All you Grasstrack fans should now be getting very excited as this weekend, Sunday, 5th May it’s time for the next episode of Bantasia! staged at Whaddon Farm, Owslebury, near Winchester in Hampshire SO21 1JJ. And, you can be sure that those guy’s at Grasstrack Banter Promotions will have pulled out all of the stops to provide you with another memorable day of exciting two and three wheeled action!
Words and Images by Mike Wood
For Bantasia 2024 there’s three classes of racing for 250cc solo, 500cc solo and of course those 1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecars. Starting with the 250cc lads, there’s definitely going to be a new Bantasia Champion in this class as previous double winner Cameron Taylor as now moved up into the 500cc brigade. Once again, the 250cc competition throws up that intriguing mix as the experienced riders take on the talented, exuberant younger brigade. Racing in the experience camp there’s the likes of Tim Greig, Richie Knight, Kevin Gwillam and Bantasia debutant David Knowles whilst the Youth challenge is led by Charlie Wood, Austin Riches, Hayden Watts, Harrison Rogers, Max Derrick and Aidan Arthurs.
Having recently won the season opener at Tallington, multi–British Champion Paul Cooper tops the 500cc entry list. Like the 250cc contest though this class looks wide open, full of high quality and quite likely to produce plenty of outstanding action! Also, in the 24-rider line-up and looking to challenge Cooperman are the likes of Arran Butcher, Dave Mears, Ryan and Liam Ashcroft, Charley Powell, Jack Roberts the afore mentioned Cameron Taylor and Luke Harris for starters. Both Cameron and Luke have predominately spent their time racing on 250cc and 350cc machines but can certainly not be discounted in the hot race for honours at this year’s Bantasia! Then there’s also the lads mixing their 2024 grass racing schedule with exploits on the shale as Jake Mulford, Mickie Simpson, Alfie Bowtell and the always exciting Chad Wirtzfeld come to the tapes to chase glory. Chad in particular always goes well at Whaddon Farm and should start as one of the favourites!
Double Bantasia Champion Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth are certainly the crew to beat again in the eagerly anticipated 1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecars contest. Just about every top crew in the Country have entered the 2024 Bantasia resulting in the need for each leg to consist of four heats! Such is the quality again that it’s very difficult to pick out potential challengers. Could it be coming from Terry Saunters/ Liam Brown, Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, Matt Fumarola/Andi Wilson and Michael Austin/Vinny Branch or could it come from a surprise contender for whom the stars align on raceday? Well, the only way to find out is to be at Whaddon Farm and witness the great Bantasia action yourselves!
Practice is at 11am with the first race at 12.30pm. Admission costs are Adults £15, Concessions £13 and Under 16’s FREE. If you want to enjoy the Bantasia experience for the whole weekend then camping is FREE with also hot food and a bar also available on-site.
