Saturday Warm up
After a scorching week we wake up to the rain which is not what anyone wanted. This made it a difficult choice for what tyres to use - by the time the sidecars were going out the rain had stopped and the track was dry in some places and damp in others with still a bit of holding water in the dip of Park Straight. Some outfits went out on the wets whilst a few gamble and went out on the dry, it is safe to say the gamble was the better option. Outfits that were on wets only did 2/3 laps then pulled in and the slick runners stayed out for the full session and got some good laps in. The fastest in this session was Fenwick/Knapton with a time of 1:41.615.
Qualifying
After a few red flags throughout the day the session was cut down from 15 to 10 mins. The outfits took to the circuit and tried to put in as many quick laps as they could (which isn’t easy with the length of the track - 2.19m), most outfits managed 6 laps. The overall grid was split by only 10 seconds with 3 seconds over the top 4, the next 7 outfits were grouped by another 3 seconds between them and then the rest were only 2 seconds between them. Top 3 in qualifying was 1st Founds/Walmsley 1:36.506, 2nd Crawford/Hardie 1:38.129 and 3rd was Ramsden/Ramsden 1:39.366.
Race 1
Just as with qualifying, the race was cut down to 8 laps. As the lights go out the outfits fly into Coppice side-by-side trying to get the best position possible to get the sling shot out of Charlie’s down Park Straight for a dive up the inside for the right hander’s of Park and Chris Curve. Moore/Moore the father and son duo (who team up again for the first time since 2021) sit behind the other bikes around the left of the Gooseneck before going down the inside in to Mansfield’s and gain 2 positions. Dawson/Sims make up 2 spots with a great opening lap whilst Bryan/Hyde follow them also making up 2 spots. Schofield/Smith, Morphet/Ryder and Buchanan/Evans follow Baker/Dawkins up the Mountain through Halls Bend to the Hairpin round Barn on to start finish straight. The grid settles down with Founds/Walmsley pulling a 2 second gap midway in the race from Crawford/Hardie. For the next 2 laps Clarke/Johnston chase down Dawson/Sims getting past them to move up the grid into 5th overall. As the outfits at the rear are battling behind Baker/Dawkins trying to get the best opportunity to pass them they go 3 wide into the hairpin where Schofield/Smith touch with Morphet/Ryder - not a major incident - and the guys continue to race.
Podium
1st Founds/Walmsley 2nd Crawford/Hardie 3rd Ramsden/Ramsden
Cup podium
1st Clarke/Johnston 2nd Dawson/Sims 3rd Saunders/Stokoe
Sunday Warm up
The warm up session were better today with the track dry and almost perfect conditions for the teams to put some laps in. 13 bikes went out to do the session with most getting 4 laps in. Founds/Walmsley came out on top again with a time of 1:37.083.
Race 2
The drivers drop the clutch and get going into Coppice again with Founds/Walmsley in the lead followed by Crawford/Hardie. Bryan/Hyde have a great start getting to 3rd overall making a gap of 1.565s to Clarke/Johnston. Lockey/Binns by the third lap pull themselves up to 4th in class with a lead of 1.160 over Ilaria/Lace. The outfits at the front stick-in-tow for a while, with the action again being at the back of the grid. Four teams battling with each other and all within 1 second covering them all. Lap 7 see’s Clarke/Johnston make a move on Bryan/Hyde to take 3rd on the road. Lap 8 sees Schofield/Smith get past Baker/Dawkins giving them free track and air in front of them but with a gap of 5.814 to Moore/Moore. Schofield/Smith suddenly catch Moore/Moore by 3 seconds in one lap to be right on their tail and then see them overtake heading up into Park. On the last lap Baker/Dawkins have an issue where Dawkins comes off the bike which is a sad end to Baker/Dawkins race. Lockey/Binns have a great result finishing 4th in their class.
Podium
1st Founds/Walmsley 2nd Crawford/Hardie 3rd Clarke/Johnston
Cup podium
1st Clarke/Johnston 2nd Dawson/Sims 3rd Saunders/Stokoe
Race 3
On the formation lap Baker/Dawkins retire from the race before it starts. The lights go out and everyone gets away. Moore/Moore do a great move up the inside of Charlie’s to gain a position and get their race underway. Bryan/Hyde battle it out with Clarke/Johnston to take 3rd on the road. Schofield/Smith repay the favour on Moore/Moore going up into Park, taking them on the inside and out-braking them moving up to 4th in class. Moore/Moore make another great move down the inside of Schofield/Smith going into Mansfield and make way through the chicane and up the Mountain. Saunders/Cooke get past Schofield/Smith to move up the grid whilst up front Clarke/Johnston make a great move on Bryan/Hyde and move in to 3rd overall. Crawford/Hardie start to fall back from Founds/Walmsley lap by lap and on lap 9 have to retire the bike due to an issue. This promotes everyone on track as Ilaria/Lace also retire their outfit.
Podium
1st Founds/Walmsley 2nd Clarke/Johnston 3rd Bryan/Hyde
Cup podium
1st Clarke/Johnston 2nd Dawson/Sims 3rd Saunders/Stokoe
On a side note, we always thank the orange army and medics in every report and preview that we publish but I thought they need an extra special mention this week as they were on top of their game in every incident this weekend. So a big thank you from us all. We would like to wish a speedy recover to all riders and passengers that were injured this weekend.
On behalf of the F.S.R.A., I would like to express thanks to our loyal series sponsors, 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 B.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 – Simon Heath/Joy Richings