The fifth round of the Nora MX Championship was hosted by the Nora MX team at the Cusses Gorse track near Salisbury in Wiltshire. This time spectators were allowed with the COVID restrictions lifting, as it was great to feel like things are getting back to normal.
After the wet weather for round four, this was the complete opposite, and was 25 deg all day, but seemed hotter with no clouds. Keeping the dust down was a big chore and there was watering between each race which kept conditions safer but took longer for each race therefore the decision was taken to only have two races for each class.
The sidecar group was split into two classes, with GP riders racing without collecting any points.
The sidecar races got underway with a hole shot for Stuart Brown /Josh Chamberlain, they held a safe lead throughout taking their first win of the day. Behind Dan Foden / Nathan Cooper held second until Jake Brown / Joe Millard blasted ahead on lap two. George Kinge / Ryan Henderson started in sixth but battled through to take fourth, despite pushing hard to get into the top three. It was great to see Tony Grahame back on the track now with new passenger Zac Snell, they had a great start holding on for fifth. Jack Etheridge / Jim Kinge were just behind taking sixth.
It was long hot wait to race 2, which turned out to be the final race of the day, and what a great race it was. The drama started on bend one with several teams coming together and making a slow get away, but it was fast a furious at the front. Dan Foden / Nathan Cooper took the holeshot but within the first lap Stuart Brown / Josh Chamberlain did what they do best and blasted into the lead, going on to take a second win. Jake Brown / Joe Millard fought hard to take second leaving Dan Foden / Nathan Cooper back in third, but still having a great race. George Kinge / Ryan Henderson tucked into a safe fourth passing Jack Etheridge / Jim Kinge at the halfway point. Behind Lee Foyle / Kevin Foyle took a great sixth, taking advantage of a good start. Just behind and battling hard for championship points were both Ross Bowers/ Dan Phelps and Tilo Maguire/ Guy Eastman. Both passengers called out “well done mate” to their drivers as they passed the flag.
As usual for this Nora MC Championship event, there were six quad groups Pro / Pro Am, Clubman Elite / Masters A, Clubman / Masters B, Intermediates and Ladies, 250cc Open and Air Cooled, 100cc Geared, and 50cc Auto, 100cc Auto.
Pro / Pro am groups were the first quad race of the day, Mark McLernon took the holeshot, blasted into the lead and held on for a great win. Behind was a big battle for second, Dafydd Davies held fifth on lap one but fought hard every lap to battle past his rivals managing to take a brilliant second place. Harry Walker tucked in behind battling hard for that second place, but settled for a close third at the flag, George Day was initially ahead but took fourth after a good three-way battle. Jamie Morgan took fifth with Simon Hammersley having a brilliant race recovering from a slow start to take sixth.
In race two it was Jamie Morgan and George Day who headed the pack into the first bend, but Mark McLernon was tucked in behind and quickly blasted past, going on to take another great win. Dafydd Davies was on his tail throughout but not close enough to make a challenge and settle for second. Harry Walker fought up from fifth to take third passing George Day a few laps from the end. Jamie Morgan took advantage of that great start to take fifth with Simon Hammersley just behind.
The Clubman Elite raced with the Masters A group, George Oliver lead into lap one with Luke Berlyn behind, battle until he found a way past going on to take a safe win. George Oliver held second, with Iestyn Rees third (the first Under 21). Dylan Mckenna had a great first lap recovering from a difficult start to drop into fourth just ahead of Scott Berlyn. Ryan Hickman started outside the top 20 but battled throughout to take a brilliant sixth place.
In race two George Oliver took an early lead, staying ahead until the final few laps when problems struck and he dropped back to sixth, Luke Berlyn had a slow start to the race but recovered well to blast into the lead, picking off rival lap by lap until he took the lead in the final few laps. Iestyn Rees took third just ahead of Ryan Hickman, taking advantage of a great start. Edward Davies fought back from a terrible start and took fifth just ahead of George Oliver.
RESULTS: Nora MX ACU Quad & Sidecar Rnd 5, Nora-Mx Quad Racing, United Kingdom - Official Event Results, MYLAPS Speedhive