Westcountry Winner

It was a day of dominant performances at MCPMCC’s triumphant return of the ‘Westcountry Winner’ Grasstrack at Cornwall’s Boarded Circuit in Roche, an event held on a circuit that seems to get better and better every year. The excellently prepared, multi-cornered purpose built venue provided a consistently smooth surface and dust was miraculously kept to a minimum when considering the sweltering conditions. Ipswich Witches and Team GB speedway rider and Cornish home-grown talent Benjamin Barker stormed to victory in the Open Solo class, whilst Mark Cossar and Carl Blyth dominated the three-wheeled event, but plenty of action was seen further back in the pack.

The breakthrough of the day was the performances of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ sidecar class. Pitching Pre 1975 sidecar outfits alongside the ‘new’ 500cc outfits threw up some tremendous racing throughout the day, with plenty of death-defying passes and determined ‘hunt-downs’. In the final, it was St. Austell’s (and MCPMCC club promoter) Mark Courtney and Leon Torres who broke past the fast-gating Thomas Newton/Ben Bushell combination to win the final in relative ease, but some of the racing seen through the heats shows that this new style of sidecar definitely has a future. The class is also very affordable, with outfits being made across the South West. Hampshire visitor Paul Nelson and his passenger Lewis Wharton, aboard their Pre 1975 Puma Suzuki, ensured that it wasn’t a full complement of Cornishmen on the rostrum. He fended off a four lap long attack from another St. Austell pairing, Nick Dimente/Steve Roberts to secure 3^rd.

The 250cc solo class provided some excellent racing, but again it was a dominant performance that shone above all others. 16-year-old Exeter-based Speedway and Grasstrack racer Henry Atkins won all four of his heats in relative comfort, only being headed for the first lap at any point in the day. He duly won the final after making his way through the pack. Fast-starting Hampshire visitor Ben Ilsley led the final, but was hunted down by another Speedway regular, Richard Andrews. Just as Ilsley looked to fend off Andrews, youngster Aaron Butcher attacked both Ilsley and Andrews, the 15-year-old rounding both of his more experienced adversaries and achieving a very impressive 2^nd place. Ilsley clung on for 3^rd, and Andrews, no doubt fatigued from a hot day racing in two solo classes, had to settle for 4^th.

Mark Cossar and Carl Blyth performed a spectacular display of high speed performance around the circular Roche circuit and the Rugby/Plymouth partnership never looked like being beaten all afternoon. The closest outfit to them, Welshman Neal Owen and Cornish passenger Jason Farwell fought keenly to try and keep on terms with the four times British Masters Champions, but just couldn’t match the mind-blowing cornering speed of Cossar/Blyth. A fine afternoon was had by Guernsey pairing Clint Blondell and Ross Young. After winning a heat earlier in the day, the Channel Islanders picked up a fully deserved 3^rd place. The final itself was curtailed early after Wadebridge passenger Kylub Wilce fell from his outfit, parting company with driver Dave Buckley. They had completed enough of the final however to be awarded 4^th place, just ahead of Mick Stace/Mark Truscott and young St. Columb racer Kieran Hicks and passenger Dan Bray once again producing steady rides to complete the top six.

Experienced St. Dennis speedway ace Benjamin Barker looked very impressive on his first meeting on the grass for many years. Behind him, Richard Guest rode well to come home 2^nd aboard a 350cc machine, and Richard Andrews, who had to revert to his 250cc machine after mechanical gremlins attacked his 500cc bike, finished 3^rd overall.

Finally, the quads class looked very fast, with a comfortable win being earned by Lee Hakin. There’s no doubt that with more quads on the line in the future, they could produce some fantastic racing at the Roche raceway.

A scorching hot day was enjoyed by a healthy crowd. Many riders agreed that the circuit was in the best condition that it has ever been in. On such a hot day, dust was expertly kept to a minimum. The Boarded Circuit in Roche is the UK’s only permanently Grasstrack venue, and with it being just off the A30 at the Victoria Interchange, definitely worth a visit when the Grass racing gladiators return next summer.