Round 1 of the Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Race Championship kicked off in style over the weekend 21st/22nd March, at the circuit near Wyaston, Derbyshire. Considering we are still in March the large crowd were treated to some excellent racing, all under glorious sunshine providing enough heat to allow a race record to be broken. On top of this there was the added bonus of two British Superbike level riders taking the advantage of some additional testing prior to their season’s beginning. Unfortunately, not everyone was smiling as one of the current champions, Tim Poole (Northwich), Peak Cup and Open Solo Champion, suffered an engine blow-up whilst testing on Saturday and therefore unable to take any part in Sunday’s meeting.
The Peak Cup opened the race programme on Sunday and with the added interest of BSB rider Richard Cooper and International Road Racer, Dan Cooper racing (without taking any championship points) it certainly provided entertainment for the opening race of the season. Many may have thought both Coopers would pull out a gap on the Darley regulars, but they certainly used their knowledge of the circuit to good effect. Returning from the injury which curtailed his 2014 season Jim Hodson tried to stay in Dan Cooper’s wheel tracks throughout the 8 lap race, finally finishing just over 2 seconds behind at the flag. In 3rd place double Pre98’s (Up to 1300cc) Champion, Shane Pearson proved he can still ride a modern machine quick, finishing a similar distance behind Hodson and just able to prevent Richard Cooper, a multiple Stars of Darley winner, from getting past in the final stages of the race, despite Cooper posting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 6.
The second Peak Cup race proved that Richard Cooper had sorted out any problems, or improved the set-up, with his new machine leading from start to finish and extending the lead to over 6seconds at the flag from Dan Cooper. A slower starting Pearson finally recovered his speed and passed Hodson on Lap 5 to record another 3rd place, with Hodson in 4th.
The combined Steel Framed/Pre Injection 600 race allowed 2014 Runner-Up, Andrew Lowe to record a flag to flag victory on his Pre Injection machine, whilst Anthony Porter (Chesterfield) came home in second place, the first Steel framed machine, ahead of the 2015 SF600 Champion Dean Ephgrave. Whilst the result may have been the same in the second race it was definitely a totally different race with Porter closing in on
Lowe and finally passing him on Lap 5 only to have the lead snatched back on the final Lap. Whilst Ephgrave was able to stay on Porter’s tail, he didn’t manage to get into 2nd place at any point, but the trio were separated by just 0.75sec at the flag.
The size of the grid may have been small for the Classic classes and Classic 1000 Champion Jamie O’Brien (Liverpool) may have recorded two flag to flag victories of over 25seconds, but behind him there were some interesting battles. In the first encounter David Bradley was 2nd on another Classic 1000 machine, but behind this David Smith, on a Classic 500, was embroiled in a race long battle with Mike Harding, on another Classic 1000 machine and Gordon Thorpe on a Classic 500. The final outcome saw Smith pip Harding at the line, for 3rd place, by just 0.02sec and Thorpe in 5th. In the second encounter Smith carried out a similar move at the flag, but on this occasion it was for 2nd place, beating Bradley to the line by just 0.1sec!
The combined Sound of Thunder and Lightweight race saw Gary Henriksen secure a start to finish victory in the first race whilst Paul Gibbs managed to pass the fast starting Mini Sound of Thunder machine of Brad Vicars on Lap 3, into 2nd place and stretch out an advantage to the flag. Vicars was impressive keeping his machine amongst the quicker, larger Sound of Thunder bikes, but on the final lap local rider Matthew Harwood pipped him to the line for 3rd place by just 0.04sec. The second race saw another flag to flag victory, but on this occasion it was Harwood who took the win ahead of Henriksen, 2nd, Gibbs 3rd and Vicars again the first Mini Sound of Thunder machine home in 4th. 2014 Lightweight Champion Chris Moore started his title defence well taking class victories on both occasions, being 8th and 6th on track.
The two Open Solo races proved that Richard Cooper was certainly ‘up to speed’ on his new machine taking victory in both with flag to flag wins. In the first Shane Pearson won the race long battle with Dan Cooper for 2nd place, whilst Jim Hodson was able to pass Cooper into 3rd on the penultimate lap, but finally had to settle for 4th place. The second race proved less frantic with Dan Cooper trying to stay in Richard’s wake, with Pearson shad-owing and Hodson a short distance back right through to the flag.
2014 Formula 600 Champion Jamie Medhurst continued his dominant form from last season taking a comfortable victory in the first encounter over Richard Wardle. Although their second encounter was very different with Wardle never more than 1second behind him and just 0.28sec behind at the finish. On both occasions Jamie Hodson was 3rd, with Brad Vicars, 4th having to make up from slower starts in the early stages.
The Pre98’s races had a similar outcome, Jamie Pearson taking two flag to flag victories, with Ken Davis overcoming slower starts and having to fight his way up into 2nd place on both occasions. Virgil Stevenson and Richard Stubbs shared a 3rd and 4th place apiece, although Stubbs was only passed on the final lap by Davis for 2nd place. Chris Moore was the highest placed Pre98 (up to 500cc) machine on both occasions recording an impressive 5th place overall in both encounters against the larger (up to 1300cc) machines.
There were further double flag to flag victories in the combined Formula Darley/125 races, Brad Vicars taking the honours and incredibly breaking the Race Record in the first race! On both occasions Jamie Hodson fought his way up to 2nd place, with David Carson 3rd on their Formula Darley machines. First of the 125 machines in both races was Derek Clark, finishing 8th and 7th Overall.
The two sidecar races proved to be similar affairs with different pairings becoming the victors after chasing the early leaders down. In the first race Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth chased the father & son duo of Gary Knight/ Dan Knight duo down throughout the race and forcing them into a mistake on the final lap. The tables were switched in the second race with Baker/Killingsworth making the faster start, but the Knight pairing were determined to make a fight of it, passing them on Lap 6 of 8 and holding on until the line by just over 0.5sec. Both these teams were on the smaller 600cc outfits, the first of the 1000cc machines home, in both races, were Paul Bateman/ Neil Dutton with overall 3rd in the first race and 4th in the second.
The days racing was certainly enough to whet the appetite for Round 2, which takes place on the 12th April 2015, then hopefully Tim Poole will be back and mixing it with Shane Pearson and Jim Hodson in the Peak Cup and Open Solo classes.
The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £12.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £8.00. Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00. Adult admission to the Test Days is £6.00, Senior Citizens 65 and over £4.00.
For the Stars at Darley event on 11th October the adult admission price is £16.00 and Senior Citizens £10.00.
Advance Tickets at discount prices are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details -
http://www.darleymoorstore.co.uk/
A 2015 Season Pass for Darley Moor is also available and admits to ALL motor cycle events at the circuit including test days. After this weekend’s meeting a Season Pass can still be purchased at the reduced cost of £73.00 (Senior Citizens £43.00) and can be purchased online or by sending a cheque made payable to Darley Moor MCRRC Ltd, together with the full name of the season pass holders to: Season Passes, Darley Moor MCRRC Ltd, Anvil House, Derby Road, Old Tupton, Chesterfield, S42 6LA
There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £5.00 per unit per night. Camping will normally be available from 4.00 pm on the Friday evening until 10.00 am on the day after the meeting or by special arrangement with the circuit management – Call 01335 343833.
Darley Moor is one of the few circuits in which dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead at all times during race day and the owners act in a responsible manner.
Championship positions (after Round 1) Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 15pts; 1st Shane Pearson, 15pts; 3rd, Jamie Medhurst 8pts;
Open Solo
1st Shane Pearson, 18pts; 2nd Jim Hodson, 12pts; 3rd Brendan Brown, 8pts
Open Sidecars
1st Paul Bateman/Neil Dutton 18pts; 2nd Anthony Eades/Nick Roberts, 12pts; 3rd John Potts/Claire Duplock, 8pts
Lightweight
1st Chris Moore 18pts; 2nd Matty Whelan, 12pts; 3rd Neil Lloyd, 7pts
GP125
1st Derek Clark, 18pts; 2nd Richard Mortimer, 12pts; 3rd Steven Taylor, 8pts
Formula 600
1st Jamie Medhurst, 18pts; 2nd Richard Wardle, 12pts; 3rd Jamie Hodson, 8pts
Formula Darley
1st Brad Vicars, 18pts; 2nd Jamie Hodson, 12pts; 3rd David Carson, 8pts
Formula 125
1st James Hind, 18pts; 2nd Alyson Walrond, 9pts; 3rd Benjamin Smith, 8pts;