Round five of the FPR Championship
took us to
Castle Combe and once again we were blessed with great weather. Yet again, we were witness to some fabulous and exciting racing throughout the FPR classes.
The Friday test day had its fair share of incidents and accidents, which unfortunately meant the end of the weekends racing for several riders.
Saturday Race One
FP2, FP3 & FPR Evo
A combined grid made for some very close racing across the classes, the results were as follows:
FP2: First place was taken from Championship leader Lee Marks, who on his home track was showing his pedigree and the reason why he is leading the points table. He was followed home in second by club newcomer Jimmy Buchanan, with Andrew Howe finishing in third, from Scott Preece.
FP3: Shaun Hennessy continues to dominate the class with another convincing victory, over Gareth Sutton.
FPR Evo: Nick Williamson was once again a man on form, as he took yet another race win in the new Evo class. Stu Goodson had a strong ride to second place with Clinton Wood in third, followed by Robert Eagling, Keith Higgs and Neil John.
FPR Suzuki Bandit Challenge: As ever, this class produced some great racing, all weekend, but this time around it was the ever-improving Adrian O’Connor taking his first win, after a close and exciting battle with Mark Wardle, who had to settle for second, from series leader Neil Attenborough. Rookie Grant Davies took a well-deserved fourth place, from Craig Harris, Shannon Bishop and Keiran Barker.
Bandit Seniors was won by series leader Richard Davis, from Keith Chambers and Kevin Gale. Unfortunately, reigning Champion, Tim Hawkins was somewhat unnecessarily taken out at the final chicane, by an out of control 400 rider! Thankfully uninjured and able to continue racing on Sunday.
Sunday Race Two
FP2: Marks showed his local knowledge with another convincing win over Buchanan, Preece and Howe.
FP3: Hennessy took overall victory as well as the class win, with Sutton second and Simon Spooner third.
FPR Evo: Williamson added another victory to his tally, extending his lead in the championship. Ian Agnew followed him home in second with Wood third, from Eagling and Higgs.
Bandit Challenge: A repeat podium in race two, O’Connor taking his second victory from Wardle and Attenborough, who was followed by Davies, Bishop and Barker.
Bandit Seniors: Gale, back from a long break through injury, took his first ever victory in class, from Davis, Chambers, Hawkins and Darren East.
Race Three
FP2: A clean sweep for Marks, from Buchanan, Howe and Preece.
FP3: Hennessy is getting one hand on the Championship trophy with yet another win, from Sutton and Spooner.
FPR Evo: This time it was Agnew taking top honours, from Williamson, Goodson, Wood, Eagling and Higgs.
Bandit Challenge: The race was cut short by two laps, due to a coming together of the leading two, O’Connor and Wardle, which brought out the red flag. This gave victory to newcomer and Rookie Grant Davies, in only his fifth meeting. He was followed by Bishop and Attenborough.
Bandit Seniors: Gale took his second win, from Davis, then Chambers.
All in all, another successful meeting with lots of great racing.
FPR would like to thank NG Road Racing for inviting us as a guest club and putting on another brilliant event. Also, a BIG thank you to all the marshals, who do such sterling job, without whom, we could not race.
Next up Donington Park for the penultimate round of the Championship.
WORDS: Keith Chambers PICTURES : Gordon Brady gordie1960@hotmail.com