Formula Grasstrack riders put on a feast of superb racing at the famous Chetton track in Shropshire on Saturday for Round 4 of the H & N Supplies Ltd. 2022 Championship. The meeting was also in memory of former champion Steve Mildoon and what a show it was!
Report and Feature Image by Ross Wharton
Despite only two riders lining up for the E-bike class, it once again produced some close elbow to elbow action between Jessica Cox and Toby Cossar. Cox managed to fend off Cossar in the first 3 heats but after the interval it was Toby’s turn to lead, taking 2 race wins leaving the last race to decide if the final would decide the winner. Jessica managed to take victory in the final heat to take the win on the day, but Toby would take the win in the final as a small consolation.
Charlie Dowd was the clear winner once again in the Auto Cadets class. Dowd will be a strong contender at the Youth Nationals in July if he continues to show this form. Oxford speedway mascot Chloe Davis finished 2nd, following on from her victory at Chelmsford last weekend. Davis missed the final to make the dash across the midlands to Leicester speedway.
The Cubs and Juniors were once again combined. Ollie Binns and Naythan Kukla were the two Cubs doing battle, Binns was at the front mixing with the juniors in every heat whilst Kukla improved throughout the afternoon, getting quicker and showing more confidence. Joe Crewe continued his winning ways, only dropping one point to Jack Baker in the Junior class. Baker would take 2nd overall from Bristol’s Max Derrick in third. Jack Crewe rode consistently but for a non-finish in his 5th ride, losing valuable points. In the combined final for the youth Steve Mildoon Shield, Joe Crewe would take victory ahead of cub champion Binns with Max Derrick finishing 3rd.
Kevin Gwillam would take a clear victory in the senior class only dropping 1 point in his opening ride to Wayne Broadhurst. Broadhurst would start off strong, with 3 wins but after the interval he only managed 2 seconds to Jake Breeze and Gwillam before disaster struck in his final ride when his honda engine died passing the line on the last lap. Broadhurst would push home for a valuable 2 point giving him6th overall. One of the FGA’s senior members, Stephen Mace had one of his best meetings ever, collecting 5 2nd places before winning his last heat ahead of David Binns and Gino Casale. Mace’s 43-point haul was enough to clinch 2nd overall ahead of Dave Binns who finished 1 point behind Mace. Jake Breeze would be left rueing a last race fall where he remounted for a 5th place finish. A better result here would have probably given him 2nd overall after a hattrick of wins in his first 5 races. Breeze was tied with late entry James Childe who hasn’t lost any of his motorcycling ability and was taking Mike Flynn’s rides after the Wallasey veteran had to withdraw mid-week due to an arm ailment. Sam Hall would take 7th place after spending more time in the workshop than out of it over the last 2 weeks following the engine blow up at round 3. Hall junior would be in the mix at the front all day, taking a race win which would help seal an A final spot. The final position for the A final would go to the 2021 Junior Champion, Gino Casale who was making only his 2nd appearance in the Senior category. Casale earned himself the Auto Smart Rider of the Day prize.
In the Steve Mildoon Senior Final, Broadhurst would be on borrowed machinery courtesy of Martin Adams, (Adams had lent his championship-winning machine to Kacper Oszczepalski for the meeting) and would lead from the start, taking victory for the 2nd year in a row ahead of meeting winner Gwillam with David Binns pipping Stephen Mace to 3rd place.
Round 5 of the H & N supplies Ltd. Championship takes place on the 11th June at Malpas and will incorporate the Tom Thomas Memorial finals.
Results
Ebike – 1st J. Cox 46, 2nd T. Cossar 44
Auto – 1st C. Dowd 48, 2nd C. Davis 42
Cubs – 1st O. Binns 48, 2nd N. Kukla 42
Juniors – 1st Joe Crewe 47, 2nd J. Baker 40, 3rd M. Derrick 35, 4th Jack Crewe 29
Seniors – 1st K. Gwillam 47, 2nd S. Mace 43, 3rd D. Binns 42, 4th J. Breeze 41, 5th J Childe 41, 6th W. Broadhurst 40, 7th S. Hall 39, 8th G. Casale 36, 9th K. Oszczepalski 36, 10th K. Murfin 36
