The new circuit at Malpas, used for the Re-run of the H&N Supplies Ltd. Formula Grasstrack championship round 2, featuring the John Madeley Memorial, produced some fast and exciting racing on Saturday.
Race Report and podium images by Ross Wharton – Action Images by Mike Dyment
Unfortunately, the meeting was cut short due to a first-bend pile-up in the Senior C final, during which Stoke on Trent’s Chris Chadwick required medical treatment.
Despite the abandonment, results could be reached. In the youngest class on track, the E-Bikes, Lilly Bence once again claimed a full six-ride maximum to take first place, while Kobi Gutteridge continued to close the gap to Bence; he had to settle for a solid second place. Noah Bakewell finished a comfortable third ahead of Birmingham Speedway Mascot JJ Falconer. It’s a class where all riders are getting faster each week, which is great to see.
Archie Whitelam continued his winning ways but had to work hard for it after a first bend fall in his opening ride left him pointless. Roman Ratcliffe also fell on the slippery surface after a short rain shower, making conditions tricky. Chloe Davis took advantage of the two fallers to take an opening ride win, but Whitelam and Ratcliffe would go on to take five 1st and 2nds, respectively, in the remaining heats. Davis would hold on to 2nd ahead of Ratcliffe. Lucas Astley gained more confidence and got quicker as the afternoon went on to take 4th ahead of AJ Bence.
The Junior class saw Isaac Collins-Bullock take victory from newcomer Joe Bain. Bain suffered a fall in his opening ride but managed 4 wins and a 2nd to take 2nd place ahead of Chrly Arthur.
The Seniors class once again put on some fantastic racing. Championship leader Graham Thomas and reigning champion Wayne Broadhurst were tied on points and could not be separated. A coin toss for first pick of gates in the final went Thomas’ way, and as the final wasn’t run, Thomas took his 5th victory out of 5 meetings. Adam Hawker was a comfortable 3rd after taking three wins, while Sam Hall returned to FGA action at his local circuit to claim 4th, and Colin How edged Max Broadhurst out for 5th on countback. Phil Thomas’ consistency was enough to clinch 7th ahead of the in-form Anthony Rowson. The top 2 put on a superb display in their 5th leg when Broadhurst senior led the championship leader up until the last corner when Graham used the outside run to great effect, pipping the champion on the run to the line.
Spare a thought for Upton upon Severn’s Gary Holtham, whose spectacular loop at the start of his last ride meant a trip to the hospital, thankfully x rays revealed no broken bones, and Chris Chadwick’s unfortunate fall in the C final also meant a trip to the hospital,, also nothing broken or damaged.
Formula Grasstrack action continues on the 24th of August back at Hampton Hall for the Martin Parry Rosebowl and Round 6 of the championship. More information on facebook and www.formulagrasstrack.com
Results
E-Bikes – 1st L. Bence 48, 2nd K. Gutteridge 42, 3rd N. Bakewell 36, 4th J. Falconer 30
Cubs- 1st A. Whitelam 40, 2nd C. Davis 38, 3rd R. Ratcliffe 35, 4th L. Astley 32, 5th AJ. Bence 26 Juniors – 1st I. Collins-Bullock 44, 2nd J. Bain 39, 3rd C. Arthur 30
Seniors (top 10) –
1st G. Thomas 47, 2nd W. Broadhurst 47, 3rd A. Hawker 44, 4th S. Hall 42, 5th C. How 41, 6th M. Broadhurst 41, 7th P. Thomas 40, 8th A. Rowson 39, 9th B. Gutteridge 32, 10th D. Edwards 32
