Saturday practice arrived and all the teams got prepared to put in some laps. The weather is dry and not too hot so perfect conditions for the outfits. The teams got around 7 laps for the session in the allotted time. There are always a few battles in practice. It is like a mini race as teams were going side by side and trying to get the best position possible trying to not get held up. Founds/Walmsley set the highest amount of fastest laps with the fastest of them being 1:13.379. Schofield/Smith and Saunders/Stokoe traded with each other doing two fastest laps each until Clarke/Johnson came and put 4 on the bounce in with a fastest of 1:14.837. Unfortunately father and son duo Moore/Moore blew an engine on the first lap putting them out of practice and qualifying.
Qualifying
After a short break qualifying was upon us and the guys and girls went to do battle again for the grid slots to give them the best shot of getting the most points to take titles away with them this weekend. We had Blackstock/Lawrence as a wild card and Ellis/Clement also came back to play. Qualifying got under way as the sun was shining and yet again the outfits could get around 7 laps in. Founds/Walmsley alongside Crawford/Hardie traded times for 5 laps until Crawford/Hardie took pole position with a time of 1:12.373. The cup class was dominated by Clarke/Johnson with a lap of 1:15.982. Fenwick/Knapton put in a cracking lap of 1:15.672. There was only a gap of 0.252 between Saunders/Stokoe and Ramsden/Ramsden. Saunders/Cooke, Schofield/Smith, Lockey/Binns and Saunders/Stell were under 2 seconds between them with the rear of the field brought up by Baker/Dawkins, Hegarty/Ludlow and Thomas/James.
Race 1
The lights go green, everyone gets away, the guys go side by side into Redgate and try their best to get the best exit into Hollywood and down Craner Curves. As the riders come over the start finish, Founds/Walmsley have the lead by 0.154 seconds. Moore/Moore make a great start by making up 3 places from the back of the grid whilst Saunders/Stokoe trade places with Saunders/Cooke as both outfits are trying to gain extra points to pull further away into 2nd and 3rd in the championship over Schofield/Smith. Crawford/Hardie pass Founds/Walmsley and by the end of the lap pull a gap of 0.870 as they also try to keep the title fight alive. Saunders/Stell pass Thomas/James to gain another position and progress up the grid. Clarke/Johnson finally make it past Ramsden/Ramsden and over the two laps pull a gap of 1.268 seconds. Schofield/Smith are pushing hard to catch Saunders/Cooke whilst doing this they are putting fast laps in getting down to a 1:16.917 which is a PB for the duo and also build a gap of 13.340 seconds to Lockey/Binns. Crawford/Hardie took the win with a time of 12:37.394 but Founds/Walmsley took the fastest lap at 1:12.537.
After the race it was deemed that Clarke/Johnson passed Ramsden/Ramsden off track and got a place penalty which put Clarke/Johnson behind Ramsden/Ramsden.
Sunday
Warm Up
Sunday warm up arrived, it was overcast but warm. Crawford/Hardie managed one lap then pulled in as the rest of the teams put in around 5 laps. Ilaria/Lace turned up to race on Sunday giving us an extra team on the grid. There was 7 seconds between the whole grid with the team coming out on top being Ellis/Clement with a time of 1:14.638.
Race 2
The race gets underway and everyone starts jostling for positions again going two wide into Redgate. Schofield/Smith get the jump that they needed and get on to the back of Saunders/Cooke as they battle for 3rd place in the Championship. Founds/Walmsley also get the jump on Crawford/Hardie and take 1st place and put them in prime position for maximum points. Moore/Moore get a great start and move up 6 places on the opening lap. Crawford/Hardie took the lead back on the following lap with Ellis/Clement and Blackstock/Lawrence hot on the heels of Founds/Walmsley making it an exciting opening few laps with no more than 1.895 seconds covering all 4 outfits. Unfortunately bad luck hits Crawford/Hardie as they pass the start finish line with 3 puffs of blue smoke emitted from the exhaust and they have to retire the outfit. This secures the title for Founds/Walmsley for the 7th time. Ilaria/Lace got a great exit out of Redgate with a run down the inside of Craner Curves only to spin on the exit. Baker/Dawkins make a great move and pass Moore/Moore and move up to 5th in class. Saunders/Cooke and Schofield/Smith are still battling from the very first lap as they both try to outbreak each other going into Redgate side by side. Saunders/Cooke come out on top in that battle but then Schofield/Smith get a great run and decide to make a move up the inside and brake too late and end up going straight on into Roberts Esses and putting them 12 seconds behind.
Clarke/Johnson secured a new lap record of 01:14:637.
I would like to congratulate Pete and Jevan on taking the title for the 7th time. Hard work and consistency pays off and if you ask them they would say they would have preferred to win it on the track and not down to a retirement as they are all here to race.Being overall winners of the race weekend they also take home the Bill Bodice Trophy.
Another shoutout has to go to Lee and Scott as they had a massive off at Olivers Mount and came back to give us some great battles to try and take the championship away from Pete and Jevan, it shows what a great set of characters these two lads are and the injuries and pain barriers they had to break through each race. The battle is still alive for second and third in the championship so Knockhill is set to be interesting.
I would also like to congratulate Kieran and Andrew on winning the Cup class as they have dominated this season and are also in contention to take 3rd overall. James and Sarah have taken 2nd in the cup class which is a great achievement and like I said at the start of the season they were also contenders to watch for taking the title and they did not disappoint with the racing they gave us this season. 3rd place is still up for grabs with only 9 points between John and Vicky and David and Josh so bring on the final round in Scotland.
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 N G Road Racing 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