This coming Sunday, October 25th, the Leamington Victory MCC will wrap up the 2026 grasstrack campaign when they host their Leamington Landslide event. And topping the bill this weekend will be the race for the 2026 ACU British Classic grasstrack championship titles in the 500cc upright, 500cc pre-75 and up to 350cc solo classes, along with the Clubman sidecars contest.
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Starting with the 500cc uprights, Tony Atkin will be looking to claim an incredible sixth consecutive title win. Expect this class to be ultra-competitive as it also includes the likes of last year’s runner-up John Cox, Luke Tuck who was 3rd in 2025, Jason Prynne, Tim Curnock and Mike Dowling from the host Leamington club. Also coming under starters’ orders and chasing this title will be Jack Westbrook, David Hollingsbee, Tim Mount, Shaun Bickley, Kevin Beer, Barry Coates and Eddie Rouse.
In the 500cc Pre-75 championship class, Dave Hammond is surely going to be the rider they will all have to beat! Dave is already a five-time winner of this one and for 2026 will face the likes of John Priest, Phil Kynman, John Shipley, Ben Phillips, Alex Chadd, John Weeks, Giles Dismore and Phil Spencer.
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Having won the Up to 350cc uprights classic class last year at Roche in Cornwall, Dave Mears will be looking to defend his title this Sunday at Leamington. He can, though, expect a serious challenge to come from Karl Beddingfield along with Stuart Main, Chris Brook, Mark Harris, John Shipley, Alun Bagshaw, Daryl Keeble, Frank Iszard and Steve Dowling. On a day in which several riders are doubling up with entries in more than one class, this 350cc contest also features Giles Dismore and Luke Tuck.
The final championship class is for the Clubman sidecars, and that one certainly promises to be an ultra-competitive, entertaining and very intriguing affair, with the entry showing a combination of young v experienced crews. And since last year’s battle, there have also been several partnership changes, along with the influx of new competitors! Having won the title last year with Mark Truscott on the chair, Mark Seward this time around pairs up with top passenger Liam Brown. 2025 runners-up Mark Courtney/Leon Torres also start, as does the very talented youngster Luca Whitelam with Ant Goodwin as his partner. Goodwin has already enjoyed winning one title in 2026 when he partnered Richard Webb to glory in the recent British Masters 500cc sidecar championship, so he certainly would like to make it a double! Indeed, that pairing of Whitelam and Goodwin have been outstanding in the 2026 Clubman sidecars and could well be the crew to beat this weekend! The contest, though, will also include the likes of Paul Jasper/Ashley Pearce, Barry Smith/Alan Hoskin, Matthew Tyrell/Shaun Yates, Jim Penfold/Danny Hill and youngsters Frankie Courtney/Connor Measor along with William Offen/Joe Hand.
There’s also plenty of support action for the Championship classes at Lemington featuring both solo and sidecar classes. In the Youth solo racing, Brayden Blyth, Harry Little, Albie South and Daisy Torres go in the Juniors with Kane Newby and Finley Theobald lining up in the Intermediates. Over in the Adults section, once again the GT140’s as attracted a great entry led by Ian Clark, Kevin Gwillam, Max Broadhurst, Luke Wicks, Connor Sargeant, Isaac Collins-Bullock and Shane Knight. Both Wicks and Collins-Bullock then also go in the 250cc solo class, which includes talented Channel Islander Thomas Vining, Karl Beddingfield and Jacob Phillips, who was very entertaining at the recent Ledbury event.
Another double entry rider at Leamington is young Max Broadhurst, who not only competes in the GT140’s but also jumps aboard his 350cc mount, where he will take on Chris Brook, Will Thurlby and Marcus Crutchington. In the final solo class, eleven riders come to the tapes in the 500cc class, with Luke Harris definitely the stand-out name in that one! Expect the main threat to Harris hopes of taking the win to be provided by Thomas Vining, Ryan and Liam Ashcroft, Will Thurlby and Jake Breeze.
Completing the Landslide programme is a tasty-looking 1,000cc Right-Hand sidecar class with a great 14 crews coming to the tapes. In this one, the very fast Terry Saunters/Liam Brown and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb will be gunning for that top slot, along with Will Penfold/Ricky Pay, John Hand/Adrian North and Clint Blondel/Lewis Davis, who should also be towards the front end of proceedings! Also look out for Stef Blyth/Morgan Blyth, Peter Lloyd/Andi Wilson, Steve Smith/Gareth Little, George Penfold/Carl Pugh and Jordan Smith/Joe Page, who produced a very impressive performance at the recent ACU British Masters 500cc sidecar class.
So, if you want to be part of this final grasstrack event of 2026, get along to the Leamington venue of Victory Moto Park, Banbury Road, Bishops Tachbrook, Leamington, Warwickshire CV33 9QL this coming Sunday. Admission prices are Adults £15, Concessions £12.50, Under 16’s FREE, with race programmes at £2.50. Practice will be starting at 9.30am, with the first race due off at 11.00am.
