Following a pleasant and fairly lengthy recent dry spell, the scene was set for what promised to be a big, season-opening Herefordshire Grand Prix grass track event hosted by the Ledbury MCC.
Race Report and Images by Mike Wood
But typical of the unpredictable Great British climate you can probably guess what then happened next! Race day had started fine, but then, during the afternoon, clouds rolled in before a heavy, short April shower totally changed track conditions. Despite the club giving the surface time to recover and working hard with remedial repairs, rain on a baked, hard surface created what resembled a skidpan, thus leaving Clerk of the Course Adrian Croft to, unfortunately, make the inevitable decision and call time on proceedings! The event had just entered its third leg at the time of the stoppage, but what a thriller it was!
This was heartbreaking for everyone concerned after Ledbury MCC had prepared a truly fantastic, fast, smooth racing strip for the riders present. Indeed, the track was to provide a large crowd with action so good that it should have certainly whet their appetite for the campaign ahead! Opening the Herefordshire Grand Prix was a 500cc solo heat as Darryl Ritchings produced a classy gate-to-flag win. Fast Darryl then went on to be unbeaten, winning another couple of heats with James Wright (2) and Alfie Bowtell, the other 500cc solo victors.
There was no catching Jack Roberts in the 350cc class as he quickly moved to the front before taking both wins in the two completed clashes. In a stacked 250cc contest, Graham Thomas (2), Austin Riches and Ben Phillips scored the heat wins. Thomas, though, was certainly made to work very hard in his second ride as a determined Dylan Huthwaite took the decision right down to the final turn before Graham just edged ahead.
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Showing just why he is the current GT140 British Champion, Ian Clark produced one of the rides of the day in his opening heat. Missing the start, he then sliced his way through the pack in dynamic style to thus be the first rider past the winning post. In GT140’s, Clark, Mark Scopes and Wayne Broadhurst all started the new season with a brace of heat wins apiece.
British Upright solo champion Tony Atkin and John Cox were the stars of Sunday’s completed racing in that particular class. Both scored a couple of wins each, with Cox’s leg two effort being particularly thrilling as, on the back wheel, he found drive off the final bend to snatch a dramatic victory. Over in the Pre-75 solo’s, John Priest and Graeme Brown took the honours.
So, what about the three-wheeled action on offer? Well, 2024 ACU 500cc sidecar British Championship runner-up Josh Goodwin/Scott Goodwin started 2025 in great form with a couple of smooth victories.
In the high-quality 1,000cc Right-hand sidecars, the action was red hot as expected, and although this was the season opener, the racing was quickly adopting a no-holds-barred mode! Typified by a fierce leg-two battle between Clint Blondel/Max Chadwick and Dale Fish/Jordan Fish, in which one Fish literally threw the kitchen sink at Blondel whilst searching for a way past! The clash then became a little too close, though, with Fish spinning out of contention after making contact with his rival. It was a thriller all the way with Blondel getting the win as Tom Cossar/Ryan Wharton in their new look blue and white Kevlar’s, Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, Matt Fumarola/Andi Wilson, Neal Owen/Jason Farwell and Trevor Heath/Sam Heath also powered their outfits to Herefordshire Grand Prix heat victories.
Unfortunately for Heath though after winning his opening ride he then was involved in a collision with Whitelam on the run to turn one of their second heat. Suffering a leg injury, Trevor quickly pulled over before receiving medical attention, let’s hope the damage will not halt his 2025 season!
Class standings at the time of abandonment
250cc solo 1 Graham Thomas 2 Austin Riches 3 Shane Knight 4 Ben Phillips 5 Dylan Huthwaite 6 Tim Greig.
350cc solo 1 Jack Roberts 2 Steve Garside 3 Dave Mears 4 Barry Powell 5 Tim Curnock 6 Liam Ashcroft.
500cc solo 1 Daryl Ritchings 2 James Wright 3 Arran Butcher 4 Jack Roberts 5 Cameron Taylor 6 Martin Williams.
GT140 solo joint 1st Mark Scopes, Ian Clark, Wayne Broadhurst 4 Luke Wicks 5 Kevin Gwillam joint 6th Duncan Burton and Connor Sargent.
Upright solo joint 1st Tony Atkin and John Cox 3 Phil Kynman 4 David Hollingsbee 5 Luke Tuck 6 David Hammersley.
Pre-75 solo 1 John Priest 2 Graeme Brown 3 Mike Dowling 4 John Weeks 5 Martin Adams 6 Andrew Rowson.
500cc Sidecars 1 Josh Goodwin/Scott Goodwin 2 Barrie Bennett/Rowan Lucas 3 Shaun Hughes/Louis Bennett 4 Richard Webb/Ant Goodwin 5 Mike Skelding/Louis Skelding 6 Nick Bull/Sam Hall.
1000cc RH Sidecars joint 1st Tom Cossar/Ryan Wharton and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb 3 Matt Fumarola/Andi Wilson 4 Neal Owen/Jason Farwell 5 Clint Blondel/Max Chadwick joint 6th Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler, Robbie Simmons/Frankie Courtney and Terry Saunters/Liam Brown.
