There will be some very exciting motorcycle grass track racing on Sunday, September 22nd, as the Ledbury MCC stage their Herefordshire Grass track Grand Prix event. Once again, the venue will be Sparrington Farm, Pencombe, Herefordshire, HR7 4SL.
This second event of 2024, hosted by the Ledbury MCC, will feature plenty of great action in a 48-race programme that caters to both solo and sidecar machines. For two-wheeled bikes, there are classes for 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, GT140s, Pre-75, and Uprights, while the Sidecar classes cover Old and New and, of course, those rapid, spectacular 1,000cc three-wheeled projectiles.
The first solo class out on track will be the 250cc boys. In this one, Austin Riches makes the long trip from Norwich and should be one of the front runners. Joining him are the likes of young Max Derrick, Ben Phillips, Jake Breeze, Aidan Arthur, Karl Beddingfield, Shane Knight and Ledbury MCC secretary Adam Hawker. Also making an appearance in this 250cc event will be one of the main men from the Grasstrack Banter Promotions team, Ben Ilsley.
Despite having recently wrapped up another British Championship Uprights title, Tony Atkin has elected to enter the 350cc solo class instead this weekend. This entry looks ultra-competitive when you also throw into the mix Dave Mears, Liam Ashcroft, Barry Powell, the very exciting Cameron Taylor and Steve Garside, possibly the busiest rider on the current grasstrack scene!
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Also retaining a recent GT140’s British Championship title, Ian Clark will be at Pencombe and certainly very hard to beat as per usual! Some of the riders looking to get the better of him in what is sure to be a very entertaining class are Paul Smith, Max and Wayne Broadhurst, Kevin Gwillam and Luke Wicks.
John Cox travels down from Cheshire to compete in the Pre-75 solo’s and should start as one of the favourites. That Pre-75 contest also includes Robin Snow, who has double entered and also goes in the Uprights. While the Pre-75 has just seven riders coming to the tapes, the Uprights look like a whole different proposition! In that one, Snow will face along the way some serious opposition such as Martin Adams, Jason Prynne, Darren Phillips, Eddie Rouse and Tim Curnock.
The main focus at Pencombe on Sunday, though, is the feature Herefordshire Grand Prix classes for 500cc solo and 1,000cc Sidecars. In the two-wheeled contest, the victorious 2024 comeback King Martin Williams puts his reputation on the line yet again. Luke Harris, Ryan Ashcroft, Jordan Derrick, and former Swindon and Birmingham speedway rider Darryl Ritchings should challenge him for any potential glory. Having recently returned to competitive action, Darryl is keen to quickly get back in the groove!
Herefordshire Grand Prix Sidecars will see a very welcome racing return for Terry Saunters/Liam Brown following a lengthy period on the sidelines due to injuries sustained after ironically crashing out at Pencombe back in June. Obviously, with one eye on the British Masters event in late October, Saunters will be hoping to quickly get right back on the pace but faces plenty of seriously quality opposition! Also entered are the likes of Matt Fumarola/Andrew Wilson, Dale Fish/Jordan Fish, Tom Cossar/Wayne Rickards, Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth, Will Offen/Ricky Pay, Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, Michael Austin/Frankie Courtney, Peter Lloyd/Conor Measor, Clint Blondel/Max Chadwick and Andrew Minard/Lewis Davies, it’s going to be a good one in the race for honours!
Completing the Ledbury programme is the Old and New Sidecars. After going for it in the Herefordshire Grand Prix, Liam Brown will switch from passenger to pilot in this class, partnered by Frankie Courtney, who is also doubling up! Their main opposition looks like being provided by Mark Courtney/Leon Torres, Brian Hatch/Lewis Wharton and Dean Kitchker/Liam Kitchker. So, the scene is set for a great day of grasstrack racing, get yourself along to Sparrington Farm and watch the action unfold.
Sunday’s event starts with practice at 10am before the all-important racing is due to blast off at 11.30am. Admission charges are £15 Adults, £12 Concessions and Under 16’s FREE with programmes available at £3 each.
