For round one of any season predictions are never easy, but one thing that we can say is that last year’s top man, Phil Bevan is back on the number 13 Kawasaki ZX10 and looking to add to his record breaking tally of championship wins. Phil sits on top of all or the NG Road Racing statistics now with more wins and more championship than another rider in the clubs 45-year history.
Now Phil is never one to come into a season with all guns blazing at round number one…. He is a wily character and knows that so much can go wrong early season, and he is in this for the season long glory.
Brands Hatch the Circuit.....
The Brands Hatch Indy circuit is just 1.198 miles long but packs in 6 big. On a bike the machine is never actually upright as the “so-called” straight sections are so short, and are linked by some big corners. Just take a look at the circuit map, and you will see what I mean.
The Fastest.....
Peter Baker is the NG Road Racing lap record holder at 47.38 sec, that's an average of 91.78mph, set back in March 2014 on his BSB spec ZX10 Kawasaki. However such is the nature of this circuit that a 125cc mount in the hands of Kyle Ryde got his RS GP Honda round in 50.16 sec in 2011…that’s 86mph.
The Phoenix Open.....
Phoenix Motorcycles from Trowbridge again support the Open. All the fastest riders of the meeting will be battling it out for one of the biggest season long prize funds in the country. Phil Bevan took the title for the 6th time on the bounce last year, so the big question is, “who can beat Bevan in 2015?”. For sure Peter Baker will be up for the challenge as will Dan Cooper.
The 250 GP ACU National Championship.....
These former 250cc world championship spec machines are pure race bikes and are designed with one thing in mind, to race, and this is the best place to see them. Former champ Ant Hodson heads up this year’s list but will face two previous Brands winners in the shape of Darrell Higgins and Dave Hampton
Ones to watch.....
One of the young stars of 2014 Mark Clayton is back on the grid on his 125 Honda in the GP series, and will use this as preparation for this BSB assault. Three championships went the way of Daniel Tilley last year, and he is back on his 400 Kawasaki to add more this year.
The Powerbikes will see Phil Bevan, Peter Baker and Dan Cooper vying for victory. The 600 class will be the one to savour as last year’s champ Max Symonds will be up against some tough opposition here, Keenan Armstrong, Josh Day, Luke Jones and Sam Thompson and James Harrison are all back in the 600 class. Others worth a watch are Duncan Gibson on his Ducati Panigale in the Sound of Thunder, as he takes on Peter Carr and his Triumph 675. Plus the Streetstock class with defending champ Richard Hughes taking on Paul Jeffery, Simon O’Donnell and Ciaran Bligh……..Expect entertainment all day!!!!
Pre-Season Testing.....
Many riders make use of the numerous pre-season tests, and Phil Bevan Josh Day, James Harrison and Dale Thomas have already racked up many miles down in Spain. Then they all rocked up at Pembrey for the NG test weekend. Josh was lapping in the cold abut sunny conditions consistently under the lap record, but it all went a bit wrong when his Ruby Racing 675 blew sending Josh careering onto the run off, leaving the team work to do before this meeting. Another one to look impressive was Luke Jones on the Tsingtao MV Augusta, as racked up more laps than anyone over the weekend in all conditions as they gather as much information as possible for the brand new 2015 MV.
This Meeting.
2015 kicks off with Brands hatch, and so obviously rounds one and two of the thirteen round NG RR championship series.
The big question is can Phil Bevan continue his record breaking run of championship wins?. Phil has won the clubs prestigious Open series for the last six years on the trot, and done it on three different makes of machine to boot!!.
Brands Hatch – Admission Prices.
For full conditions of admission see www.motorsportvision.co.uk
Adults £13 per day
Children under 15 Free
Paddock Access Free
For full ticket information and to take advantage of the online discount go to www.motorsportvision.co.uk where you can get a weekend pass for just £18.
Brands Hatch – Directions to the Circuit – Sat Nav: DA3 8NG
Brands Hatch is situated in Kent. Approximately 3 miles from junction 3 of the M25, and is just off the A20. It is approximately 8 miles from Sevenoakes, but there are plenty of Brands Hatch circuit brown signs from all directions.
Brands Hatch – Race Day Timetable
The morning will start early with Technical inspection of the machines from 7:00am with free Practice starting on track at 9:00am. Racing will get underway both days as soon as free practice is over.
Saturday Sunday
Technical Inspection 7:00am 8:00am
Practice 9:00am 10:00am
First Race (appox) 10:45am 10:45am
What’s on track
20 NG Road Racing championship races each day split into qualifiers and final for each of the classes. That means some 8 hours of on track action each day.
Feature races : 250GP ACU National Championship (backed by ACU, DTR Racing and Watchwood)
The Phoenix Open (Backed by Phoenix Motorcycles of Trowbridge)
NG Support Classes : Formula 125 ç 125GP ç Moto3 ç GP45 ç 500cc ç 600cc ç Powerbike ç
Sound of Thunder ç Super Twin ç Mini Twin ç Streetstock ç Pre Injection çSidecars ç Newcomers (Two days meetings only) ç
Russ Gardner