Tuesday May 28, 2019 at 3:07pm
Weather disrupted the qualifying sessions planned on Saturday. Four sessions were planned, but only one was completed due to rain and hailstones that fell at midday. The session was called at 4.30pm. Those classes that had four or less competitors had a qualifying session on Sunday morning. There were new faces in the winner’s circle on Sunday. Top Fuel Bike. Allan Davies was the number one qualifier on Saturday, but Neil Midgley ran 6.970 to pip Davies 7.202. Steve Woollatt had traction issues on both days. Midgley had a bye to the final. Davies ran a new personal best et of 7.013 against Woollatt who once again had traction problem at mid-track. Both of these riders have never won an ACU Top Fuel Bike event. Midgley led from start to finish to take the win light 7.125. Davies slowed at mid-track with smoke coming from the motor. Funny Bike. Former champion Dave Peters led the small field with 7.400 low et of the meet. Another former champion Phil Crossley was next 7.5616 just ahead of Kars Van Den Belt 7.5618. Dave Batcheler was the last rider with 8.220. Peters red lit against Batcheler in the semi-final and Belt beat Crossley in the other semi. This was Batcheler first ACU final. Belt got out the gate first but slowed at mid-track, Batcheler went pass and then Belt recovered, but could not catch Batcheler who won his first ACU event 7.638 to Belt 7.800. Comp Bike. Reigning ACU Comp Bike Champion Margot Schmidt was back on form and qualified in number one spot 7.816-177.83. Phil Leamon was next 8.227 followed by Louis Davies 8.597. Sean Mills and Chris Neary didn’t qualify. Valentijn Sandtke reached his first ACU final, when he beat Schmidt on a holeshot 8.210 to Schmidt quicker 7.897. Davies ran a personal best of 7.540 to knock out Paul Hambridge. Davies won his second race of the season 7.860 to Sandtke 8.114. Super Street Bike. With half a dozen racers competing in Hungary during the week, there was a small field attending this event. After one qualifying session only five riders came to the start line on race day. It’ s been ten years since Dave Smith was the number one qualifier 7.804. Chris Reed just edged Pete Field for number two spot 7.9934 to 7.9937.Mark Dainty and Graham Dance were the other riders to qualify. Garry Bowe and Dave Thomas didn’t make the show. Smith beat Field in the semis and Dance had a bye to the final. It has been a long time for both riders since they have been in a final. Ten years for Smith and Dance was back in 2013. It was a great race Smith took the win 7.525 to Dance losing 7.538. Report by Steven Moxley.