The NORA MX Club hosted rounds four and five of the NORA MX championships of 2023 at Brookthorpe MX Track in Gloucestershire.
Race Report and Images by Tracy Thacker
It was part of a fantastic two-day quad championship event which incorporated the third round of the NORA sidecar Championship, and the third round of the Quad British and National Experts championship. The weather was fantastic with the sun shining all weekend.
The NORA sidecar Championship saw some brilliant races with the championship lead still very close and just six points separate leaders Lee Foyle and Dan Phelps from Tony and Scott Grahame.
Race one got underway with an early lead for Lee Foyle and Dan Phelps they held a safe lead throughout going on to take their first win. Tony and Scott Grahame had a slow start but fought hard to battle forward, moving into second in the final few laps. Behind there was a determined battle for third with Ashley Williams and John Hunt finding a way past Paul Pelling and Mike Curnow who were close behind with Sam Osbaldiston and Harley Lloyd taking fifth.
In race two Tony and Scott Grahame took the lead from the start but the battle was on, within a few laps Lee Foyle and Dan Phelps found a way past and were looking for a second win, but it wasn’t to be, with Tony and Scott Grahame moving back ahead, and not looking back, taking their first win of the day. Lee Foyle and Dan Phelps held second and behind Ashley Williams and John Hunt battled again with Paul Pelling and Mike Curnow. They swap places several times with Ashley Williams and John Hunt managing to take the advantage. Close behind Sam Osbaldiston and Harley Lloyd took fifth, just ahead of Jack Roger and Ryan Beavis.
In the final race of the day, time constraints meant the race was shortened to five laps, and there was also more dust as the track dried out, but the race was still fast a furious. Tony and Scott Grahame took the lead from the start, taking a second great win and the overall win on the day. Lee Foyle and Dan Phelps held a close second and behind Paul Pelling and Mike Curnow worked hard to hold third and third best result of the day. Sam Osbaldiston and Harley Lloyd took fourth, with Jack Roger and Ryan Beavis just behind.
In the Pro / Pro-am class, racing got underway with an early lead for Harry Walker, he was determined and blasted a safe distance ahead going on to take his first great win. Dean Dillon quickly blasted into second with Jamie Morgan close in third. But the competition was strong, with Dafydd Davies tucking into third ahead of Chad Beavers.
In Race two Harry Walker took the holeshot and a second win, but not without drama as he picked up a puncture and the tyre was almost off the wheel as he finished the final few hills, but it brought it home safely and stayed ahead to keep the win. Chad Beavers held second with a battle for third behind. Jamie Morgan was determined, fighting past Tom Day to take third.
On day two there were another three races, with just as much excitement. Harry Walker blasted into the lead on Race one staying ahead for another win, he was chased by Oli Samson but behind there was strong competition, with Dafydd Davies tucking into second ahead of Jamie Morgan, Oli Samson held fourth from George Day.
In race 2 Harry Walker took another win this time chased by Dean Dillon who took a good second. Oli Samson held third but had to work for it with a challenge from Jamie Morgan a few laps from the end, but he fought back and held third. Tom Day took fifth and Dafydd Davies sixth.
In their last race of the weekend, it was Oli Samson who took the hole shot with Harry Walker blasting past to take the lead and his fifth win of the weekend. Dean Dillon had a slow start but fought through in a brilliant race to take second. Tom Day took third with Oli Samson holding fourth, just ahead of Dafydd Davies.
The Masters A and B class, they had three races on Saturday and another three on Sunday. In race one it was a battle between Paul Winrow and Ed Davies, they stayed very close throughout with Paul Winrow just managing to hold the advantage and took his first win of the day. Greg Fisher held third from Johnathan Mcknight, with Chris Keitch in fifth.
In race two it was Paul Winrow who led from the start with Ed Davies blasting past to lead in the middle part of the race, but the racing was very close with Johnathan Mcknight also tucking onto second at one point, but it was Paul Winrow who fought back to take the win, from Ed Davies. Ed was subsequently disqualified from the race and lost his points. This left Johnathan Mcknight to take second ahead of Greg Fisher and Darren Bridge in fourth.
In the final day of day one Greg Fisher took the early lead, Paul Winrow chased and managed to find a way past, taking another great win. Johnathan Mcknight had another great race tucking into second ahead of Greg Fisher with Darren Bridge just behind.
On day two there were another three races. In race one Paul Winrow took an early lead holding the advantage over Ed Davies who held a close second. Johnathan Mcknight held third working hard to stay ahead of Darren Bridge.
In race two Paul Winrow took another good win with Ed Davies second defending from Johnathan Mcknight. Darren Bridge had a great start and held fourth, behind with Paul McConway was on a charge into fifth, his best finish of the weekend.
In their last race of the weekend, it was Johnathan Mcknight who took the hold shot followed by Greg Fisher. Paul Winrow had a slow start but was determined and fought hard to take the lead, holding on for the win. Johnathan Mcknight took second from Greg Fisher. Ed Davies also had problems on the start and fought back to take a great fourth, with Darren Bridge fifth.
In the Masters B class Jason Hall had a great weekend and some brilliant starts to secure the lead in that class with Stumpy Lawrence just a few point behind.
In the 150 / 250 races it was Frank Marston who took the overall in the 250 open class on day one taking wins in all races with Louie Holt close behind and taking second overall, and day two Louie Holt took the overall with two great wins. Seth Terrell had a couple of great wins on day one of the 250 Air cooled class with Jay Sams taking two wins on day two. Brodie North did a great job to win the 150 Open class.
The Clubman Elite and Clubman classes also had three races on Saturday and another three on Sunday. Aled Davies had a great weekend taking the overall win in the Elite class. There was strong competition in the Clubman class with Charlie Wheatley winning through to hold the championship lead.
In the Intermediates Morgan Junge had another great week with Gavin Roach also on good form taking two wins on day one. Brooke Bunce won the ladies class.
Finally the 50 / 100 class was well supported with Bentley Don Garrett taking three wins across the weekend and Owain Lewis taking two wins in the 100 Auto, and Beatrix Drinkwater too the overall in the 100 geared. Erin Mansell had a brilliant weekend to hold the lead of the 50s class.
At the end of an eventful weekend there were lots of exhausted riders celebrating a wonderful weekend. The club worked tirelessly all weekend to make it a fantastic event, and we look forward to round three on RD6 – June 18th – Warmingham Lane MX – CW10 0HL
Results
>CLICK HERE for the Nora MX Quad Rd4 & Sidecar Rd3 Results<<
>CLICK HERE for the Nora MX Quad Rd5 & British Quad Rd3<<
