Shelley’s Masterclass at Darley

Tuesday August 9, 2016 at 1:09pm

Round 6 of the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Championship on 7th August 2016 may have seen two 2016 Champions confirmed already, but it was Lloyd Shelley (Burntwood) who provided a masterclass display with four wins and four fastest laps from four starts.

Champions first; with a maximum of 54 points still available David Bradley (Matlock) and Brian Prescott (Burton on Trent) increased the advantage at the head of the their respective Championships’ to an unassailable lead, Bradley with a 69 point lead in the Classic 1000 class and Prescott with a 67 point lead in the Classic 350 class; congratulations to both.

Shelley’s victories came in the Sound of Thunder (SoT) and Formula 600 classes and they could not have been more different. The two Sound of Thunder victories were relatively straightforward flag-to-flag victories; the first by over 20 seconds, whilst Ross Richards (Chesterfield) and Brad Vicars (Tadcaster) had a race long battle for Mini Sound of Thunder honours, Richards taking the class win eventually. The second was won by just 4 seconds with Jamie Horner (Newark) holding off Vicars’ smaller machine throughout the race, for second place on his SoT machine, with Vicars the first Mini SoT machine home. Running within these races were the Lightweight machines and Chris Moore (New Mills) took both Class wins. Shelley’s Formula 600 wins were a totally different story pipping Steven Procter (Wakefield) to the line by just 0.3sec after entertaining the spectators with two race long battles.

The Peak Cup races also saw Procter become the ‘nearly man’ after he led across the line on the first lap of the opening race, following Ben Crowe (Carnforth) home on both occasions by less than 1 second, but having the satisfaction of recording the Fastest Lap in both encounters and preventing Crowe matching Shelley’s achievements, who after adding the Open Solo victories to his tally, was the only other competitor to record four wins on the day.

Vicars and Richards were also battling it out in the Formula Darley races but, after Richards failed to finish Lap3 whilst leading Vicars went on to take the win in the opening encounter. The second race proved to be a ‘flag to flag’ victory for Vicars after the chasing Richards failed to finish Lap 8. David Carson (Northwich) benefitted from Richards’ demise on both occasions finishing Runner-up and taking his championship lead to 48 points. The GP125 machines were also running within the same race and Graeme Wilson (Kidsgrove) recorded class wins in both races, stretching his title lead to 40 points.

The first Pre98 race provided a race-long battle between Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) and Andrew Lowe (Stone) on their ‘up to 1300cc’ machine, Brailsford just taking the win by 0.6sec. Chris Moore added to his pair of Lightweight victories by taking the ‘up to 500cc’ class win. In the second race Jamie Pearson (Derby) secured a flag to flag victory, whilst Lowe relegated Brailsford to 3rd and recorded another Runner-up spot for himself.

In the combined Steel Frame and Pre Injection 600 races Pearson was in action once more and recorded another flag to flag victory in the opening race on his Pre Injection machine. Antony Porter (Chesterfield) followed him across the line to take the Steel Framed class win. After an overall 4th place in the first race Andrew Lowe found a way past early leader Porter in the second race to claim victory.

James Hind (Nettleton) continues to impress on his Formula 125 machine, taking class victories and fastest laps in his races, alongside the Classic machines, recording overall 4th and 2nd places.

Despite there already being two champions ‘crowned’ for this season there are still 17 champions to be decided and with 18 points available at Round 7, 4th September, but double points on offer at the final round, 8th- 9th October, there is still the possibility of a dramatic twist in the standings.

As always the on track action begins with Practice begins at 10am, whilst the first race is scheduled for 11.30 am. The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £12.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £8.00. Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00. Adult admission to the Test Days is £6.00, Senior Citizens 65 and over £4.00.

For the Stars at Darley event on 9th October the adult admission price is £16.00 and Senior Citizens £10.00.

Advance Tickets at discount prices are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details - www.darleymoorstore.co.uk

With Darley Moor being one of the few circuits in which dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead at all times during race day and the owners act in a responsible manner, it can be another excuse to get away from the house and enjoy the summer. There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £5.00 per unit per night. Camping will normally be available from 4.00 pm on the Friday evening until 10.00 am on the day after the meeting or by special arrangement with the circuit management – Call 01335 343833.

2016 Championship standings after Round 6

Peak Cup

1st Carl Morris, 81pts; 2nd Steve Proctor, 68pts; 3rd Jim Hodson, 24pts;

Open Solo

1st Carl Morris, 94pts; 2nd, MJ Morgan, 44pts; 3rd, Alan Hughes, 41pts

Open Sidecars

1st Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen, 75pts; 2nd Anthony Eades/Keith Box, 39pts;

3rd Keith Waddington/Julia Hardisty, 31pts

Lightweight

1st Chris Moore, 63pts; 2nd Neil Lloyd, 55pts; 3rd Tony Limer, 36pts

GP125

1st, Graeme Wilson 83pts; 2nd Emma Franklin, 43pts; 3rd, Gavin Mills, 42pts