The weather put a stop to the final Formula Grasstrack meeting of the season last Saturday as the meeting was cancelled Friday morning.
In what was to be a fantastic finale to finish off the 2021 championship, which will now be decided after 4 rounds with riders dropping their worst score.
Report by Ross Wharton – Images courtesy of Maggie Smith
Charlie Fletcher is now the Auto Cadet champion in his first year of Grasstrack racing. The younger brother of Harry has followed in his brother’s tire tracks and has improved with every meeting this year. Archie Whitelam takes silver medal despite only competing in half the rounds run, the Nottingham youngster was super quick in the 2 meetings at Malpas that he entered and will surely be one to watch as he moves up classes for 2022. AJ Bence takes bronze after making his debut in Grasstrack racing at Alveley in August, he added a 3rd place finish at round 5 to his 2nd place at Alveley. John Cox Jnr takes 4th will Lily Childe finishing 5th.
Ollie Binns Adds another Cub class title to his 2019 one. The youngster from Nantwich only missed round 3 at Hampton Hall and went on to accumulate 3 round wins. Winsford’s Naythan Kukla finished 2nd by 2 points after making his debut at Grasstrack racing this year. Kukla made the transition from BMX racing to Speedway practise days in the winter before joining the Grasstrack community at Malpas for Round 2. Harry Fletcher takes the last step on the Cub Rostrum despite having mechanical issues in the 3 rounds he entered. Fletcher scored two 3rd places before turning his focus to speedway. Motocrosser Logan Price made 1 appearance, at Round 3, finishing 2nd after a mechanical issue. Logan is keen to return in 2022 and develop his track racing skills.
Gino Casale narrowly wins the Junior Title by 1 point over Brierley Hill’s Joe Crewe. Casale’s 2 wins and a 2nd were enough to take the top step after missing Round 5. Crewe has undoubtedly improved this year and was consistently pushing for race wins. Dylan Wassall made finally made his Grasstrack debut. The teenager from Great Barr was keen to get going last year but the pandemic put a delay on his first outing. The smooth-riding style and consistent finishes were enough to help secure third place overall. Ethan Childe squeezed out Cousin William for 4th place. They tied on 47 points, but Ethan’s round 5 win gives him 4th on countback. Max Broadhurst made his first Grasstrack meeting at Round 5 and will be back next year for more. Following in Dad Wayne’s tire tracks, Broadhurst looks like he can go far in the sport.
Wayne Broadhurst was Supreme in all 4 Rounds, taking 4 wins and rarely beaten. The Former speedway ace and 350cc regular had set a high bar for his rivals to match as he takes his 1st Senior FGA title. Dave Binns finished 4 points adrift of Broadhurst after missing one round, Binns was able to finish 2nd twice after a 3rd place at round 2. Jake Breeze squeezed out fellow Minsterley member Steve Mace for third place, by 1 solitary point. Breeze’s achievement isn’t to be sniffed at as it’s only his 2nd full year on the Grasstrack scene. He also adds the Jonathon Rodgers memorial shield to his trophy collection. Steve Mace came out of retirement to just miss out on 3rd place after consistently racing inside the top 8 all season. Mace is also a key member within the FGA, helping behind the scenes to get meetings on. Andrew Binns snatched 5th from Andrew Rowson. Despite both riders’ finishing on equal points, Binns’ 5th place finish at round 3 was enough to secure 5th on countback. Andrew Rowson’s 6th place is a fantastic achievement, improving immensely this year and using his motocross background has been a key attribute to his 2021 season.
2021 has seen newcomers across all 4 classes in the FGA and it is hoped more riders will come to join the grassroots discipline in 2022.
