What a truly fantastic weekend of grasstrack racing the 2026 Wimborne Whoppa was to produce! Thrilling action, dramatic moments and first-time winners — here’s the story of day one.
Race Report, Images and Interviews by Mike Wood
The opening day was very much all about the stars of tomorrow contesting the 2026 ACU British Youth Grasstrack Championship. First out on track were the youngest star competitors in the E-Bike class. In the opening two heats the, same pattern emerged as Cruz Harris got away first only to be passed by Harry Wicks as Reggie Goodwin took 3rd, Hadlee Jones 4th and Axel Bowtell 5th. That finishing pattern then changed, but not before drama at the start of heat three when little Harris was caught up in a tape malfunction. Getting caught under his helmet, Cruz was hauled off his bike, but in typical Harris spirit was quickly back onboard and ready for the restart. From here onwards he dominated proceedings in the E-Bike class getting out first and storming to the race wins as Wicks and Goodwin disputed the runners-up spot. So, in the overall verdict it was a first-ever title for Cruz Harris ahead of Wicks, Goodwin, Jones, Blake Wooley, Maddie Adams, Bowtell and Florence Rickards. After starting the event strongly, Axel Bowtell unfortunately crashed out of his fourth ride.
In the combined Auto Cadet ACU British Youth Championship, Alfie Shipp was in fantastic form as he stormed to the Cadet title, winning all five heats, as Dalton Wright took 2nd.
Really mixing it up, there were plenty of outstanding performances from the Auto pilots. Showing incredible speed, Levi Collins won his opening four heats before being defeated in the last one by the equally rapid Kobi Gutteridge. In all five of the Auto contests, Kody Pay got home in 3rd with Harry Worrall 4th and Grayson Rickards 5th. That was also the final finishing positions in the overall standings behind champion Collins and runner-up Gutteridge. Completing the Auto’s field, Isla Gannon was 6th, Leighton Ponton 7th and JJ Falconer 8th.
Rogan Wooley and Brayden Blyth were really going for it at the front of the ACU British Youth Championship Juniors class as they shared a brace of wins and runners-up spots apiece in the opening four heats. That meant that the destination of the 2026 title would be decided in the fifth and final battle. And, what a tussle that was as Blyth led the way hugging the inside line whilst Rogan went for the speed generating outside line. Passing and repassing, the verdict looked all set to go right down to the wire until Blyth unfortunately crashed out on the final lap, suffering an arm injury. So that meant it was victory and the title to Rogan, with Albie South in 3rd, Harry Little 4th, Dakota Wright 5th and Daisy Torres 6th. Despite that painful last race fall, Brayden Blyth had still accumulated enough points to be the runner-up in the Juniors overall standings.
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What a star performance the Intermediates winner Archie Rolph was to produce! In all five heats he stormed to victory and in some style and he is certainly a very talented lad who’s racing future will be well worth monitoring in the years to come! Taking 2nd in this class was Finley Theobald from Jack Scully-Syer, Kane Newby, Luton-James McAlinney and Archie Whitelam. Earlier in the meeting, Newby looked the most likely rider to challenge the flying Rolph, but falls in his last two heats ended his potential challenge.
The final Youth class was a 125cc British Championship which saw Archie Whitelam win all five races in style. Chasing him was John Cox, who was consistently quick out of the gate. Making it a memorable day for the Cox family, John was to bag 2nd overall ahead of his sister Jessica as Lucas Astley took 4th. Massive congratulations to all of the 2026 ACU Youth Champions and well done to all of the competitors for providing some top-class entertainment.
With the youth action done, the spotlight on day one was now turned on to the battle of who would be crowned the 2026 ACU GT140 Champion. Opening proceedings saw Ian Clark blasting to a typically stylish win, chased home by Mark Scopes, Luke Wicks, Isaak Collins-Bullock, Shane Knight, Ron Steward, Glyn Stanton and Connor Sargeant. Heat 2 saw the first appearance of the defending GT140 champion Max Broadhurst, but he was to be defeated by his dad Wayne. In the second and third block of heats there was further wins for Wayne Broadhurst and Clark, with Wicks and Scopes also victorious. Leg four opened with Kevin Gwillam being first past the post before the two unbeaten pilots of Wayne Broadhurst and Clark met. In that one Broadhurst was top dog before the qualifying heats finished in drama. Scopes and the hard-charging Wicks were really going for it at the front in the final heat before colliding in a nasty back straight incident. With Scopes suffering a small bleed on the brain and broken hand his day was over as Wicks was excluded for being the cause of the stoppage, get well soon Mark!
So that meant, Wayne Broadhurst, Clark, Tony Atkin, Max Broadhurst and Gwillam, were going direct to the GT140 final, with the last two places to be decided in the LCQ. In that one, it was Wicks taking the win from Collins-Bullock. In the final Max Broadhurst, determined to hang onto his title, made a super start to hit turn one alongside his dad Wayne. But in a frantic turn, Max drifted a little wide and was immediately swallowed up by the charging pack. At the front though, Wayne was looking good and in command, but Clark had menacingly moved up into 2nd and starting to reel the leader in. The battle was now definitely on between two super track craft technicians, but Wayne rode a classic, denying Clark’s every move and attempts to attack, as Gwillam won a thrilling and very tight four-way battle for 3rd by seeing off Wicks, Atkin and Collins-Bullock. So, it’s many congratulations to the new champion Wayne Broadhurst, who was sportingly embraced by his son and outgoing champion Max following the completion of the race.
The final class on day one was for the Whoppa Clubman Sidecars, and it was to prove to be victorious for young Luca Whitelam with Ant Goodwin in the chair. Showing great track craft, twice in the heats Luca caught and passed Mark Courtney/Leon Torres on his way to maximum points. As for Courtney, well he was also involved in a very interesting last heat when he battled with his son Frankie, who was partnered by Conor Measor. For almost the entire duration, Frankie was in very close contact with Mark, almost hitching a lift at some points! So to the final, and Mark made a stunning start to lead the way, only for the third time being caught and passed by the superb Whitelam. Following them home was Frankie Courtney, William Offen/Joe Hand, Matt Tyrell/Shaun Yates and Barry Smith/Ashley Pearce.
Results
E-Bike Youth British Championship 1 Cruz Harris 38 points 2 Harry Wicks 36 3 Reggie Goodwin 31 4 Hadlee Jones 25 5 Blake Wooley 16 6 Maddie Adama 13 7 Axel Bowtell 12 8 Florence Rickards 1.
Autos Youth British Championship 1 Levi Collins 39 points 2 Kobi Gutteridge 36 3 Kody Pay 30 4 Harry Worrall 25 5 Grayson Rickards 20 6 Isla Gannon 12 7 Leighton Ponton 11 8 JJ Falconer 7.
Cadets Youth British Championship 1 Alfie Shipp 40 2 Dalton Wright 35.
Juniors Youth British Championship 1 Rogan Wooley 38 points 2 Brayden Blyth 30 3 Albie South 29 4 Harry Little 28 5 Dakota Wright 21 6 Daisy Torres 16.
Intermediates Youth British Championship 1 Archie Rolph 40 points 2 Finley Theobald 32 3 Jack Scully-Syer 25 4 Kane Newby 17 5 Luton James-McAlinney 16 6 Archie Whitelam 10.
125cc International British Championship 1 Archie Whitelam 40 points 2 John Cox 35 3 Jessica Cox 28 4 Lucas Astley 27.
GT140 British Championship Final 1 Wayne Broadhurst 2 Ian Clark 3 Kevin Gwillam 4 Luke Wicks 5 Tony Atkin 6 Issak Collins-Bullock 7 Max Broadhurst 8 Mark Scopes DNS Other positions 9 Connor Sargeant 10 Mark Collins 11 Adam Hawker 12 Steve Newsham 13 Darren Sargeant 14 Shane Knight 15 Ron Steward 16 Tom Giles 17 Kevin Beer 18 Nickolaj Kennett 19 Archie Palmer 20 Kevin Bundock 21 Glyn Stanton 22 William South 23 Oliver Smith.
Clubman Sidecar Whoppa Final 1 Luca Whitelam/Ant Goodwin 2 Mark Courtney/Leon Torres 3 Frankie Courtney/Conor Measor 4 William Offen/Joe Hand 5 Matt Tyrell/Shaun Yates 6 Barry Smith/Ashley Pearce. Also competed Joe Mogg/Jake Cutler.
