Round 5 and we are heading back to Croft for another fascinating weekend of high speed action around the North Yorkshire circuit. As the bikes set off on the start/finish straight down to Clervaux hoping to get the hole shot on each other and get a great drive out of Hawthorn to launch them down the straight to Tower bend for hopefully some overtakes down the inside or even outside as riders will go two abreast or even three at times if the opportunity presents itself.
The riders and passengers will then head down the fast flowing Jim Clark esses before heading into Sunny and the twist and turns of Complex 1&2 before the Hairpin left to complete the lap. There are many opportunities for overtakes so fingers crossed for a great race.
Last time we were here Crawford/Hardie took 2 race wins - could they see this happen again as they are on joint points with Founds/Walmsley? Can saunders/Stokoe and Dawson/Sims both take podiums again and close the gap on Clarke/Johnstone? Many teams are battling out for much needed points to take titles and 2nd and 3rd overall in both championships.
We have 6 points separating 3 outfits these are Dawson/Sims, Saunders/Cooke, Moore/Moore who are all chasing Schofield/Smith for that 3rd place in the championship who are 9pts ahead of the chasing pack.
Crawford/Hardie and Founds/Walmsley are on joint points so it seems like this one is going down to the wire if there are no technical issues. Ramsden/Ramsden and Clarke/Johnston are only separated by 2 points so there is another real battle there as Clarke/Johnston want 1st in the cup and 3rd overall. Another 6pts separate Lockey/Binns with Saunders/Stokoe
So points table going in to this weekend are;
Super
1st Crawford/Hardie 175pts 2nd Founds/Walmsley 175pts 3rd Ramsden/Ramsden 133pts
Cup
1st Clarke/Johnston 200pts 2nd Saunders/Stokoe 150pts 3rd Schofield/Smith 94 pts
Lap records
P Founds/Walmsley 02.04.2023 00:01:26:484
Crawford/Farrance 26.09.2015 00:01:29:817
On behalf of the F.S.R.A., I would like to express thanks to our loyal series sponsors, Hegarty Plant Ltd; Pagid Racing (Breitenbach Rennsport); Whitby cottages; Freight Hub and Tingles of Warmfield, they continue their long partnerships with the F.S.R.A on board for the coming season, and thank them for investing in the championship.
Finally, the F.S.R.A. would like to thank D.D.M.C and N.E.M.C.R.C. for hosting, and to all their dedicated officials, marshals, medics and all the other volunteers involved in running the event. Hire, Freight Hub and Tingles of Warmfield
Words – Brian Ross (F.S.R.A. Press Officer) / Photographs – Simon Heath/Bryan Gough