The Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club are preparing for their traditional end of season Stars at Darley meeting this weekend 9th – 10th October 2021, but this one is to be a new format than all those previously held at the Darley Moor Sports Centre, near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET).
Usually there is practice and qualifying on the Saturday followed by the two Stars at Darley races and the final Round of the Club’s Championship classes on the Sunday, with double points awarded. However, for this coming weekend there will be a Stars at Darley race, plus the penultimate round of the Club’s Championship with the regular points scoring, on both days and all 15 Lap races. Stars at Darley Timed Qualifying will be held on the Saturday with practice for the Championship classes beginning at 1000hrs and racing scheduled to start at 1230hrs for Round 6 of the Club Championship. Sunday’s times will be the same, but this will be the Final Round of the Club’s Championship and there is still likely to be a number of classes to find Champions for and local champions are very possible.
The list of Stars already entered will be familiar to many Darley Moor regulars and supporters of the various British Championship classes, an ideal opportunity for, not only, Club competitors to assess their speed against those from a higher level, but also gives spectators a good opportunity to get into the Paddock and meet some of the competitors normally found in the British Superbike Paddock.
Heading the entry list for the Stars races are the two 6x Winners, Richard Cooper (Hucknall), Buildbase Racing and Michael Rutter (Bridgnorth), Batham’s Racing, plus Zak Corderoy (Mansfield), Binch Racing; Tom Fisher (Nottingham), G&S Racing; Leon Jeacock (Leicester), Buildbase Racing; Kyle Ryde (Jacksdale), Rich Energy OMG Racing and Milo Ward (Ashwell), G&S Racing. Then there will be the regular Darley Moor competitors looking to put their circuit knowledge to the test and get amongst them such as: David Carson (Northwich), David Glossop (Wilmslow), Mark Goodings (Doncaster), Carl Morris (Etwall), Ash Stone (Matlock), Albert Walker (Torquay) and Adam Walters (Derby).
In addition to their extra entry into the Stars races Albert Walker, Tom Fisher and David Carson will be looking to settle the Formula 600 Championship between them; Walker currently enjoying a 21pt lead over Fisher, with Carson a further point behind. Carson will be one of the busier racers at the weekend as he will also be out in the 700cc Twin Cylinder races defending a very slim 4pt lead over Jim Hodson (Wigan), a Darley regular who has previously done very well in the Stars races over previous years.
Carl Morris and Adam Walters have the 1300cc Pre-injection Championship to decide, with Morris having the same 4pt lead over Walters, Andrew Boulton (Baldwin’s Gate) looking to benefit from anything that could happen in their other on-track clashes.
Josh Daley (Wigan) has an 18pt lead over Goodings in the Open Solo Championship with Stone just a further 4points back.
Jamie Hanks-Elliott (Birmingham) – has already secured the Junior Class A Championship with the two rounds remaining and Freddie Oakley (Chesterfield) just needs to take 3pts from the weekend to be the Junior Class B Champion.
David Glossop (Wilmslow) has a 23pt advantage in the Senior Championship and with a maximum of 30pts available for two wins he looks to be in a comfortable position.
In the Classic & Forgotten Era classes Graham Oakley (Chesterfield) enjoys a 21pt lead in the Up to 250cc Championship; Mike Lees (Congleton) 20pt advantage in the 251cc – 500cc Class, but David Bradley (Matlock) has no significant lead, just 5pts, over Martin Davis (Manchester) with James Oddy (Chell Heath) only a further 4pts behind in the Up to 1300cc Class.
The Lightweight Championship and Open Sidecar Championship are even closer at the head of the table with Andy Whale (Birmingham) only 2pts ahead of Steve Price (Stockport) and Junior Class A Champion Hanks-Elliott 20pts adrift of Whale in the Lightweight class. In the Open Sidecars Keith Waddington/Mick Storey (Barnsley/Spalding Moor) hold the same slender lead over Anthony Eades/James Etchels (Hyde), with Steve Thomas/Danny Lewis (Rockferry/Saughall Massie) 15pts away from the leaders. Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Washingborough) have only to secure a further point in the Formula 600 Sidecar Championship with a 30pt advantage over Roger and Bradley Stockton (Crewe).
The Honda CB500/Suzuki Bandit Championship went right down to the final race in 2019 with 2018 Champion Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) just scoring enough points to prevent Liam Clements (Newcastle under Lyme) overturning his advantage. A similar scenario could occur this time with Brailsford ‘enjoying’ just an 8pt lead over Clements. Add into the mix 6x Stars Champion Richard Cooper and his friend Daz Bellworthy (Derby) in non-points scoring rides and this looking to be a very entertaining couple of races.
The Pre-electronic 600 & 750 Twin Championship has Ben Dale (Warrington) at the top with a 12pt advantage over Stuart Bradbury (Kilburn).
At the time of writing the Club have just received confirmation that former Sidecar World Champions Ben and Tom Birchall (Mansfield) have added their names to the list of sidecar entries racing but not claiming championship points, alongside Gary Horsepole/Kenny Cole (Sleaford/Bath), Bruce Moore/Amy Dodd (Southam/Crewe) and Greg Lambert/Andy Jeavens (Catterick Garrison/Wakefield).
As you can see the meeting is set to be a busy one, the long-range weather forecast is good, at the moment, so certain there will be a good spectator attendance, be sure to get there early. Full spectator access, including the paddock, pay on the gate weekend prices are Adults £34; Seniors £28; or daily prices Adults £18, Seniors £15 and camping £7 per unit/per night. Or book in advance by going to https://tickets.darleymoor.co.uk Weekend tickets Adults £28, Seniors £22 or Daily Tickets Adults £15, Seniors £12.
For any further information regarding race, test days and spectator please check www.darleymoor.co.uk; Facebook: Darley Moor Sports Centre; Instagram: darleymoorsportscentre; telephone: 01246 866537 or 01335 343833.
2021 Championship standings (After Round 6)
Junior Championship Class A – 1st Jamie Hanks-Elliott, 60pts; 2nd Scarlett Robinson, 24pts; 3rd Jack Smith, 10pts
Junior Championship Class B – 1st Freddy Oakley, 55pts; 2nd Katie Hand, 27pts; 3rd Josh Froggatt, 20pts
Senior Championship – 1st David Glossop, 57pts; 2nd Elaine Moody, 34pts; 3rd Luke Gilby, 15pts
Classic & Forgotten Era up to 250cc – 1st Graham Oakley, 45pts; 2nd Loris Hunt, 24pts; 3rd Glenn Atkinson 18pts
Classic & Forgotten Era 251cc to 500cc – 1st Mike Lees, 35pts; 2nd Hefyn Owen, David Tetley & Jason Lamb 15pts
Classic & Forgotten Era 501cc – 1300cc – 1st David Bradley, 39pts; 2nd Martin Davis, 34pts; 3rd James Oddy, 30pts
Lightweight Championship – 1st Andy Whale, 42pts; 2nd Steve Price, 40pts; 3rd Jamie Hanks-Elliott 22pts
Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandit Championship – 1st Mark Brailsford, 47pts; 2nd Liam Clements, 39pts; 3rd Tom Fisher, 30pts
Formula 600 Championship – 1st Albert Walker, 51pts; 2nd Tom Fisher, 30pts; 3rd David Carson, 29pts
Pre-electronic 600cc & 750cc Twin Championship – 1st Ben Dale, 60pts; 2nd Stuart Bradbury, 48pts; 3rd Lee Smith, 28pts
700cc Twin Cylinder Championship – 1st Dave Carson, 49pts; 2nd Jim Hodson, 45pts; 3rd Richard Hunt, 28pts
Open Solo – 1st Josh Daley, 60pts; 2nd Mark Goodings, 42pts; 3rd Ash Stone, 38pts
Pre-Injection to 1300cc – 1st Carl Morris, 55pts; 2nd Adam Walters, 51pts; 3rd Andrew Boulton 26pts
Open Sidecar – 1st Keith Waddington/Mick Storey, 42pts; 2nd Anthony Eades/James Etchels, 40pts; 3rd Steve Thomas/Danny Lewis, 27pts
Formula 600 Sidecar – 1st Howard Baker/Mike Killingsgworth, 57pts; 2nd Roger Stockton/Bradley Stockton, 27pts; 3rd Andrew Bingham/Kelly Bridgland, 26pts
By Brian George Photography/PR