Going back to the historic circuit of Donington Park with most of the championships still on the line this was going to be the crucial meeting of the NG Road Racing Season.
Friday test day dawned, with bright sunny conditions and the track coming into race pace during the afternoon, as reported by several racers’ things were looking good for Saturday and Sunday race days.
But Saturday bought a change in the weather less sun so no heat to the track and a very stiff breeze across the whole circuit making cross wind a problem in many parts of the track.
Saturday
Qualifying: R E Performance Powerbike and N L Motor Services Sound of Thunder
The visiting riders were out in force for the large classes this meeting, getting race time rather than track days. Nicky Wilson was one of them on his Suzuki 1000, setting a 1.10.668 fastest lap and pole, with Sam Middlemas aging Suzuki 1000 at no 2 with a 1.10.804, Daniel Miles third 1.10.894, series leader Daniel Nelmes was 4th, Daniel Brooks after a good run at Castle Combe last meeting 5th Damien Fricker completing the second row. Mike “Spike” Edwards was the top Sound of Thunder rider, with the very exotic and expensive Kramer 890RR, Leon Wilton Ducati V2 some 2 seconds adrift next.
RACE 1
Nelmes got a blistering start from row 2 to head the pack round Redgate, but by the time they crossed the line the first-time round Dan Brooks had grabbed the lead, with a 1.14.464 lap from a standing start. Brooks then got serious, with each lap being quicker than his qualifying time dipping under 1.10 for 6 laps, a best lap of 1.9.460. Nelmes was coming from under Wilson and Middlemas getting up to speed, both eventually getting the better of Nelmes. Wilson held off Middlemas until lap 6, but Brooks was long gone with a lead of 6.6 seconds at the flag from Middlemas and Wilson. With Nelmes 4th and valuable championship points, as his main challengers scored no points or low numbers.
Edwards ran away with the Sound of Thunder (SoT) class, leaving a race long duel of Chase Collymore and Charlie White for 2nd and 3rd and the championship on the line for those 2 riders.
Qualifying: Phoenix Open
Middlemas was the man on form at 1.10.227 from Tye Stamford-Kinton 1.10.419 and back on track after a long layoff Zac Corderoy, getting back to racing with a 1.10.494 on his Yamaha R6. Dan Nelmes and Ricky Elder complete with new ex OMG /James Hiller R1 stock 1000 Yamaha and Dan Brooks were all on row 2.
RACE 1
With no George Edwards, the championship leader with his eyes on the British Superbike Paddock it was the trio of Nelmes, Elder and Dave Mackay to do the chasing. But Brooks was wired for the weekend and headed the field for all 8 laps, again dipping into the 1.09 zone from a determined Corderoy, who was keeping Stamford-Kinton behind him, with some stunning laps on the 600 from the bigger horse power Suzuki. Pole man Middlemas was next up, but not able to match the pace. Nelmes slipped off the lead riders, with a mistake at Coppice running through the gravel but keeping it upright and dropping to 20th. Brooks was flying almost on lap record pace and won by 7.2 seconds from Corderoy, Stamford-Kinton 1.4 behind, championship runner Elder was 5th and Mackay 8th Nelmes salvaging 10th.
Qualifying IMS National 600 & HM RACING Clubman 600
Corderoy showed his plan for the weekend with a pole setting lap of 1.11.809, Elder hoping to clinch the National 600 Title this weekend, was front row with 1.12.321, 3rd was Micheal Tustin 1.12.543 who was sitting 3rd overall in the National 600 championship, behind Gareth Roberts who was 4th on the grid 1.12.580. Birthday boy Harry Hinchcliffe was top in Clubman 1.14.005 and leading the Clubman 600 championship.
RACE 1
Corderoy was first to Redgate followed through by a quick starting Roberts with Tustin in tow, Elder next up on a steady opening lap (remember gusty winds and reduced track temp), but Roberts was pulling Tustin along and both keeping Elder at bay all 3 on very similar 1.12 times. By lap 6 Corderoy was lapping backmarkers and keeping the pace up, to have a 2 second lead. Elder playing safe for points as he could see rivals Roberts and Tustin in front, he was doing the maths on the way round.
Zac had 2.137 lead at the flag, Tustin just edging Roberts by 0.429 and Elder 4th with one hand on the championship.
Sunday
R E Performance Powerbike and N L Motor Services Sound of Thunder: RACE 2
A slight weather change on the Sunday, a bit more sun but still a consistent wind still blowing over the circuit greeted the paddock for free practice. Dan Nelmes was having problems getting his R1 started and when he finally got on track had a high side through Craner Curves and was taken off to hospital, so his weekend was done.
Dan Brooks was on pole with Middlemas and Wilson on the front row, fortunately for Nelmes all the possible challengers missing or further down the grid, looking like he would preserve his points lead.
At the Lights Brooks was gone a 1.13.6 opening lap, some were not doing that on flying laps. Middlemas and Stamford-Kinton gave chase but were already down by over 2.6 seconds on the first lap, again the sheer consistent laps of Brooks was relentless and breaking the field by lap 4. The lead was over 4 seconds, only on lap 5 of 7 did the gap drop as he eased back through traffic. Nicky Wilson managed to get up to 3rd behind Middlemas where they all finished.
Mike Edwards was SoT winner again, with Collymore 2nd and White 3rd keeping the points battle close.
Phoenix Open: RACE 2
Brooks was again on pole and looking like nothing was going to spoil his weekend, so with another textbook start he led from Zac Corderoy, Middlemas and Elder.
Corderoy made an early exit after lap 1 into the pits, Stamford-Kinton moved up to 2nd and Scott Halliday was with the lead group too. As in the previous races Brooks kept building the lead to over 5 seconds, then steading back to 3.9 seconds at the flag. Middlemas, Stamford-Kinton, Halliday and Elder followed on, hoping to get closer to leader Edwards in the points.
IMS National 600 & HM RACING CLUBMAN 600: RACE 2
Corderoy lined up in pole the bike problems from earlier on sorted, Tustin and Roberts joining him on the front row, with Elder just behind on the 2nd row.
Corderoy started as he meant to carry on, with an opening lap to get away from the pack led by Elder, but with eyes on the points rather than the race win, Elder was 2 seconds slower than Corderoy. Tustin and Roberts were locked in battle again, with championship aims. It swung Tustin’s way when Roberts went for a slide across the Redgate Gravel on lap 4. Corderoy was pushing on and broke Charlie Nesbitt’s lap record of 1.10.246 with a 1.10.229 at 101.44 mph. Elder was just keeping Tustin honest to hang on to 2nd, the winning margin being 7.3 seconds.
Hinchcliffe was victor in Clubman to extend his lead over Dave Tilling and Will Fowler in the championship points race.
R E Performance Powerbike and N L Motor services Sound of Thunder: RACE 3
With a familiar look to the front row with Brooks, Middlemas and Wilson but not the start as Brooks made an awful start allowing Middlemas the lead from Wilson. Brooks in 11th and starting to make up ground, 8th on lap 2, 5th next time and 2nd on lap 4. Leader Middlemas must have been looking at his pit board in horror as the gap was decreasing every lap, Brooks taking the lead on lap 6 and pulled out a lead of over 3.2 seconds over the next 2 laps to win, Middlemas 2nd again Willson 3rd 2.2 seconds back.
SoT saw Mike Edwards take another win on the Kramer, with 3 for 3 over the weekend. Leaving Charlie White to grab 2nd from Chase Collymore, reflected in the championship with White ahead by 37 points from Collymore.
Phoenix Open: RACE 3
Brooks was looking for a better start than the previous Powerbike race and delivered, with a lead of over 1.4 seconds at the end of lap 1 and proceeded to demolish the field and leave Middlemas and Stamford-Kinton trailing in 2nd and 3rd, Elder hung on in 4th claiming all important championship points.
Brooks on the Hawk Racing / Mastermac Honda was the class of the large bike at this meeting, but not disrupting the NG championship points chase too much.
IMS National 600 & HM RACING CLUBMAN 600: RACE 3
Elder and Tustin were the front row, Corderoy having done his time for the weekend, with Roberts starting on the back of the grid, bike repaired and a lot of bikes to get past.
Elder took the start with Tustin in his slipstream and taking the lead next lap, Elder letting him do the leading and keeping his own plan on track. Roberts was up to 12th already and on the same lap times as the leaders and picking riders off every lap.
Elder pushed Tustin all the 8 laps and was 1.2 seconds behind at the flag, but that was enough to claim the IMS 600 National for 2024. Roberts kept up the battle with Tustin for the runner up spots.
HM Clubman saw another win for Hinchcliffe, some birthday weekend for him, from Will Fowler and Fred Morton.
DCM Junior Supersport saw Alfie Jenkinson have mixed fortunes, his primary bike crashing out in race 1 meaning he had to enlist his old steed to seal the championship on the Sunday, quite an achievement having had 2 non-finishes, and setting a new lap record to boot.
A&R Racing Formula 400 saw some drama on the Sunday, Andy Gill broke the lap record, but it only lasted until the next race when Ted Wilkinson broke it and then lowered it twice more, to 1.15.081 winning from the back of the grid when the chain departed the bike on race 2.
Words: Martin Bennett, Race Commentator. Pictures: Colin Hill: hairybeastpix@hotmail.com