Ledbury Leader Grasstrack 2017

Ledbury Leader Grasstrack 2017

Sunday 9th April 2017

Race Report

A good crowd, a fantastic circuit and glorious weather provided the perfect opportunity for Ledbury club to stage the season opener on Sunday 9^th April, and the day did not disappoint. A bumper programme of 60 races was completed in front of an appreciative crowd (appreciation for the event has been all over social media since Sunday evening) even though some early incidents caused the majority of the racing to be run over 3 laps. The action on the track, although fast and exciting, produced some of the usual suspects on top of the rostrum, but many familiar famous names returned and gave good accounts of themselves.

One name in particular garnering plenty of pre-race attention was former Team GB speedway rider and World Longtrack competitor David Howe. He lived up to expectation after his year-long lay off by storming to two perfect heat wins in the 500cc Solo class. This feat was matched by James Shanes in the other heats.  The reigning European champion looked in devastating form as he looked to continue his dominance of domestic Grasstrack in 2017. Other riders never too far from the back wheels of these two were Tim Nobes, who is beginning to look more and more like his old self, and Ben Millichap who seems to go quicker every time he competes. In fact, the aforementioned pairing produced a fantastic heat of racing in the third leg. Millichap led for the majority of the race before Nobes, showing some of his never-say-die style that propelled him to Grasstrack stardom in his late teens, managed to round Millichap on the final bend. In the other 3^rd leg, we got to witness Howe take on Shanes, with Shanes dominating from start to finish on this occasion.

Such was the number of entries for this meeting, the club were able to give riders in all classes a ‘last chance’ B Final to compete in, with the top 3 riders in each joining the finalists. The 500cc Solo B Final was won by another promising young rider Luke Harris, who found himself in the B Final after throwing a chain whilst holding second in an earlier heat. In the A Final, it was Shanes once again who showed his class, winning from the first bend to the flag in tremendous style. He was duly followed home by David Howe, who must surely be pleased to be so on pace after a layoff, with Tim Nobes holding onto 3^rd. Racing for minor placings was furious with a race-long battle occurring between Luke Harris and Ben Millichap, the former winning that particular battle.

The one sad point of the day for this class was the loss to the meeting of 250cc British Champion Jed Collins. In his first heat, whilst involved in an enthralling dice with Howe and Nobes, his primary chain broke, dumping Collins unceremoniously onto the Herefordshire soil, rendering him instantly unconscious. As is the ruling for head injuries, Collins was unable to compete in the rest of the meeting, but in just three laps he showed that he is one to watch for this season.

Although Collins appears to have left his championship winning 250cc class, many suggested that we have witnessed the pretender to his throne dominate the 24-strong 250cc line-up throughout the meeting. 15-year-old Charlie Brooks stormed to three impressive victories, before winning the final equally as convincingly. The closest challenger to the Suffolk teenagers dominance was former British Champion David Knowles who rode determinedly to try and stop Brooks, but no matter how many tricks he tried, he had no answer to the sheer speed shown by the youngster. The Yorkshireman was forced to settle for second, whilst another youngster, Plymouth Devils racer Henry Atkins, came home 3^rd after a consistent day’s racing. Tim Greig, aboard his new Husqvarna powered machine, looked impressive all day and finished a solid 4^th, holding off another returnee and legend of the 250cc class Graham Thomas. Grasstrack Banter admin Russell Little rode well to finish off the top six, holding off a strong challenge from Arran Butcher.

Another former British Champion was in tremendous form in the 350cc class. 2012 350cc champion Andy Mellish won the final in convincing fashion, leading home Mark Taylor, although Taylor had been the only man to get the better of the Lancashire racer in an earlier heat. Dave Mears made the journey up from Kent worthwhile with a strong showing for 3^rd in the final, and Barry Powell made a great return from injuries to come home 4^th. Powell looked even better than he had been before his long layoff. Another returning legend picked up 5^th place. Wayne Broadhurst fought his way through a tough B Final to take his place in the A Final, and took a solid 5^th.  The Ashcroft brothers tussled for the entirety of the race over 6^th spot with Ryan getting the better of Liam on the run to the line.

 

The Upright and Pre 75 classes produced some of the closest racing of the day, with racers wheel-to-wheel and elbow-to-elbow throughout the competition. In the Uprights, it was Mike Dowling who made no mistakes to win the final. Having suffered mechanical problems early in the day, Dowling needed to score strongly for his remaining two heats. He won his first, but had to settle for 2^nd to Ian Dudley in his second, and the possibility of the B Final loomed. As it was, Dowling just sneaked into the A Final, and made good of the opportunity by winning it outright. Racing was ferocious in the rest of the field as several riders tussled over 3^rd, after Dudley had secured 2^nd. Chris Malone, who had ridden well all day, eventually broke away from the melee to claim 3^rd, with Kent rider Nigel Coates putting in a stunning performance to finish 4^th. 

Another Kentish invader dominated the Pre 75 class. Grasstrack Banter’s rider of the year Chris Mackett produced three strong wins on his way to winning the final, again in convincing style. Once again, racing behind him was close, but always respectful, with racers banging bars and elbows once again. Former Paris-Dakar competitor Dave Hammond managed to claim a solid 2^nd place with another heat winner Kenny Blain riding home for 3^rd. 

The Youth racing was well supported with the Auto Cadets and Cadets combined, although Zak Batey was the lone competitor in the latter class. Aboard his new machine, Batey looked to have made huge strides in speed and style, leading home the cadets by half a lap or more. The cadets swapped places several times, but it was another famous Grasstrack name, who rose to the top of the class. George Colvin led home Leyland Phillips throughout the day, whilst Charlotte Arthur had looked good early in the heats.

The Junior class began in heart-stopping catastrophe for a number of reasons. The first running of the first heat produced three laps of hellacious racing from Cameron Taylor and Max Perry. The pairing swapped places constantly for three laps and at great speed. But tragedy was to follow. Whilst the pair raced up the hill and past the commentary box, Perry failing to see backmarker Liam Cox up ahead. Perry collided heavily with Cox and the race was instantly brought to a halt. It is with great relief that the crowd (not to mention the boy’s parents) saw both boys get to their feet, although neither took part again in the day. This left Cameron Taylor to dominate the Junior class, taking a convincing win. Closest to the RTS boy was Sonny Springer, who battled with Taylor Springer all day, although the elder Springer was competing in the Inters class. After dropping a heat late on, Taylor Springer lost out on his top step in the Inters class and Nathan Alder rode home to take the Inters honours. 

The 500cc sidecar class saw 5 of the top 6 in last year’s British Championships competing, and the racing was fast and furious. British and former European Champions Josh Goodwin/Liam Brown looked the quickest outfit on the day, although a problem in their 3^rd heat meant that they had one blemish to their otherwise perfect afternoon’s racing. Closest to them was Super Series champions Mitch Godden/Paul Smith. Try as they might, they could not get the better of Goodwin/Brown, although it was a valiant effort by the former solo racer and his passenger. Dave Carvill/Cameron Godden rode well all day to claim 3^rd, after several close tussles throughout the day. Even in the final, Carvill/Godden embarked in a fantastic race with Scott Dunn/Scott Goodwin, Barrie Bennett/Eifion Hughes and Shaun Hughes/Louis Bennett. However, the day was all about Goodwin/Brown’s performance, laying down a statement before the Super Series kicks off at Swingfield in 2 weeks time.

The final class of the day were the 1000cc sidecars, and once again Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth looked like they would dominate the day. They won their three heats convincingly, leading home their closest contenders Rob Wilson/Terry Saunters in their final heat. Young riders Tom Cossar/Ryan Barker provided much excitement throughout the day, with determined rides to better their positions. They had some tremendous battles in particular with Westcountry pairing Simon Heal/Rowland Broomfield, with the latter coming out on top in the final, pushing Cossar/Barker back to 4^th.

Drama at the front though for the other Cossar crew once again in the final, as for the second meeting in a row, their outfit (although a different outfit than the one used at their last meeting) shed its chain. This time, whilst leading out of the first bend, Carl Blyth’s arm was raised and near-certain victory was snatched cruelly from them. This left Wilson/Saunters to lead the pack home, with another impressive crew, Matt Fumarola/Gareth Williams, complete with new kevlars and livery, rode safely home for 2^nd. The Heal/Cossar battle culminated with Heal finishing 3^rd.

The final gentlemanly gesture of the day occurred after the final. Rob Wilson, recognising that fate had snatched victory cruelly away from Cossar/Blyth, offered his outfit to the pairing to perform a lap of honour, much to the delight of the onlooking crowd.

After a long day’s racing, a positive air of optimism seems to be growing amongst the Grasstrack fraternity. Ledbury club members should be commended for their efforts, as do all of the riders who produced a fantastic day’s racing. Last mention must go to Clerk of the Course Matthew Wear, whose decision to cut races down to three laps after the first set of heats proved the perfect call.