Sun Shines for Darley Moor Club’s First of 2020

Finally, after 11 months, the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club were able to open the paddock gates and fill their grid with members eager to unleash the power of their machines in anger on the Darley Moor Motorsport

Centre’s circuit, near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET). For the spectators, with tickets purchased in advance it really was a special treat, with some fantastic racing, 6 of the 20 races being decided by less than 1sec at the head of the field, and matched by some glorious weather throughout the day.

With the chance for just 3 race meetings in this strangest of years there is no Championship to fight for, nor points to score, just purely race wins, but this did not spoil the racing. The opening race for the regular championship

classes saw Jamie Hanks-Elliott (Birmingham) record her first overall victory in the Junior class, but it was a close finish, with Senior class winner, David Glossop (Wilmslow) making a late attack on the lead, finishing just 0.54sec behind Jamie at the flag. Proving it was no fluke she then repeated the feat in the second encounter, but on this occasion, Glossop was never any further than 1sec behind throughout the 8lap race, the victory margin just 0.3sec.

Jamie was also out in the combined Lightweight/Honda CB500 races and recorded an overall 4^th and 5^th place. The first race saw Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) have the quicker start and head the field for the first 4laps, until Jake Bradley (Ollerton), hit the front after being 5^th on the opening lap. Jamie was literally on his tail for two laps but was not able to make the pass. Bradley then managed to squeeze by Brailsford on the penultimate lap and

hold-on to a winning margin of just 0.65sec at the flag. Keeping Hanks-Elliott at bay, Simon Lehane (Pontefract) was able to take 3^rd place overall, the second Lightweight machine home, Liam Clements (Newcastle under Lyme) was the second CB500 machine home, in 6^th Overall. The second encounter saw Lehane lead the opening lap, with Bradley in 2^nd, until Jack Worth (Barnsley), who failed to finish Lap2 in the first race, passed both on Lap2 to hit the front and open out a 3.8sec lead at the chequered flag. Brailsford was the first CB500 machine home again in an Overall 4^th place.

Last season Josh Daley (Wigan) and Ash Stone (Matlock) had some fantastic battles in the Peak Cup and Open Solo races, each taking a Championship title for their efforts, but last weekend it was the Josh Daley show; four

victories, four fastest laps, Ash Stone only able to lead the opening lap of the second Open Solo race and having to settle for 2^nd place each time. In the Peak Cup class Richard Wardle (Stoke on Trent) was able to get his 600cc

ahead of the remaining 1000cc machines to record two 3^rd places. Whilst Tim Poole (Northwich), on his

Pre-Injection machine, took 3^rd Overall in both Open Solo/Pre-Injection races.

Steve Boam (Matlock) took the overall win in both the Classic & Forgotten Era races on his 1000cc machine, Steve Clark (Chesterfield) following him home on both occasions on his 1170cc machine. Dean Stimpson (Cambridge) took the class victories in the 251cc – 500cc class, with two Overall 4^th places. Oliver Cooper (Sheffield) taking the honours for the Up to 250cc class, on his 125cc machine, with a 10^th and 12^th place Overall.

The opening Pre-Electronic 600 & 700 Twins race saw a dramatic finish with Ben Dale (Warrington) having led from the opening lap, Liam Weston (Clayton le Woods) in his wake for the first three laps, then Stuart Bradbury (Kilburn) made his way into 2^nd place on Lap4 and putting the pressure on Dale who was 3.4sec ahead. The

penultimate lap had seen the advantage halved, but then Dale failed to finish that final lap, handing the victory to Bradbury. Weston led the opening lap of the second race until Bradbury found his way through to the lead on the second lap. Dale had to make up for a slower start, finishing Lap1 in 7^th place, up into 3^rd on the penultimate lap and reducing 2sec gap to Weston down to just 0.6sec at the flag and recording the fastest lap of the race in doing so.

The first Formula 600 race provided the closest finish of the solo classes after Harry Jackson (Mansfield) was able to just hold-off Richard Wardle in a frantic race which saw the pair never split by anymore 0.5sec throughout the

6lap race. Jackson’s winning margin being just 0.19sec at the chequered flag! Their second encounter saw Wardle record a start-finish victory after Jackson took several laps to pass Ben Rea (Clitheroe) for 2^nd place, finally finishing 5.5sec behind Wardle at the flag.

Four wheels and regular Darley Moor guests, Superkart - UK Kart Racing Club provided the closest finish of the day with Kirk Cattermole (Haverfordwest) recording his best lap of the race to pass race long leader, Ollie Rideout (Sandringham) on the final lap and take the victory by just 0.1sec. The second race saw Cattermole record a start

– finish victory, finishing 1.4sec ahead of Rideout at the chequered flag.

Onto three wheels and Dan Knight/Ben Hughes (Macclesfield) led the Sidecars for the first two laps, but then failed to finish Lap3, handing the lead to Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Lincs) who were able to finish 10sec ahead of another Formula 600 outfit of the Roger Stockton/Bradley Stockton (Winsford, Crewe) pairing. Steve Thomas/Danny Lewis (Birkenhead/Saughall Massie) were the first Open Sidecar pairing home, in 3^rd place. The second encounter and the final race of the day saw the Baker/Killingsworth pairing get the quicker start and stay out in front until the final, after Knight/Hughes made up for their slower start. Fourth at the end of the opening lap they then managed to get up to 2^nd on Lap2, just 0.6sec behind the leaders. With the help of the

fastest lap of the race on the final lap they hit the front and won by 0.3sec.

That action will certainly have whetted the appetite for race fans, but unfortunately there are just two more race meetings left for this year on Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th October, so not too long to wait, but no overnight camping due to current restrictions. The Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club would like to thank both

competitors and spectators for complying with all the restrictions that have been necessary to allow the meeting to go ahead and run without any problems. Hope to see you again in October, but please remember to purchase tickets in advance, they are available now and until Tuesday 6^th October 2020, from www.darleymor.co.uk (Adult

£13.00, Seniors £10.00).

As you can imagine in this exceedingly difficult year there are several strict guidelines that must be adhered to: