The Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club are preparing for Round 3 of their Championship due to be held on Sunday 12th June, at the Darley Moor Motorsport Centre, near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET). With some of the regulars taking part in the Isle of Man TT a few competitors will be looking to capitalise on their rivals’ absence, in what is a hectic time in the motorsport calendar.
However, whilst some may be missing the Club received a late boost to the entry list when multiple Stars of Darley Champion Richard Cooper (Hucknall) registered his entry for the weekend, in the Formula 600 class, which should make some very entertaining races for spectators. Battling it out with Cooper will be current Champion and leader of the 2022 series Albert Walker (Retford) plus the recent winner of the Curtis Milner Trophy, Ben Dale (Warrington) and currently just 3points behind Walker in the standings. Two times Senior Champion David Glossop (Wilmslow) has switched classes this season and will most likely be in the mix for championship points.
Glossop will also be out on a different machine, a 400cc, in the joint Lightweight/Honda CB500/Suzuki Bandit races and no doubt battling with current championship 1,2,3 Peter Fell (Burton on Trent), Andy Whale (Birmingham) and Mike Lees (Congleton) for the Lightweight honours. The CB500/Bandit entry list is headed by current leader Alistair Corr (Alfreton) and multiple champion Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) who will no doubt be in the mix as Overall Race winners.
Certain to be some of the busier riders on Sunday Glossop and Brailsford are also out in the joint Open Solo/Pre-Injection class on 1000cc machines. Glossop in the Open Solo class with championship leader Mark Goodings (Doncaster) and Brailsford battling with the Pre-Injection 1300 class top two; Adam Walters (Derby) and Adam Boulton (Newcastle under Lyme).
Not quite the same array of machinery as Glossop, but Brailsford is also out in a third class, the combined pre-Electronic 600/Forgotten Era races joining Championship leader Martin Davis (Manchester) and David Bradley (Matlock) in the Forgotten Era 1300 class. Mike Lees will also be out on track in the same race, but with his 400cc machine currently leading the Forgotten Era 500 class. Currently 2nd in the Pre-Injection 600 & 750 Twin Championship, Wayne Kemp (Manchester) heads this weekend’s entry and looking to make in-roads on the leader’s 10point advantage at the head of the table.
The final class for solo machines, 700 Twins Championship has a number of competitors used to running at the front already entered; currently 2nd in this years championship, Chris Barton (Congleton) will be aiming to take advantage of the leaders absence, but with Jim Hodson (Wigan), Andy Whale and Albert Walker having further track time you can be sure they will also be amongst the front runners.
Fans of three-wheeled motorsport will be able to see the majority of the top sidecar crews in the Open Sidecar Championship in action with leaders Steve Thomas/Danny Lewis (Rockferry/Wirral), 2nd place pairing Anthony Eades/Ash Gibson (Stockport), 4th place team Keith Waddington/Mick Storey (Barnsley/Holme upon Spalding Moor) and 5th place crew Steve Tampin/Maverick Davies (Walsall/Newbury) all entered into the meeting. With the 600cc Sidecars also having races at the TT the Formula 600 Sidecar entry has the championship leaders, Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Lincoln) and 3rd place pairing Bill and Nick Roberts (Coventry) amongst this weekend’s entry list.
Whilst this is based on the current list of entries the Club have received, the TT finishes next Friday so there could well be a number of late entries as the TT Competitors decide on another event as they return home, especially with practice not starting until 10am and the first race scheduled for 11.30am.
The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £16.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £12.00.
Advance Tickets at discount prices (£13 and £10) are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details - http://www.darleymoorstore.co.uk/.
There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £7.00 per unit per night (£6 in advance). Camping will normally be available from 4.00 pm on the Friday evening until 10.00 am 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.
Championship Tables (after Round 2)
Open Solos
1st Mark Goodings, 27pts; 2nd Josh Daley, 15pts; 3rd Adrian Kershaw, 12pts
Open Sidecars
1st Steve Thomas / Danny Lewis , 27ts; 2nd Anthony Eades / Ash Gibson, 22pts; 3rd Keith Waddington / Mick Storey, 10pts
Lightweight
1st Peter Fell, 25pts; 2nd Andy Whale, 15pts; 3rd Mike Lees, 13pts
Formula 600
1st Albert Walker, 22pts; 2nd Ben Dale, 19pts; 3rd David Carson, 18pts
Formula 600 Sidecar
1st Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth, 27pts; 2nd Chris Schofield/Shane Colbrook, 15pts; 3rd Bill Roberts/Nick Roberts, 14pts
Pre-Electronic 600/750 Twin
1st Stuart Bradbury, 30pts; 2nd Wayne Kemp , 20pts; 3rd Nick Clare, 13pts
700 Twins
1st David Carson, 30pts; 2nd Chris Barton, 16pts; 3rd Jim Barnett, 12pts
Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandit
1st Alistair Corr, 17pts; 2nd Richard Cooper, 15pts; 3rd Mark Brailsford, 15pts
Pre-Injection 1300
1st Adam Walters, 30pts; 2nd Adam Boulton, 24pts; 3rd Ian McKenzie, 20pts
Classic 500
1st Oliver Presswood,27pts; 2nd Rob Hodson, 15pts.
Forgotten Era 1300
1st Martin Davis, 25pts; 2nd Mark Brailsford, 15pts; 3rd David Bradley, 12pts
Forgotten Era 500
1st Mike Lees, 30pts; 2nd Paul Hawksworth, 12pts; 3rd Nigel Race, 10pts
Forgotten Era 250
1st Glenn Atkinson, 30pts
Preview By Brian George Photography/PR
Photos by Tony Else Photography