The 60th season of racing at the Darley Moor Sports Centre, near Ashbourne, DE6 2ET (or What3words: bounty.behalf.charm), is set to close next weekend, Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th October 2024, when the Darley Motor Cycle Road Race Club host the RICHARDSON Stars at Darley, with a bumper programme consisting of 42 races over the two days.
Firstly, the Club are grateful, once again for the help and co-operation from West Midlands businessman, motor cycle road race fan, Martyn Richardson, for supporting the 49th Stars at Darley meeting.
Both days will see the on-track action get underway at 1000hrs, with the Club Championships 20minute Practice sessions with the RICHARDSON Stars at Darley Qualifying scheduled for 1155 – 1215hrs on Saturday and new for this year, a Stars Superpole just for the top 6 on the grid, at the same time on Sunday.
Racing is scheduled to start at 1220hrs with the first session of Championship classes each having a 6-lap race before the 12-lap Richardson Star of Darley race and then the second session for Championship classes with an 8-lap race. Points are to be awarded for all races, with a maximum of 60points up for grabs over the two days, so big changes possible in the Club Championships.
Once again, on his 25th consecutive entry, six times Star of Darley and Isle of Man TT Legend John McGuinness MBE (Lancaster) heads the list of entries for this year’s meeting and he shares the Hawk Racing awning with last year’s Stars winner, Charlie Nesbitt (Swindon). Last year’s Runner-Up, Ben Luxton (Bredbury) returns with his CFS Filtration machine, aiming to go one better this year. Barry Burrell (Kirkby Mallory) and Tom Fisher (Castle Donington) are also regulars returning for this end of season finale, with Fisher being joined by team-mate Jorel Boerman (Holland) in the G&S Kawasaki Racing awning. A former regular Darley Moor competitor and a member of the popular racing family for the stalwart fans is Rob Hodson (Wigan) SMT Racing. Last year saw Mark Goodings (Doncaster) carry the Darley Moor flag and proudly lift the John Newbold Trophy for highest placed Club rider, with two 5th places, can he repeat the feat, or will there be another Club competitor to challenge the Stars? Fans of three-wheeled motorsport are in for a treat with a full grid of outfits entered, so ensuring some dramatic action on track. Amongst the visitors will be the female pairing of Maria Costello MBE/Alice Smith (Northampton/Chipping Camden) on their Formula 600 machine.
With just two of this season’s Champions decided; David Carson (Northwich) Twin Cylinder 655 – 700cc Champion and Adam Sheriff (Barnsley) Forgotten Era & Classic Up To 1300cc Champion there are still another thirteen titles to be decided. However, both competitors are in the best position for securing another title each; Carson with a 26point lead over Nick Clare (Winsford) in the Darley Cup and Sheriff with 12point advantage over Clare, again, in the Pre-Electronic 600cc class. Carson is also in with a chance of the Open 600cc title, currently in 3rd place, 25pts behind leader Mark Goodings, with Joe Holdsworth (Huddersfield), splitting the two, 21pts behind Goodings.
Closest of the remaining classes is the Wilson Trophy class with just 2pts separating Peter Fell (Burton on Trent) and Matt Zschiesche (Stoke on Trent), Jordan Poole (Stoke on Trent) just a further 12pts back. Zschiesche and Poole are competing against each other for the Honda CB500/Suzuki Bandit Championship, Zschiesche currently with a 33point advantage over his fellow Stokie. Fell holds a much bigger advantage in the Lightweight class, enjoying a 37point lead over Iain Davis (Ashbourne) in 2nd, with Mike Lees (Congleton) 48points behind Fell. Davis and Lees are in similar positions in the Forgotten Era up to 500cc class, chasing Steve Price (Stockport) with a 30point lead over Davis, with Lees 62points from the head of the table.
Daniel Pearson (Brough) has a 9point advantage over Anthony Thane (Stoke on Trent) in the Twin Cylinder up to 650cc class with Paul Evans (Awsworth) 33points behind Pearson and ready to pick up any extra points should things get a little heated between the pair ahead.
Aside from the Stars races and Open 600cc title lead Mark Goodings also has championship title aspirations in the Open Solo class, currently with a 12point lead over 2023 Champion Matthew Bell (Sheffield) with Adam Walters (Derby) 25points adrift of Goodings. This trio of competitors are also fighting over Ben Godfrey Trophy honours with Bell hoping to retain this title, currently with a 24point lead over Goodings, Walters another 17points behind.
The Formula 600 Sidecar Championship sees Dan Knight (Congleton), with Ash Gibson (Denton) passenger for this weekend hoping to extend his 13point lead over last year’s Champions, Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Lincoln). The third-place outfit of Richard Butler (Leicester), with another stand-in passenger this weekend, Josh Saunders (Mansfield) just 19points behind the leader. The Open Class Sidecars will also be out on-track at the same time, but the Alan Molyneux/Rob Coppock (Ormskirk/Runcorn) pairing have a 47point advantage over nearest challenger Keith Waddington (Barnsley), with Chris Whitlock (Wadebridge) alongside him in the ‘chair’ this weekend.
The final Championship class is the Pre-Electronic Open Solo class which sees Daniel Stubbs (Derby) heading Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) by 20points.
This highlights all the on-track action now off track ‘hospitality’ to help convince you that a weekend at the Darley Moor Sports Centre can tick many boxes; the very popular Chequered Flag Café will be open until 8pm Friday/Saturday and 6pm Sunday evening, whilst ‘Delicious Co Catering’ will be at Park Corner all day Saturday and Sunday.
Day tickets prices for Saturday and Sunday £15 Adults, £12 Seniors and Free for Children under 16years in advance, with On The Gate prices of £18 Adults and £15 Seniors, Children under 16years Free.
Weekend tickets are £28 Adults, £22 Seniors and Free for Children under 16years, in Advance and ‘On the Gate’ prices £34 Adults, £28 Seniors, Children Under 16years Free.
Be sure not to miss it, tickets and camping can be sorted via www.darleymoorstore.com
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Championship Standings (after Round 8)
Forgotten Era & Classic up to 500cc
1st Steve Price, 120pts; 2nd Iain Davis, 90pts; 3rd Mike Lees, 58pts
Forgotten Era & Classic up to 1300cc
1st Adam Sheriff, 117pts; 2nd Martin Davis, 48pts; 3rd Tom Hodge, 35pts
Wilson Trophy
1st Peter Fell, 90pts; 2nd Matt Zschiesche, 88pts, 3rd Jordan Poole, 76pts
Darley Cup
1st David Carson, 106pts; 2nd Nick Clare,80pts; 3rd Mark Pattinson, 30pts
Ben Godfrey Trophy
1st Matthew Bell, 117pts; 2nd Mark Goodings, 93pts; 3rd Adam Walters, 76pts
Open 600cc 2024
1st Mark Goodings, 102pts; 2nd Joe Holdsworth, 81pts; 3rd David Carson, 77pts
Pre-Electronic Open Solos 2024
1st Daniel Stubbs, 117pts; 2nd Mark Brailsford, 97pts; 3rd Andy Boulton, 74pts
Open Solos
1st Mark Goodings, 109pts; 2nd Matthew Bell, 97pts; 3rd Adam Walters, 84pts
Pre-Electronic 600cc 2024
1st Adam Sheriff, 109pts; 2nd Nick Clare, 97pts; 3rd Liam Ashton, 34pts
Twin Cylinder up to 650cc
1st Daniel Pearson, 87pts; 2nd Anthony Thane, 78pts; 3rd Paul Evans, 54pts
Twin Cylinder 655 to 700cc
1st David Carson, 99pts; 2nd Tom Hodge, 35pts; 3rd Josh Froggatt, 30pts
Lightweight Class
1st Peter Fell, 120pts; 2nd Iain Davis, 83pts; 3rd Mike Lees,72pts
Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandits
1st Matt Zschiesche, 120pts; 2nd Jordan Poole, 87pts; 3rd Liam Taylor, 52pts
Formula 600 Sidecars
1st Dan Knight/Ben Hughes, 82pts; 2nd Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth, 69pts; 3rd Richard Butler/Kenny Cole, 63pts
Open Sidecars to 1300cc
1st Alan Molyneux/Rob Coppock, 87pts; 2nd Keith Waddington/Kenny Cole, 31pts; 3rd Martin Best/Taylor Oldroyd, 30pts
Report by Brian George Photography/PR
Photos by Tony Else Photography