Oulton Park is nestled in the rolling Cheshire countryside, and without doubt one of the nicest setting for a race circuit, but Oulton is one of the UK’s most testing and (…arguably) most dangerous circuits.
Huge fast sweeping bends…. tight cambered hairpins…. tricky chicanes….. roller-coaster like undulations, and finally the kick up the backside up out of Dears Leap to deal with. Oulton is a busy circuit for the riders. However that means lots of overtaking !!!
A well set up sweet handling bike is what you need here and Donington double winner last time out Dave Hampton with the little 450 single has that. He currently heads the 500 Open series and from his performances last year he likes this circuit. Dave splits his time between the 450 and a TZ250 in the National series. Two very different challenges but Dave looks up for it this term.
Josh Day heads the Open and 600’s on his R6 but Max Symonds in the 600 along with Roo Cotton, Chris Pope, Chris Barnes and David Irons in the Open will be looking to spoilt Josh’s party. Tim Bradley is against dominating the F400 class, but John Price and Ben Harrison are up for the fight.
The Streetstocks classes this year are proving great viewing with Paul Jeffery, Richard Hughes, Jim Walker and Donington star Mark Dangerfield going elbow to elbow.
So many classes…..so little space to do them all justice, we have, Pre Injections.... GP45's.... Mini Twins.... Sound of Thunder.... Super Twins.... Prostocks and Sidecars are all on the program. So whatever you taste in racing your appetite will be well and truly satisfied this weekend......
The Phoenix Open
With eight-time champ Phil Bevan taking a year out of the NG series the fight is on for a new name on the club's premier trophy. Josh Day on his Crank Racing R6 is currently at the top on 181 points with fellow 600 rider Max Symonds in second with, Roo Cotton and Chris Pope on new R1 Yamaha's playing catch up......
125 / 250GP ACU National Series
With both National series under NG’s care now we can expect more two-stroke action than ever. Philip Atkinson, Ant Hodson and Dan Jackson and long with Rich Grinling, Dave Hampton and Bruce Dunn are the 250 top flight. Arnie Shelton showed everyone a clean pair of heals last time out and will be hoping for more points this here on his 125 RS Honda.
The Ducati Desmos
For 2016 NG is the home to the popular Ducati Sporting Club Desmo Due series that pits the very evenly matched 620 and 600cc against each other. Split into two classes the A class for 620’s saw Martin Cox command with 5wins from the fist 6 rounds, but Donington last time out was not kind to him and his series lead disappeared (…literally) in a puff of smoke. Andy Blomfield needed no second invitation and now heads things on his BB Racing Monster. The B class is all about Peter Pritchard on his Bay Studio Designs 600SS taking every round in convincing style……. James Robinson, Jack Younge and the rest need to do a bit of work to find an answer to Pritchard’s Pace
The Circuit
Oulton Park is one of the most testing…and some say more dangerous tracks in the UK. It is not a track that is easily learned and here there really is no substitute for experience. The long 2.7mile circuit repays precise riding and a well-set up bike over the lap with its complex turns and cambers in the corners. There is plenty of overtaking opportunities, so good wheel to wheel racing is always on the cards
The Fastest
Josh Day, set the fastest NG Road Racing lap here at Oulton back in July 2013 on his then mount, a ZX10R Kawasaki. He hustled the big ZX10 round in 1min 40.34 seconds....that’s an average speed of just over 96.5mph.
Oulton marks the halfway point of the 2016 season !!!.
Meeting four of 2016 means round of 7 the NG championship series, and as ever it is a one-day meet, so mistakes carry a heavy price….
No coming back tomorrow for a second crack !!!
All the regular NG Road Racing classes are out on track, with the addition as ever in 2016 of the Ducati Sporting Clubs Desmo Due Series, and also the new for 2016 Formula Prostocks for the slightly older Superbike and Supersport machinery.
The 125 and 250GP ACU National series are also out in force. So what better place to watch racing than this spectacular parkland circuit. The twist and turns, as well as the taxing undulations of this 2.7 mile circuit take some mastering, as does the banked Shell oils hairpin, so previous experience of the track is a huge advantage.
Settle back and see how the riders attack this meeting which marks the half way point of 2016 ……….
Admission Prices.
Ticket Type Saturday
Adults £15 (Save money…..Pre booked online price £10)
Tens (13-15) £8 (Save money…..Pre booked online price £6)
Children (U13) Free (If accompanied by an adult)
Paddock Access Free
For full conditions of admission and to take advantage of online bookings -
www.oultonpark.co.uk Directions to the Circuit
Oulton Park is situated in Cheshire, off the A49 Taporley to Cuddington Road. Look out for the Oulton. Park circuit brown chequered flag signs from all directions - Sat Nav: CW6 9BW
What’s on track
20 NG Road Racing championship split into qualifiers and final for each of the classes. That means some 8 hours of on track action each day. I suggest you get in nice and early, take a wander around the paddock and soak up the atmosphere as the riders go though technical inspection and free practice before taking to the track in anger for the qualifiers in seeded championship order. The main finals kick off early afternoon when all the championship points and prizes are contested.
Feature races:
125/250GP ACU National Championship
The Ducati Sporting Club Desmo Due Series
The Phoenix Open
NG Support classes:
F125
125GP
Moto 3
F400
GP45
500cc
600cc
Powerbike
Sound of Thunder
Super Twin
Mini Twin
Streetstock
Pre Injection
Formula Prostocks
Sidecars
Newcomers