Monday May 28, 2012 at 11:17am
The Queen may be commemorating her Diamond Jubilee but someone will be celebrating a win when the sidecarcross teams head west to Frome for round 2 of the Maxxis British Sidecar Championship on June 4th. After round 1 in the deep sand at Mepal most crews will be looking forward to the event hosted by the Frome Motorcycle Club at the popular Asham Woods circuit. The track is more of an old style scramble course without the whoops and high tabletops favoured by some of the top solo riders. The track obviously speaks for itself as there is a full line in all four classes. Not only is it a British Sidecar Championship round with 34 sidecars entered it’s also a round of the British Quad Championship and again has a full entry of 34. In addition it’s a round of the Dave Thorpe Evo Series with 40 in the 125 and 250 class and 40 in the 500’s.
The current championship leaders Stuart Brown and Josh Chamberlain will want to continue their winning ways but with only 3 points between them and Richard Jenkins and Dan Chamberlain they will need to be on their toes. Daniel and Joe Millard, Britain’s number two team from 2011, always do well at Asham Woods but as yet a win has eluded them but heralding from Frome as they do there is always a strong backing from the crowd to spur them on. Mepal wasn’t a lucky place for the brothers with bike problems putting paid to any hope of points from the first round; but with seven more rounds anything can happen!
Jack Etheridge and Ryan Humphrey have made a great start to their campaign finishing third at the very demanding round at Mepal nineteen points behind the leaders. They like the two teams above them plus the Millard Brothers and Brett Wilkinson and Craig Parmenter, currently sixth, are all competing in the World Championship and have had a busy 2012 so far.
Just four points adrift in fourth place is the Cornish pairing of Seemond Stephens and Mike Curnow. This is Stephens’ second season in sidecarcross coming from a successful career in speedway but 2011 only saw him competing in two British Championship rounds due to his speedway commitments. He teamed up with Curnow at the end of last season and they are certainly making a mark in sidecar world and top the leader board in the Clubman Sidecar Championship.
The line up is made up with seven wildcards including two more teams from Cornwall making their way up to Frome. The entry list is completed with an Australian rider, Clint Grabham, riding in his second meeting whilst visiting the UK and Europe. Clint has borrowed Doug Woods as his passenger.
With four full classes equalling 148 machines of varying types this should be a full on meeting and all this for an unbelievable £5 admission fee and free camping. The action kicks off with practice at 09.30 and the first race at approximately 11.15. Where better place to be to celebrate the Jubilee!
The Asham Woods circuit is at Leighton, near Frome, BA11 4PN and can be found on the A361, Frome to Shepton Mallet road.
Preview and photo
Ann Reynolds