembury.
The four crews put on some excellent racing, and the event was decided over the
final leg with any one of Cuff, Penfold and Potter in a position to win the meeting.
But it was the reigning British Champions who pushed and overtook the
newcomers, showing a great deal of speed in this final heat. This was Penfold’s
second heat win of the day, equally Potter’s haul. The crews decided to share
the spoils of the meeting, both being announced winners. Cuff/Clarke failed to finish
their final race after looking solid throughout the day. Fine racing from a
class packed with entertainment this season.
The final sidecar class is the old and new class, although
no old sidecars were to be seen on this day. Young driver Thomas Newton and his
Uncle and passenger Ben Bushell stalled on the line in the first heat, leaving
the more experienced sidecar man Mark Courtney/Leon Torres to win the opening
ride, although they were chased hard by new crew Alan and Patrick Keat. From
then on Newton/Bushell made up for their disappointing first ride by winning
every following heat. Several times, they were forced to chase down and pass
Courtney/Torres, although their job was made easier by a very sick sounding GS
500 engine in Courtney’s machine. The day provided another entertaining set of
rides from this fledgling class.
The final class of the day was the Quad entry. The 7 racers
were competing in their first Grasstrack event, having previously campaigned
mainly in Enduro events. The 7 riders produced some close racing all day, with
Jack Hodge coming out on top. Hodge did not have it all his own way, however
and was forced to scrap his way through the field in every race. Fast starting
Brandon Christian managed to get himself in amongst the front runners several
times early in the day, but Roche racer Stephen Udy made things very difficult
for Hodge, leading him in every race and even getting the better of him in
their 4th ride. Hodge though managed to win 4 out of the 5 races, showing
some real class aboard a four-wheeled machine, with Udy picking up 2nd
and colourfully presented Steve Hone racing consistently all day to pick up 3rd.
A fine day’s racing was witnessed in Cornwall Solo’s return
to the sport for 2017. The club are keen to build on this day, but as always
rely on racers and fans wishing to travel to the deep Westcountry for racing.
The club have given themselves a real shot in the arm for the time being with
this well run event, with the possibility of more meetings later in the season.
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