Photo: Alex Kenchington at Snetterton.
250 GP National Championship returns to Silverstone in fitting finale to the 2010 Series on 23rd October.
It was way back in June when the Fraser’s Of Gloucester, Dunlop and ACU backed National Series visited Silverstone for what was then round 9 of the Championship. On that occasion we were in support of the Air Asia British Moto GP where Bedfordshire’s Andrew Sawford took an emphatic win, in a superb battle with Ant Hodson, Alex Kenchington and earlier in the race Mark Davies whose race ended while leading in a high speed crash entering the Maggots section of the GP circuit..
This time, for the final round the super quick National circuit will be used for the NG Road Racing Club Championship event which hosts the 250 Series.
With both Championships wrapped up last time out at Thruxton at the beginning of October, there is still plenty to go for, as 2nd and 3rd positions are still in dispute in both the National Championship and the NG Cup.
The St Neot’s Yamaha mounted Sawford took the National title following a very strong second part of his series, with a string of 4 wins and a 2nd to clinch the title. Lincolnshire’s Ant Hodson led the series for much of the year, with wins at Cadwell and Pembrey, consistency has been the key to his challenge however, with Sawford closing in, the MDJ Racing TSM Yamaha mounted Hodson slipped up with a crash at Anglesey opening the door for Sawford.
Alex Kenchington has finished in every round on board the Dennis Trollope Racing TZ making him the most consistent rider in the series. The only thing keeping the Somerset ace from taking the title all the way with Sawford, has been 3 10th place finishes earlier in the year – such is the intensity of the challenge at the top for the title.
Sawford sits on 228 points, only 25 points clear of Kenchington on 203 and Hodson on 200. The title is wrapped up because in the unlikely event of Sawford picking up a DNF, and Kenchington winning, the pair would be exactly tied on points however Sawford will claim the series on number of wins. How close do we want it?
Andy Mechem sits in 4th in the series but a run of bad luck and a Honda with an unhealthy diet of cylinders, the super fast round 2 winner from the Channel Isles will sit this one out and regroup for a title challenge next term. Dan Jackson has had a very strong year on the Team Sigie TZ and will look for a good start to run with the leaders – he certainly has the pace mid race and in the closing laps, and following a nasty crash at Anglesey but a very heroic return the very next round, Jackson is the one who most deserves a podium to close his year on a high.
Also look out for the very talented revelation of the year in the shape of 16 year old Scott Pitchers. Scott only gained his National Licence mid season to run on his Fathers RS Honda. Since his introduction to the Series he has been in the hunt for podiums as well, coming very close on a couple of occasions
The NG Cup title was also wrapped up last time at Thruxton by Adrian Martin on board his Graham File Tuning J&RB Racing TZ Yamaha. Martin has an astonishing result card on his way to the title – either DNF or win. Again the battle for 2nd in the series will go to Silverstone as only 17 points separate Sian Brooks and her Spyre Ltd Honda from the K&B Motors Ltd TZ of Peter Henry Cox. The pair each has 1 win and 1 DNF but Sian has been the more consistent podium visitor with 9 compared with Henry Cox’s 5. A Strong result from Chippenham’s Paul McCullagh could just steel 3rd in the Championship with a following wind etc. Lou Goddard makes a welcome return to the action following a testing crash at Anglesey in August ruled her out of the chase.
The on track action starts at 0900 sharp with 250GP timed qualifying at approx. 1030.
The entire day is crammed with NG Class Championship action also featuring the Phoenix Motorcycles of Trowbridge Open Series, as well as Formula 125, 125GP, Formula 400, Co Ordit 600cc, Powerbikes, Sound of Thunder, Minitwins, Sidecars, Metzeler Streetstocks and a strong entry of GP45’s in readiness for next years Championship launch, including some very familiar names, and Max Symonds on board the NG Club demonstrator/guest RM-Z Suzuki 450cc machine.
Images and Media coverage available from official championship photographer – Nigel Dike at EDP Photo News- press@edpphoto.com www.edpphoto.com or simply call 07774 170235 / 01249 782412
For more information on the 250GP ACU National Championship & NG Cup plus full details about NG Road Racing events and Championships, visit www.ngroadracing.org