Mathison Takes the Most Honours at Darley Moor

Tuesday April 9, 2019 at 12:10pm

The 2019 racing season kicked off at the Darley Moor Motorsports Centre, near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) last weekend 6th/7th April 2019 with an updated set of Championship classes for two and three wheeled machines plus, for fans of four wheels, regular guests the Superkart UK Championships. Some excellent racing throughout the day and some on-track rivalries which are certain to keep the spectators happy this season.

Closest finishes of the day came in the Formula 600 races with Stephen Parsons (Cumbria) and Lloyd Shelley (Burntwood) each taking a win apiece after battling it out for the duration of both races. In the first encounter Shelley was quickest off the line with Parsons in pursuit on the opening lap until Matt Zschiesche (Stoke on Trent) managed to squeeze by and hold 2nd place for a lap. Parsons then moved back into 2nd place for the third lap and passed Shelley, into the lead on Lap4, the pair then battled it out until the chequered flag with Parsons taking the win from Shelley by less than 0.5sec, Zschiesche just 1sec further back. The second encounter saw Parsons get the quicker start and lead for the opening four laps with Shelley in hot pursuit before finally closing the gap and hitting the front on the fifth lap and holding the advantage until the chequered flag, with Zschiesche once again following the pair home for 3rd place. The result of the second race counting towards the Curtis Milner Trophy, in memory of a young Darley Moor racer who lost his life in a road accident. The deciding race for the Trophy will be the second Formula 600 race at Round 2.

Daley Mathison (Stockton on Tees) was the most successful racer on the day and one of the busier ones taking four victories and two Runner-Up places from six starts. His first race of the day was in the Peak Cup class in which a potential season long battle could well have been witnessed between himself and Josh Daley (Wigan), Ben

Scranage (Chesterfield) and Ash Stone (Matlock). The Opening lap saw Scranage first across the line with Daley and Mathison in close pursuit. Lap2 saw Mathison pass Daley and take the challenge to Scranage. Lap3 and Mathison hits the front whilst Scranage holds off Daley until the Lap5. However, a 10second penalty for jumping the start was handed to both Mathison and Scranage handing Daley into the victory, and dropping Scranage to 5th, giving Stone and Jim Hodson (Wigan) 3rd and 4th respectively. The second Peak Cup race saw Josh Daley claim a start-finish victory, but with Mathison just over 2sec behind at the flag, with Scranage taking 3rd and Stone dropping to 4th place after being 2nd on the opening lap. Mathison’s first victory came in the combined Pre-Injection 600 and Mini Sound of Thunder race, taking a start-finish victory on his Mini Sound of Thunder machine, crossing the line with an 11sec advantage over Stuart Bradbury (Kilburn) on a Pre-Injection 600 machine. Lee Smith (Mansfield) was 3rd on another Pre-Injection machine whilst the second Mini Sound of Thunder machine home was David Carson (Northwich) in an overall 7th place. In the second race it was Tim Walsh (Buxton), on a Pre-Injection machine, who was first across the line on the opening lap, but Mathison hit the front on Lap2, opening a gap of over 8sec on Walsh at the flag. Walsh adding the Pre-Injection class victory to his 3rd place in the opening race. Bradbury and Smith taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively, in the class. Once again Carson was the 2nd placed Mini Sound of Thunder machine home.

Immediately after taking his opening Mini Sound of Thunder victory, on a 650cc twin cylinder machine, Mathison returned to the paddock, swapped to his 1000cc four cylinder Open Solo machine and returned to the grid for the combined Open Solo, Pre-Injection and Sound of Thunder race, alongside his Peak Cup rivals; Daley, Stone and Scranage again. Once more the battle would keep the spectators entertained. Stone was the quickest off the line and held the lead until Lap4 when Mathison made his way to the front after being 4th at the end of the opening lap, 3rd after Lap2, then 2nd on Lap3. Daley had been following Stone throughout until the final lap when he squeezed by into 2nd place. On this occasion Scranage had to settle for 4th place. Matt Zschiesche was the first Sound of Thunder machine home, taking the honours with 8th Overall. Whilst Adam Walters (Derby) was the first Pre-Injection machine home in 11th. The afternoon’s race saw Daley off the line quickest, but by the end of Lap2 Mathison had hit the front an able to stretch out an advantage of over 6sec at the flag. After being 6th at the end of the opening lap

Scranage set about chasing the top three then after Stone failed to complete Lap5 it handed Scranage the 3rd spot. With just 3 laps left Scranage tried to close the gap on Daley, but backmarkers and the amount of time prevented him from claiming the Runner-Up spot. Once again Zschiesche was the first Sound of Thunder machine home in 7th Overall and this time Anthony Froggatt (Worksop) claimed the Pre-Injection honours with 8th Overall.

The new Junior Championship looks set to be the ideal platform for youngsters to show their talents with some excellent racing throughout the field although this weekend it was Cameron Hall (Barnsley) who stole the show taking two start-finish victories. James Bull (Southampton) was 2nd on both occasions, but behind these Katie Hand (Cabourne), Jack Worth (Barnsley) and Scarlett Robinson (New Mills) had two race long battles; the first race ending with Hand, 3rd; Worth, 4th and Robinson, 5th, whilst the second race saw Robinson turn the tables on Worth for 4th place.

James Ford (Whaley Bridge) proved to be the person to beat in the combined Lightweight and CB500 races, taking two start-finish victories on his Lightweight machine. Only Josh Hiatt (Cannock) on another Lightweight machine could get close to him; 2sec back in the first and 6sec behind in the second race. Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) got his CB500 machine amongst the Lightweight bikes to take victory in the class, claiming a 6th and an 8th place overall.

It was a bit of a family affair for fans of three-wheeled motorsport on this opening weekend; firstly Gary Knight (Macclesfield), with passenger Dan Evanson (Crewe), was racing against his son, Dan (Macclesfield) and passenger Matthew Rostron (Formby). Whilst son of double TT Winner, John Holden, George (Clitheroe) was racing with his father’s regular passenger Andy Winkle, known as Cheadle’s fastest postman. The races were dominated by the Schoefield/Thomas pairing who led all bar the opening lap of the second race. A mixed bag of emotions for the Knight family, who shared the Runner-Up spoils, but whilst one was finishing 2nd the other failed to make the start-line! Gary/Evanson finishing the first race and Dan/Rostron finishing the second race. The Young Holden/Winkle pairing were consistent recording 6th place in both races.

Fans of four-wheeled motorsport had a local racer to cheer for in the Superkart UK Kart Championship races. Charlie Johnson (Biddulph) getting amongst the leaders in both races; recording 4th place in the first, just 9sec from the winner. Race 2 saw a better result, lying 3rd until Lap5 when he was able to make the pass and claim the Runner-Up spot.

The weather was kind – cool, but dry; the racing excellent now roll-on Round 2 on Monday 6th May 2019!

The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £13.00 per day, accompanied children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £9.00.

Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00. Adult admission to the Test Days on 6th April 13th July and 12th October is £6.00, Senior Citizens 65 and over £4.00.

For the Stars at Darley event on 13th 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 2018 Season Pass for Darley Moor is also available for £80 including VAT (£50 incl VAT Senior Citizens) and admits to ALL motor cycle events at the circuit including test days 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 £6.00 per unit per night. Camping will normally be available from 2.00 pm on the Friday evening until 12.00 noon 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 always kept on a lead during race day and the owners act in a responsible manner.

2019 Championships (After Round 1)

Junior Championship

1st James Bull, 16pts; 2nd Katie Hand, 12pts; 3rd Scarlett Robinson, 10pts

Classic & Forgotten Era up to 250cc

1st Graham Oakley, 16pts; 2nd Glenn Atkinson, 12pts; 3rd Mark Cockerton, 10pts

Classic & Forgotten Era 251cc to 500cc

1st Dave McCoy, 15pts; 2nd Mike Lees, 12pts; 3rd Richard Stott, 10pts

Classic & Forgotten Era 501cc – 1300cc

1st David Bradley, 16pts;

Lightweight Championship

1st Josh Hiatt, 12pts; 2nd Tony Griffiths, 10pts; 3rd Gillian McGaw, 8pts

Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandit Championship