After heavy rain overnight Round 4 of the Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Race Club Championship could have been similar to earlier Rounds, but thankfully the halfway point in the Championship was reached and, more importantly, the Curtis Milner Trophy decider enjoyed a sunny day on the 24th June. The Club were delighted to have Special Guests Craig and Tina Milner on hand to present the Trophy in memory of their son, from Alfreton, who began his racing career at Darley Moor but, whose life was cut short in a road accident.
The Peak Cup was the first race of the day and it certainly set a high standard for all to follow with Jim Hodson (Wigan) taking the win but Lee Vernon (Stoke on Trent) pushed him all the way, finishing just 0.25sec behind at the flag. In the second race Vernon got the quicker start and was ahead after the first lap, but by the end of the second lap Hodson was ahead and extended the advantage to almost 6 seconds at the flag.
Phil Johnson (Cheadle) was the overall winner in the combined Formula Darley and 125 race, with Ricky Tarren (Tamworth) taking the GP125 class win and after passing Jordan Rushby (Beverley) on the second lap David Carson (Northwich) took the win in the Formula 125 class. However, after crossing the line at the end of Lap 1 in 2nd place Gary Dangerfield (Stonnall) suffered a ‘slight’ mishap on the Lap 2, which cost him 40 seconds and dropped him to the back of the field. His fight back through the field to 7th place overall ensured the spectators had plenty of action to watch. In their second encounter Dangerfield ensured there would be no repeat and enjoyed a flag to flag victory, with Johnson having to play second best on this occasion. While Carson repeated the Formula 125 victory, Tarren was suffering machine problems and after circulating at the back of the field for 3 laps, he failed to finish the fourth, leaving Taz Taylor (Mansfield Woodhouse) to take a first win in the GP125 class.
The top 5 of both Pre98 races were identical, with Ian Morgan (Derby) having flag to flag victories, Paul Townley (Stockport) 2nd, Stu Riley (Worksop) 3rd, Jon Skelson (Leicester) 4th and Ben Hunter (Chesterfield) 5th in the ‘up to 1300cc’ class. In the smaller ‘up to 500cc class’ Robert Garmory (Flagg) and Tim Sayers (Heald Green) shared an win and 2nd place apiece.
The combined Sound of Thunder/Lightweight race saw Steve Hill (Runcorn) take victory in both on his Sound of Thunder machine, Adam Hoare (Loscoe) was 2nd on both occasions on his Lightweight machine and in the first race Lee Vernon was the first Mini Sound of Thunder machine home in 3rd place and Gary Dangerfield the second ‘Mini’ home in 4th place. Vernon did not appear in the second race, aiding Dangerfield, who took the ‘Mini’ class victory, finishing 3rd overall.
The Long Circuit Racing Kart Club two races saw identical top 3 places for Mark Bramhall, 1st, Lionel Sifleet (Walsall) 2nd and Graham Johnson 3rd, whilst Lionel’s son Aaron (Walsall) suffered a ‘dnf’ in the first race, but recorded 4th place in the second. Ant Porter (Chesterfield) took victory in both Steel Framed/Pre Injection 600 races on his Pre Injection machine, whilst Stu Riley (Worksop) and Jon Skelson (Leicester) and each recorded an overall 2nd place on their Pre Injection machines. Steve Price (Cheadle) and Ben Hunter shared a win and 2nd in the Steel Framed class.
The first Open Solo race saw another epic battle between Lee Vernon and Jim Hodson, this time Vernon coming out on top, Danny Smith (Rugeley) taking 3rd place and Phil Worthington (Buxton) 4th. In the second race Vernon once again never made it to the grid allowing Hodson to take the victory, Smith 2nd and Worthington 3rd.
The top 5 in the Formula 600 class was repeated in both races – Richard Wardle (Stoke on Trent) 1st, Rob Hodson (Wigan) 2nd, Phil Gibbon (St Helens) 3rd, Brendan Brown (Stoke on Trent) 4th and Adrian Kershaw (Stockport) 5th, but with the second race points being added to those gained in the same race at Round 3 for the Curtis Milner Trophy. Wardle retained the Trophy and had the pleasure of it being presented, along with the £250 winner’s cheque, by Curtis’ parents Craig and Tina. Tying on points in 2nd place, Rob Hodson and Phil Gibbon shared the remaining £250 prize money for 2nd and 3rd places.
Whilst, the East Midlands Racing Association Roadstock machines were the extra guests at this Round, it was a Darley Moor regular, Jamie Medhurst (Long Eaton) who used his circuit knowledge too secure two comfortable victories.
Ray Thomas and Neil Aslaksen (Birkenhead) were first past the chequered flag on both occasions in the Sidecar races, but only recorded 1 victory, after being given a 10 second penalty for jumping the start in race 2, they dropped down to 3rd place, Anthony Eades and Iain Greensmith (Hyde) inheriting the victory to add to their 2nd place in race 1.
The next Round of the Championship will take place Sunday 22nd July 2012 and as always there will be plenty of space for camping/caravanning over the weekend, from Friday afternoon through to 10.00am Monday morning at just £5.00 per night.
Practice starts at 10.00am, with the first of 19 races due to start at approximately 11.30am. Adults £11.00, Senior Citizens £6.00, kids under 16 free, parking & paddock transfer free, with Programmes £3.00.
Championship standings (After 4 Rounds)
Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 72pts; 2nd Lee Vernon, 28pts; 3rd Phil Gibbon, 19pts;
Open Solos
1st Jim Hodson, 57pts; 2nd Lee Vernon, 30pts; 3rd Phil Worthington 23pts
Open Sidecars
1st Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith, 57pts; 2nd Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen 34pts; 3rd Kenny
Howles/Marc Maier, 6pts
Lightweight
1st Adam Hoare, 54pts; Rob Hodson 2nd, 18pts; 3rd Matthew Burrows, 14pts
GP125
1st Ricky Tarren, 60pts; 2nd Lee Shallcross, 31pts; 3rd Lewis Bramwell, 18pts
Formula 600
1st Richard Wardle, 39pts; 2nd Jim Hodson, 39pts; 3rd Phil Gibbon, 32pts; 3rd
Formula Darley
1st Gary Dangerfield, 49pts; 2nd Phil Johnson, 39pts; 3rd Rob Hodson, 12pts
Formula 125
1st David Carson 51pts; 2nd Keenan Armstrong, 31pts; 3rd William Green, 24pts
Formula 600 Sidecars
1st John Shipley/Ian Cunliffe 39pts; 2nd Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks-Elliott 18pts; 3rd Glyn Jones/Richard Murphy, 15pts
Steel Framed 600
1st Dean Ephgrave 47pts; 2nd Steve Price 43pts; 3rd Alex Gallemore 30pts;
Pre Injection 600
1st Anthony Porter 43pts; 2nd Stu Riley 32pts; 3rd Jon Skelson 28pts
Mini Sound of Thunder
1st Gary Dangerfield 41pts; 2nd Lee Vernon 36pts; 3rd Phil Johnson 25pts
Sound of Thunder
1st Steven Hill 36pts; 2nd Martyn Green 33pts; 3rd Mark Tomkinson 28pts
Pre 98’s (up to 500cc)
1st Tim Sayers, 42pts; 2nd Robert Garmory 40pts; 3rd Wez Pearce 19pts
Pre 98’s (up to 1300cc)
1st Ian Morgan 57pts; 2nd Alex Gallemore 25pts; 3rd Stu Riley 22pts