It was ‘Battle of Britain’ time last Sunday as the Frittenden MCC held their annual grasstrack event. And, on what was easily one of the hottest days of the year so far, the promoting club worked very hard indeed to keep the dust threat to a minimum and still provide a well-prepared race strip for the riders to entertain!
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Star of the ‘Battle of Britain’ solo racing was without doubt young Ashton Vale who brilliantly went through the card in both the 250cc and 350cc classes. With Vale winning his three heats in the 250cc contest, both Thomas Vining and Luke Wicks also recorded victories. In the final, Vale was again the boss as Vining, Wicks, Russell Little, Adam Hawker, Steve Brook, Stuart Main and Shane Knight followed him home.
In the 350cc class, Dave Mears was the only rider other than Vale to be first past the chequered flag. With Vale also dominating this contest, Mears went on to take the runners-up position in the final with Liam Ashcroft, Will Thurlby, James Peters, Chris Brook, Luke Clifton and Tim Curnock the next best.
Another rider to go through the card was Oxford speedway team member Darryl Ritchings as he scored three heat wins and a final success in the 500cc solo class. After starting with a DNF, the day then got considerably better for Charlie Wood. Going 2/1, he then finished runner-up behind Ritchings in the final. That race also saw Will Thurlby take 3rd from Thomas Vining, James Laker, Stuart Bridges, Dan Miller and Jody Hodgson.
READ MORE: GRASSTRACK NEWS
The final solo class at the ‘Battle of Britain’ was for Uprights and that also continued the maximum points theme of the day. Producing the goods was Bob Dolman. In the qualifying heats, which were to decide the top eight riders who were to contest the final, Barry Coates and Jason Prynne also scored wins. In the all-important last race of the day, Dolman scorched to success from Prynne with Dave Mears, David Hollingsbee, Jack Westbrook, Coates, Tim Mount and Robbie Higgins completing the Upright final finishers.
For the Sidecar entries, there were four classes at the ‘Battle of Britain’, Clubman, 500cc, 1,000cc Left-Hand and 1,000cc Right-Hand. In the Clubman, which was run over four points-scoring legs, Mark Courtney/Leon Torres scored three wins, their only defeat coming in the second outing when Luca Whitelam/Anthony Goodwin got home first. In the overall standings, it was Mark Courtney the victor from Whitelam, Frankie Courtney/Conor Measor and youngsters William Offen/Joe Hand.
Both the 500cc and 1,000cc Left-Hand sidecars were also decided over four points-scoring legs with Josh Goodwin/Scott Goodwin and Danny Hill/Callum Ray the respective victors. In the 500cc class, Goodwin and Richard Webb/Anthony Goodwin won two legs apiece, but Webb’s chances of taking the overall win disappeared with an opening leg DNF. In that one, Webb had brilliantly controlled a massive outfit wheelie off the start line before getting it down and inserting pressure on the Goodwins only to then be forced out on lap three with mechanical issues! Over in the 1,000cc Left-Hand contest, Hill scored three wins on his way to glory, his only defeat coming in the second clash when Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge was first past the post.
Terry Saunters/Liam Brown (2), Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth (2). Will Penfold/Ricky Pay and Dale Fish/Jordan Fish all scored 1,000cc Right-Hand sidecar leg wins. Cossar’s hopes, though, of going on to a possible final win were then dashed when a broken chain in his third outing punched a hole in his outfit’s crank casing! So, with Cossar out it was Saunters bagging the glory chased by Penfold, Fish and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb. Early on, Whitelam had held 3rd in the final before picking up a rear wheel puncture.
Results
250cc FINAL 1 Ashton Vale 2 Thomas Vining 3 Luke Wicks 4 Russell Little 5 Adam Hawker 6 Steve Brook 7 Stuart Main 8 Shane Knight. Also competed 9 Dan Miller 17 points 10 Jack Buzza 13 11 Ben Isley 11 12 Lewis Duke 8.
350cc FINAL 1 Ashton Vale 2 Dave Mears 3 Liam Ashcroft 4 Will Thurlby 5 James Peters 6 Chris Brook 7 Luke Clifton 8 Tim Curnock. Also competed 9 Daniel King 8 points 10 James Wells 7.
500cc FINAL 1 Darryl Ritchings 2 Charlie Wood 3 Will Thurlby 4 Thomas Vining 5 James Laker 6 Stuart Bridges 7 Dan Miller 8 Jody Hodgson Also competed 9 Dan Simmons 9 points 10 Russell Manville 7.
Uprights FINAL 1 Bob Dolman 2 Jason Prynne 3 Dave Mears 4 David Hollingsbee 5 Jack Westbrook 6 Barry Coates 7 Tim Mount 8 Robbie Higgins. Also competed 9 Kevin Beer 16 points 10 Michael Norton 13 11 Nickolaj Kennett 12 12 Mike Dowling 9 13 Steve Gallagher 4.
Clubman Sidecar 1 Mark Courtney/Leon Torres 26 points 2 Luca Whitelam/Anthony Goodwin 21 3 Frankie Courtney/Conor Measor 17 4 William Offen/Joe Hand 12.
500cc Sidecar 1 Josh and Scott Goodwin 24 points 2 Richard Webb/Anthony Goodwin 19 3 Chris Neame/Zoe Pay 14 4 Shane Freeman/Tobias Vere 14 5 Butch Jenner/Mark Headling 5 6 Mike and Louis Skelding 4.
1,000cc Left-Hand Sidecar 1 Danny Hill/Callum Ray 26 points 2 Josh Penfold/Dan Woodbridge 22 3 Will Penfold/Adrian North 16 4 Michael Phillips/Conor Measor 11 5 Joe Holland/Jordan Holland 5.
1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecar FINAL 1 Terry Saunters/Liam Brown 2 Will Penfold/Ricky Pay 3 Dale Fish/Jordan Fish 4 Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb 5 Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth DNS 6 George Penfold/Carl Pugh DNS Also competed 7 Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler 11 points 8 John Hand/Adrian North 9 9 Stef Blyth/Morgan Blyth 8 10 Clint Blondel/Lewis Davies 5 11 Mark Warren/Ryan Barker 1.
