Cadwell is so much more than just “The Mountain”…..
Round one of the NG series has us at Cadwell Park…..it’s the end of August and finally we get to stage round one of the 2020 season. As everyone knows life and racing this year have been ravaged by COVID-19. So we a really pleased that after a test weekend here at Cadwell Park in mid-July as a toe-in- the-water test, we have been given the green-light to go race meeting. This is though, with a whole raft of restrictions for circuit, organisers and riders alike. It is a total non-spectator event….. but at least we can get some racing miles under our belt.
As you will have seen on social media many riders have been doing track days over the last month or so to get sharp, but as we all know there is no substitute for track time at race speed with you fellow riders and rivals trying to nip up the inside at a given corner or try and force a block pass!!
It is so great to see that just about all the grids are full and everyone is keen to get back out there.
With no 2020 form book it’s difficult to pin point any race winning contenders…… (but that has never stopped me in the past !). In the 250 GP class keep and eye on Chris Moore, he is a demon at Cadwell but Thomas Lawlor and Lee Bamber will not be too far away. It’s great to see former 125GP champ Gavin Mills back on the grids, and to be honest he is looking like the pick of the field. The 600’s as ever will be tough to win with Aaron Ridewood, Owen Hunt, Simon Bastable, Adam Sherriff and the racing Welch brothers James and Luke all capable of taking the flag first.
Serial NG Open winner over recent seasons Josh Day is stepping to one side for 2020, mainly to concentrate on retaining his BSB Ducati Tri-Options National title, but also helping son Harrison in his Mini moto racing. In his absence keep an eye on Max Symonds who steps up from many years on a 600 to a BMW S1000RR, also more former 600 winners Sean Montgomery on his ZX10 and Ricky Elder on an R1. Dave Mackay who is now on a True Heroes Racing GSXR 1000 Suzuki cannot be discounted either.
With great grids across the meeting from Mini and Super Twins, through the Sound of Thunder, Desmo Dues and the exciting new Formula Prostock classes that have added a Battle of the Twins style class to run with their existing line-up that also still has the frantic Suzuki Bandit challenge, it looks like fun will be had out on track……
Cadwell Park is fondly nicknamed the 2.2 mile 'mini-Nürburgring', and has hosted racing for over 85 years. It's twisty and undulating nature, winding through open park and woodland, has marked it out as one of the best circuits in the country. The circuit is one of the most popular destinations on the British Superbike calendar for both riders and spectators, with the infamous 'Mountain' section, which riders usually tackle airborne, providing a particular challenge. The track is so much more than just the mountain. Every corner demands respect, and the final section of the lap under the trees can often be the downfall of many as it is very tight and often stays damp under the trees after rain !!…Hopefully that will not be an issue in early Summer (…..fingers crossed)
Josh Day holds the outright NG lap record here, set in June 2019, circulating in 1 min 30.25sec on his ZX10R Kawasaki, which equates to an average of 86.95ph.
Adding extra interest to the weekend NG Road Racing are again running the British National series for 125cc and 250cc GP machinery. This is the only place in the UK that you will see these ex-GP machines racing for a full British Championship title backed by the ACU (The sports governing body).
We also have the Ducati Desmo Due Series and Formula Prostocks runners.