Castle Combe
The penultimate round of this season's championship was at the former World War two RAF training airfield which held its first motorcycle meeting around it's perimeter track on the 28th of July 1951 and then first N G Road Racing meeting on the 17th of October 1981. Back in 1989 former 250cc competitor Carl Fogarty became the first rider to do a 100mph lap on his RC 30 Honda (102.22 mph). Also on that day local ace Darrell Higgins was fifth fastest behind Carl riding his Dennis Trollope TZ 500cc Yamaha. Championship leader Simon Hunt missed this round due to competing at the Manx Grand Prix.
Qualifying
This was held in warm and dry conditions with Thomas Lawlor and Bobby Varey looking to take over the championship lead. Despite it being his first time at Castle Combe National 250cc competitor Bobby Varey was fastest in a time of 1 minute 15.13 seconds and a speed of 89.36 mph. Second fastest was Thomas Lawlor with Gavin Mills in third. Fastest in the N G Cup class went to Ian Perks in a time of 1 minute 19.32 seconds and a speed 84.63 mph. Second and third fastest was James Seath and Michael Waring. Championship leader Jack Worth set the pace in the National 125 class and started his race from pole position in a time of 1 minute 20.64 seconds and a speed of 83.25 mph. Luke Scofield was second fastest and James Chapman third.
Race One
National 250cc competitor Thomas Lawlor made a great start and led with former National 125cc Champion Gavin Mills also up with the front runners. Meanwhile a bad start saw Bobby Varey drop back down the field and had to fight his way up through the pack ahead of him. Despite this he picked off the riders in front of him and in the closing stages was in a great dice with Thomas Lawlor and Gavin Mills for the lead. Bobby Varey won the race with Gavin Mills in second and Thomas Lawlor in third place. N G Cup competitor Ian Perks won his first race with Michael Waring in second and Nick Williamson in third place. The National125cc victory went to Luke Scofield, Jack Worth finished in second and Sian Brooks who finished in third place in last season's championship took the final step of the podium.
Race Two
National 250cc competitor Nick Sansome made a great start and led in the early stages with Thomas Lawlor and Gavin Mills again with the leading pack. Bobby Varey again had to fight his way up through the pack and challenge for the lead. Bobby Varey won Thomas Lawlor finished in second and Gavin Mills finished in third place. Ian Perks made it two victories from two starts in the N G Cup class, James Seath was in second and Michael Waring notched up his second podium finish when he finished in third place. Jack Worth won the second National 125cc race ahead of Luke Scofield in second and James Chapman in third place.
Race Three
The front runners in the previous two races were all keen to get a good result ahead of the final round of their championships at Anglesey. National 250cc competitor Bobby Varey again made a bad start and was nearly last away. Meanwhile Thomas Lawlor, Gavin Mills, and Nick Sansome were dicing for the lead. Bobby Varey put in another great ride from last to first, Gavin Mills retired with a broken piston ring in the closing stages. Thomas Lawlor finished in second and Nick Sansome finished in third place. James Seath took victory in the N G Cup class with Ian Perks in second and Phil Ellis in third place. Jack Worth again won the National 125cc class ahead of Luke Scofield and Sian Brooks notched up her second podium of the weekend and finished in third place.
Words : Paul Korkus
Pictures : Colin Hill , Hairybeastpix@hotmail.com