SCOTT BATES THE TRAP
June 16, 2008
There have been many critics of this track over recent years but after the sterling efforts of the owners to tidy up, grade and water the track in the weeks leading up to this weekends important meeting for the club this reporter is delighted to say how superb the track looked and how well it held up to a full 3 blocks of racing with the surface nicely tacky through much of the day and a ‘blue’ line developing towards the late afternoon.
First group out was the Auto Challenge riders and Ben Kind caught a random stone going into the first corner that pitched him over the bars! (See picture) This gave the early lead to the holeshot queen – Kathryn Booth, she held off the advances of JC Verdugo for a lap before he steamed past into what proved to be an unassailable lead. Ben Kind, however, was on a charge and from dead last after his tumble he was into 2nd place by the time the last lap flag came out but try as he might to reel in JC it was to late for him & JC took the well earned victory.
In their next races Ben got a clear run into the first corner and he went on to take 2 clear wins from JC; but with Jayden Wooloff having already claimed two 3rd places his DNF in the last race gave a delighted Kathryn Booth a well deserved 3rd overall on the day.
In the 65’s Ethan Humpries looked like the lad to beat as he claimed the first race victory ahead of Callem Bennett in 2nd and Connor Halligan in 3rd. But Callem was having none of it and went onto take hard fought wins in races 2 & 3 to claim his first ever overall, Ethan was pipped for 2nd by Connor in the 2nd block but Ethan was hard on Callem’s tail pipe right up to the flag in the last race.
After last weeks gritty 2nd overall in the Small Wheel 85’s Matt Harrison was due a win and today was his day. Although John Wagstaff won the first race convincingly with Matt in 2nd and Jonathon Brighton in 3rd. Matt had the lead early in both of the last two races that he then controlled from the front for a convincing first ever overall. John Had a spill in the 2nd race which pushed him down the order leaving the door open for an improving Jonathon to take 2nd overall with his 3rd, 2nd, 2nd scorecard. Adam Johnson followed these two home into 3rd overall.
Daley Couldron and Jordan Wills were at it hammer and tongs in the Big Wheel’s class, taking no prisoners on the way! Daley had the edge in race one ahead of Jordan and Ben Huckerby some way back in 3rd. As race two started though it was clear something wasn’t right, Jordan had the early lead but suddenly, from nowhere Daley was on his case – he had joined the race from the pits on his spare bike half a lap late!
Despite being black-flagged he ‘raced’ Jordan to the flag. Daley’s disqualification gave Ben Huckerby 2nd and Jamie Scott 3rd.
The group’s final race saw Daley given a 10 second penalty off the start for his earlier misdemeanour and it was Jamie Scott who got the holeshot but it was short lived as Wills tee boned him on the 4th corner, taking Jamie out and giving Jordan a lot of work to do! Meanwhile Jack Gardner had checked out with Jack Gower in tow but he managed to hold on for his victory. Behind these two Couldron, despite his penalty, was busy carving his way through the pack and into an eventual 3rd place just ahead of Ben Huckerby. Wills limped home in 5th but it was enough for him to take the overall ahead of Ben and Jack.
Scott Bates was in a class of his own in the Schoolboy 125’s and he cleared off in all 3 races for a gate to flag maximum day! Behind him though it was a lot tighter with Ben Jeffs taking 2nd in the first race, Ben Rollinson the 2nd and Tom Allsopp the 3rd but Ben did enough in the other races to secure 2nd overall and behind him a consistent Cody Ling came home in 3rd overall.
Well, its been a few years since we’ve been able to say this but today, Chairman’s son, Gavin Chapman took top honours in the Adult unders class with a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd to his credit! Lady luck was on his side though as a fortuitous 2nd race restart played into his hands after his own nasty crash in the whoops.
Sean Hodgson’s dreadful first race result gave Gav his victory as Sean had two wins to name by the end of the afternoon and 2nd overall. Back in 3rd was Carl Harmston with a 2nd, 5th and 3rd to his name.
With both Mark Boswell and Darren Ismay now in the Adult Overs this class just gets more and more competitive. Mark took the wins in the first and 3rd races ahead of Darren but Mark cocked up the start in race two and although he charged though the pack into an eventual 2nd, Darren had long gone for his only win of the day and 2nd overall. Greg O’Callaghan did enough to secure 3rd overall just ahead of Dale Phillips who had a poor 1st race result.
The club passes on its thanks to the sponsors of the Auto Challenge, KP Equipe – ISO2 for their fantastic support and all of the entrants are well chuffed with the enormous trophies provided!
RESULTS
KPEQUIPE – ISO2 AUTO CHALLENGE 2008
1.Ben Kind 2. JC Verdugo 3. Dylan Woodcock 4. Harry Wichman 5. Dillon Fitzpatrick 6. Callum Sedgewick 7. Kathryn Booth 8. Hayden Stevens 9. Eton Williams 10. Sam Chamberlain
NSMXC SUMMER SERIES
AUTOS: 1. Ben Kind 2. JC Verdugo 3. Carl Budge 4. Kathryn Booth 5. Dillon Fitzpatrick 6. Jordan Hearn
65’s: 1. Jack Evans 2. Ben Coleman 3. Fraz Harrison 4. Harvey South 5. Thomas Wilkins 6. James Cobby
SW 85’s: 1. Matt Harrison 2. Adam Johnson 3. Joe Tobutt 4. Luke Wightman 5. Emma Richards 6.George Hackshall
BW85’s: 1. Jordan Wills 2. Daley Couldron 3. Ben Huckerby 4. Dan Harmston 5. Henry Sampson 6. Andrew Lowe
SB125’s: 1. Cody Ling 2. Darryl Tate 3. Terry Howlett 4. Tom Allsopp 5. Ben Rollinson 6. Kai Passmore-Jones
ADULT UNDER 35’s: 1. Gavin Chapman 2. Robert Flaherty 3. Matt Smith 4. Carl Harmston 5. James Allsop 6. James Hanson
ADULT OVER 35’s: 1. Greg O’Callaghan 2. Dale Phillips 3. Pete Gilder 4. Simon Steadman 5. Richard Lowe 6. Tim Bates
CLUB CHAMPS ROUND NINE
AUTO’s: 1. Ben Kind 2. JC Verdugo 3. Kathryn Booth 4. Arron Saunders 5. Callum Sedgwick 6. Ben Murray
65’s: 1. Callum Bennett 2. Ethan Humpries 3. Connor Halligan 4. Nathan Harlow 5. Jamie Osbourne 6. Ben Coleman
SW 85’s: 1. Matt Harrison 2. Jonathan Brighton 3. Adam Johnson 4. Joe Tobutt 5. John Wagthorne 6. Tony Saunders
BW 85’s: 1. Jordan Wills 2. Ben Huckerby 3. Jack Gower 4. Jack Gardner 5. Thomas Kennedy 6. Dan Harmston
SB 125’s: 1. Scott Bates 2. Ben Rollinson 3. Cody Ling 4. Ben Jeffs 5. Tom Allsopp 6. Terry Howlett
ADULT UNDER 35’s: 1. Gavin Chapman 2. Sean Hodgson 3. Carl Harmston 4. Robert Flaherty 5. Andy Moore 6. JamesAllsopp
ADULT OVER 35’5: 1. Mark Boswell 2. Darren Ismay 3. Greg O’ Callaghan 4. Dale Phillips 5. Pete Gilder 6. Richard Lowe
Send this article to a friend
