Bridgwater MC ran their second meeting of the season at their popular, super-smooth Spaxton venue on Sunday. Once again, the circuit was in top condition and plenty of riders enjoyed a fine day’s racing.
Kieran Hicks and Kieron Ivy once again took centre stage in the 1000cc sidecar class. They dominated the competition, winning all of their heats and the final in convincing form. Simon Heal, partnered by former British Masters champion Carl Pugh, were no match for Hicks/Ivy this time around, but were comfortable runners-up. Another young Cornish crew to keep an eye on is emerging, and this team took third spot. Young brothers Thomas and Dillon Newton have made the step up from the Old/New class to compete in the big chair class. On the way to their excellent third place, the young brothers took a heat win in only their second meeting in the 1000cc class. Could this be yet another strong sidecar combination from Cornwall?
In the 250cc solos, a problem for Chad Wirtzfeld cost him the win. The youngster won the last two races in fine form, but a dropped heat earlier in the day meant that he only finished 5
th overall. A steady, consistent head was the order of the day, and Glyn Stanton duly delivered. The Shropshire comeback racer only won one heat, but never fell out of the top two. This was enough to grant him a win.
Cornishman Jake Quintrell took four convincing victories in the 350cc class, and Tim Curnock performed similarly in the Upright class. Dave Hammond, who was doubling up in the Upright and Pre 75 classes, was closest to Curnock. He made amends in the Pre 75 competition by overcoming Neil Copestake in the last two races. Copestake, who admitted he wasn’t feeling 100%, won the opening two races in an intriguing contest between these two adversaries.
Arran Butcher continued his dominance of the Spaxton circuit in the 500cc class. Having won here earlier in the season, he put behind him some of the miserable luck he has been served this season to take his second win of the year.
The Youth Junior class was once again highly competitive. Channel Islander Thomas Vining, who’d been in action the previous day on the beach in Guernsey, was riding well but Max Perry was simply outstanding once again. Vining is definitely getting closer to the Berkshire youngster, but Perry is in sublime form.
Archie Rolph invaded Oliver Bovingdon’s south west territory in the Auto Cadets to claim a victory. The pair have been tussling in the class all year, and it was Rolph who got the better of Bovingdon this week. Kayden Munday took his rides alongside the Auto Cadets. As the sole Cadet, he claimed the win in his class.
The Intermediate class was once again very open. North Devon teenager Kai Ward rode well to claim two wins, but consistent riding by Eli Meadows meant that a win and three seconds were enough to claim victory for the rapidly improving youngster.
The old/new sidecar class saw another victory for the class’ number one crew, Mark Courtney and Leon Torres. The Cornishmen were once again victorious in the final, though it had not been plain sailing in the heats. Just before going out for their race, Mark and Leon discovered a problem with their cut out, thus forfeiting the heat. It wasn’t enough to put them out of the final though, and they duly won the winners-take-all race.
The well-supported Quad class was won by East Midlands visitor Nick Wright, who continues his fine form. He won a highly competitive final, making amends for the devastation which he suffered at this venue earlier in the year when his machine stopped whilst leading the final.
A good day’s racing wraps up Bridgwater’s season for 2019.