Well, the teams returned to Castle Combe for the first time in 5 years. The weather was scorching with very little clouds in the sky, this makes it awesome for spectators as it is perfect weather for racing. A side note we do feel sorry for the competitors in all their leather in this heat but boy the guys did not disappoint us out on track.
Saturday Warm up
As the teams got out on track for warm up in the morning, the teams went out and went flat out straight away. Some bikes were gathering data for the first few laps but the turned up the speed towards the end of the session. Lap times was starting to fall this early in the morning so we knew we was going to be in for a great day of racing. Fastest lap in warm up was Founds/Walmsley 1:18:263.
Qualifying
As it was a short time from warm up to qualifying it was a quick turnaround to get back on track and get some times in for the grid. There were 15 outfits out on track, everyone was trading positions and times around the fast flowing track. As more rubber went down, the times started to tumble with the fastest being set by Founds/Walmsley on lap 6 at 87.86 mph. Clarke/Johnstone (cup) set a blistering time on lap 6 at 85.74 mph putting them 2nd overall. Ramsden/Ramsden brought the bike home to put them 3rd on the grid at 85.64 mph. The full grid was only separated by 7.996 seconds.
Race 1
As the race got underway Clarke/Johnstone(cup) take the lead from Founds/Walmsley who drop down to 4th. Clarke/Johnstone (cup) build the lead to 0.423 on the first lap from Ramsden/Ramsden and 0.748 to Crawford/Hardie in 3rd. The next lap Founds/Walmsley get back to 2nd place and start hunting Clarke/Johnstone (cup) down. The teams are giving us a great spectacle with the pack split into different on track races and everyone very close, many outfits taking the right kink (Folly) after start finish straight, side by side and using the slip to even make a pass going into turn 3(Quarry Corner) after the left kink(Avon Rise).
Saunders/Stell (cup) and Hegarty/Neave (cup) chase each other down for a few laps with Saunders/Stokoe (cup) joining the party along with Schofield/Smith (cup) wanting to take part in the action. Lap 7 saw an issue for Founds/Walmsley which forced them into the pits and loose a lap to the leading pack, pushing everyone up one place with the exception of Moore/Dawkins (cup) who retired from the race. Lockey/Binns started from the back of the grid but made great progress. The last few laps of the race saw Clarke/Johnstone (cup) chase down Crawford/Hardie for an awesome finish as they both came out of the last corner pretty much side by side to what could of been a photo finish but Crawford/hardie take the flag but only by 0.125 seconds. Also coming out of the last corner Schofield/Smith (cup) lost two places to Saunders/Stell (cup) and Lockey/Binns.
Podium Super 1st Crawford/Hardie 2nd Clarke/Johnstone (cup) 3rd Ramsden/Ramsden
Podium Cup 1st Clarke/Johnstone 2nd Saunders/Cooke 3rd Hegarty/Neave
After park ferme- being ahead of the days running schedule - 4 outfits had engine checks and all passed with flying colours which is great to hear.
Sunday Warm up
Again, the sun was cracking the flags and we were set for another hot day making it perfect conditions out on track for everyone. As the teams started to put some laps in, it was like a mini race as everyone was overtaking and going two abreast - even three - at some points in the session so the guys were definitely having fun here! The fastest in warm up was Founds/Walmsley 1:15:761.
Race 2
The lights go out, everyone drops their clutches and away we go. Bikes are weaving left and right going three wide trying to get the best position they can ready for turn 3 (Quarry Corner). At the end of lap one Founds/Walmsley had pulled a gap of 1.104 over Clarke/Johnstone (cup). Lockey/Binns gained a few places from the rear- it was start from qualifying positions so they had all the work to do again just like race 1. Lap by lap Founds/Walmsley pulled away from the grid extending their lead on track by nearly 1 second per lap. Crawford/Hardie along with Clarke/Johnstone (cup) and Ramsden/Ramsden had a 3 way battle between themselves. The mid-pack of runners were very close, 8 teams all within 10 seconds of one another with another 4 teams behind them with 6 seconds separating them. The racing was super close with most teams on each other’s tails.
Podium Cup 1st Clarke/Johnstone 2nd Saunders/Cooke 3rd Saunders/Stokoe
Podium Supers 1st Founds/Walmsley 2nd Crawford/Hardie 3rd Clarke/Johnstone
We had 3 wildcard entries this weekend who don’t score points. A little side note just to add in, is that all the organisers and Marshalls loved the racing between all sidecar riders. It was a great spectacle to watch and everyone up and down the paddock loved it. Lots of kids were stood waving all outfits back through the paddock with massive smiles on their faces as the riders and passengers waved back. Hopefully be back again very soon.
Current Lap Records for Castle Combe are as follows:
Supers: P Founds/Lowther 02.09.18 00:01:15:209
Cup: P Founds/ Hawes 28.06.15 00:01:15:80
On behalf of the F.S.R.A., I would like to express thanks to our loyal series sponsors, who have continued to pledge their support, 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 NG Road Racing for hosting, and to all their dedicated officials, marshals, medics and all the other volunteers involved in running the event.
Words – Brian Ross (F.S.R.A. Press Officer) Pictures - Simon Heath