Supported by Pagid Brake Pads/Breitenbach Rennsport, Whitby Cottages, Hegarty Plant Hire, Freight Hub and Tingles of Warmfield
Round One – Croft – N.E.M.C.R.C. Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th April
With the 2024 season approaching we have a few new teams entering this year but they are not new to the sport by any means.
Before I write this preview I would like to send our condolences to Tim’s family and friends. He was a big part of both the Committee and sidecar paddock. He will be missed massively by everyone around the paddock.
Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (current World Champions) join the Super’s which is a great addition, they will be riding a CES with a Yamaha R6 engine. We also have new comers Kieran Clark and Andrew Johnson on the CES outfit with a Yamaha R6. John Saunders and Ben Stell join the class on an LCR with Yamaha engine and last but not least Mark Hegarty and Rob Child will be racing on a Shelbourne whilst running a Honda engine.
Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie will be riding an LCR but have changed engines to Kawasaki from Suzuki whilst defending Champions Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley will be running an LCF with Honda. A change this year will see the Cup Champion winner from 2023 Brian Ilaria with new passenger Olly Lace racing in with the super class.
In the Cup this season Bruce Moore and Amy Dodd will ride the Ireson with Honda engine, David Schofield and Josh Smith will ride the Bellas with Yamaha engine, Chris Schofield and Tom Dawkins will ride a Baker chassis with Honda engine and Tony Baker and William Szanel will run a Baker outfit with Suzuki engine.
Super:-
With the World Champions Todd and Emmanuelle joining this season it could make things more interesting at the front for Lee, Scott, Pete and Jevan bringing new battles to the podium and for the Championship title. Brian and Olly will also bring fresh challenges to the supers jousting for some podiums along with Daryl Gibson and the Ramsden father and son duo. This will definitely mix things up and add excitement on track for racers and spectators making for lots of overtakes.
Cup:-
We see new riders joining this season which will add to some great racing on track. Mark a former passenger has switched things up by competing as a driver this year which could add for some close battles. James and Sarah will be battling for the title this season with the Schofield brothers David and Chris also hoping for a title win. It looks to be a great season all in all.
Current Lap Records for Croft are as follows:
Supers: P.Founds/J.Walmsley 02.04.2023 00:01:26:484
Cup: Crawford/Farrance 26.09.2015 00:01:29:817
On behalf of the F.S.R.A., I would like to express thanks to our loyal series sponsors, who have continued to pledge their support, despite the difficult times which the pandemic and increased operational costs for businesses over the last three years have brought about. The ACU have again awarded the official “British Championship” title, and along with Hegarty Plant Ltd; Pagid Racing (Breitenbach Rennsport); Whitby cottages; Freight Hub and Tingles of Warmfield they continue their long partnerships with the F.S.R.A on board for the coming season, and thank them for investing in the championship.
Finally, the F.S.R.A. would like to thank N.E.M.C.R.C. for hosting, and to all their dedicated officials, marshals, medics and all the other volunteers involved in running the event.
Words – Brian Ross (F.S.R.A. Press Officer) / Photographs – Bryan Gough/ Simon Heath