Stone’s the Man to Beat at Darley

Wednesday August 7, 2019 at 1:51pm

The grids may have been a little smaller than usual but the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club Championship still provided excellent racing at Round 5 of the series held at the Darley Moor Motorsports Centre, near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) on Sunday 4th August 2019.

The very first championship race of the day, the Peak Cup, provided one of the closest finishes when Ash Stone (Matlock) took the first of four victories, ahead of Harry Jackson (Mansfield). This was also the first of three start – finish victories, taking the win by just 0.28sec from his counterpart. Following the Peak Cup battle the pair were then out again in the first Open Solo race and this was the hardest of Stone’s four victories. Following on from his 3rd place in the opening Peak Cup race, Richard Eglin (Derby) was quickest off the line in the combined Open Solo/ Pre Injection/Sound of Thunder race and led the opening lap, with Anthony Froggatt (Worksop) on his Pre Injection machine in 2nd, Jackson 3rd and Stone 4th. Lap2 saw Jackson hit the front whilst Stone could only find a way pass Froggatt but was locked in a battle with Eglin for the next few laps, finally making the break on Lap5 and setting about closing the gap on Jackson. At the beginning of the penultimate lap Jackson had a 0.7sec lead, but Stone was not finished, recording the fastest lap of the race he caught and passed Jackson on the final lap to take the victory by just 0.25sec, with Eglin 3rd once more, Froggatt the first of the Pre-Injection machines home in 4th place. The remaining Peak Cup and Open Solo races were a little more comfortable for Stone, taking start-finish victories in both, with Jackson and Eglin 2nd and 3rd once more. Adam Walters (Derby) took the Pre-Injection honours on this occasion, although Froggatt was tailing him throughout, but could only get to within 0.3sec at the flag. The pair finishing 5th and 6th overall.

The opening Sidecar race also involved an excellent battle at the head of the field with three machines fighting for the lead in the opening laps; Roger and Bradley Stockton (Winsford) held the lead for the opening couple of laps ahead of the outfits of George Holden/Oscar Lawrence (Stoke on Trent/Kingsclere) and Roy Tansley/Jack Fox (Derby). The Holden/Lawrence pairing moved into the lead on the third lap, whilst Tansley/Fox found a way pass the Stockton’s on Lap4 to move into 2nd place, who then failed to finish the fifth Lap. Tansley/Fox then made a move on the leaders and hit the front on Lap6, but they were unable to stretch out a significant lead on their Open Class outfit, holding on to take victory by less than 1sec over the Formula 600 outfit of Holden/Lawrence. The second race was a little more straightforward for Tansley/Fox; taking a start-finish victory, initially with the Holden/ Lawrence pairing shadowing them for the opening three laps then failing to finish Lap4, allowing The Stocktons into the Runner-Up position and with it the Formula 600 victory.

The combined Junior/Senior/CB500 races saw Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) maintain his 100% record in the CB500 Championship by taking two start – finishes victories, fighting off a challenge from Liam Clements (Newcastle under Lyme) in the early stages, but never being headed on track during Round 5. David Glossop (Wilmslow) took the honours in the Senior class with two 4th place finishes overall. However, it was the battle for the Junior class which kept the spectators entertained after Katie Hand (Cabourne) was the quicker starter and had Tyler Howe (Buxton) chasing her down in the opening laps before finding a way pass on Lap3, but Hand didn’t give up and repassed Howe on the final lap to record the victory with 6th place overall. The second race was a little easier, although still involved with battles on the track with several CB500 machines Hand managed to go one better in the overall result, finishing 5th, 9seconds ahead of the next Junior machine, Jamie Hanks-Elliott (Birmingham), in 8th place overall.

The combined Formula 600/Pre-Injection 600 races saw Rich Baker (Crewe) take a double victory on his Formula 600 machine, only being headed by David Shallcross (Stockport) on the opening lap of the second race. Shallcross went on to record two 3rd place finishes after David Carson (Northwich) was able to find his way pass on Lap3 of the first and Lap4 of the second race to claim the Runner-Up spot on both occasions. Stuart Bradbury (Kilburn) was the first Pre-Injection 600 machine home in each race with overall 4th place.

The first combined Lightweight/Mini Sound of Thunder race certainly kept the spectators entertained at the head of the field with plenty of changes for the lead throughout the race. Richard Hunt (Walshford) leading the opening lap on his Mini Sound of Thunder machine until Chris Moore’s (High Peak) Lightweight machine and David Carson’s Mini Sound of Thunder machine both passed him, Carson then passed Moore into the lead on Lap3, but Moore, never further than 0.5sec behind, fights back to retake the lead on Lap6 and after Carson gets baulked by back-markers takes the victory with almost a 6second gap. After finishing the opening lap in 5th place James Ford (High Peak) also found his way pass Hunt to move into 3rd place on Lap3 and maintain the position until the chequered flag on his Lightweight machine, Hunt having to settle for 4th overall. Each competitor recorded the same results in the second race, but on this occasion, Moore enjoyed a start-finish victory, whilst Carson was 5th after the opening lap and moved into 2nd place by Lap3. Hunt was 2nd for the opening two laps but had slipped to 4th again with Ford moving into 3rd place by Lap3 and keeping his Championship lead. However, Ford was incredibly lucky to be able to add to his Championship tally at all after being evacuated from his home several days before the meeting following the perilous situation of the dam at Whaley Bridge. Some quick thinking, or determination to continue his championship aspirations ensured his race bike and a few parts were also taken to safety allowing him to compete! Although, with an entry in the Manx Grand Prix to look forward too there are still many spares and gear to load up and, no doubt a strip-down of the machine in readiness for the TT course, so he will be hoping that the authorities allow residents back to their homes very soon.

After a small gap between Rounds 4 and 5 there is a little longer to wait before Round 6, the penultimate Round, which takes place on Sunday 15th September 2019.

Practice starts at 10am on Sunday, with the races scheduled to begin around 11.30am

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. 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 4)

Junior Championship

1st Katie Hand, 58pts; 2nd Scarlett Robinson, 38pts; 3rd Jamie Hanks-Elliott, 36pts

Senior Championship

1st David Glossop, 48pts; 2nd Freddie Simcox, 24pts, 3rd Simon Hart, 16pts

Classic & Forgotten Era up to 250cc

1st Graham Oakley, 75pts; 2nd Glenn Atkinson, 59pts; 3rd Geoff Hadwin, 18pts

Classic & Forgotten Era 251cc to 500cc

1st Tony Griffiths, 48pts; 2nd Mike Lees, 48pts; 3rd George Pidcock, 32pts;

Classic & Forgotten Era 501cc – 1300cc

1st David Bradley, 48pts; 2nd Geoff Martin, 31pts; 3rd Gordon Clark, 16pts

Lightweight Championship