Paul Williams (BMW 1000) emerged top of the 450-1100cc Open championship in this opening meeting of the season at Tonfanau, but he was made to work hard for it.
Williams won race one, but only by .15 of a second from Barry Lee Evans (Yamaha 600), who started from down in 15th place on the grid and set the fastest lap of the race.
James Osborn (Suzuki 1000), making his debut at the Welsh circuit, was third home just under four seconds further back. James Evans (Yamaha 600) was fourth.
Barry Lee Evans, runner up in this championship last year, started on the front of the grid in race two and was the winner, just over a second in front of Williams, who set the fastest lap this time. Osborn was again third.
Ryan Williams (BMW 1000) was fourth and Chris Mort (Honda 1000), an early retirement in race one, came through from the back of the grid to be fifth.
Barry Lee Evans was leading the third race, but was involved in an incident with Paul Williams, whilst leading and crashed out, fortunately without injury. Williams was the winner, but only by little more than a second from Osborn.
Mort, who had a much better starting position, was third, three tenths of a second further back, setting the fastest of the lap in the process.
Paul Williams tops the table on 29 points, four ahead of Osborn, who is unlikely to race here in the rest of series, with Ryan Williams third on 20.
A line-up of ten of the Classic 50 club members produced plenty of close racing and drama.
Sam Grief, the 17-year-old from Derby, rode a Kreidler, prepared by his engineer father Zac, to victory in all three races to top the 50cc championship.
Grief was an impressive seventh overall in the first combined Classic 250cc/125cc/50cc event, beating some and giving many of the other 250cc and 125cc bikes a good run for their money.
In the process he smashed the 50cc lap record, formerly held by veteran Steve Nugent, raising it to 66.96mph.
James Widdowson (Gellatly) took a good second place in the first race, but his luck changed as machine problems dogged his further attempts during the day.
Alan Naul took a third and two second places over the weekend on his new Hayabusa, with his usual, determined,
no-holds-barred style.
Alan Leeson (Famos) was fourth home in race one, third next time out, but failed to finish in race three.
Steve Porter, who travels all the way from the Isle of Wight to compete in the 50cc class at Tonfanau, took third place in race three of the day on his immaculately prepared air-cooled Kreidler machine. Grief tops the standings on a maximum 30 points, with Naul second on 26.
John Harrison (Garelli) is third after finishing seventh and two fourths.
Reigning Tonfanau 250 GP champion, Simon Harris (Yamaha), tops the points’ table after the opening round of the series, but only because Rhys Hardisty (Yamaha) slid off when leading race two.
Hardisty won race one, beating Harris by a quarter of a second. He was leading the second before losing the front end at the hairpin on the seventh of eight laps. Harris went on to win, ten seconds in front Andy Timbrell (Spondon Yamaha).
Harris won the third, beating Hardisty, who had banged his shoulder in the earlier spill, by a second.
Harris, who set the fastest lap of all three races on the way to that victory, tops the standings on 29, six ahead of Phil Leatherland and ten ahead of Hardisty and Simon Rowe.
Mike Carter (Honda) made just one slip up in the 400 Supersport class. He won the first, comfortably beating Paul Odlum (Kawasaki) and Karl Bovill (Yamaha).
Bovill got revenge in race two, crossing the line just over half a second in front of Carter, with Odlum third. Carter bounced back to win race three, under two seconds clear of Bovill, with Odlum third. Carter is on 29 points, Bovill 27 and Odlum 25.
Bovill leads the Forgotten Era 231-500cc class on 29 points, after taking two wins and a second. John Price is second on 27, with Richard Ford third with 22.
That very fast lady, Caron Roberts, had a good day. She took two seconds and a third in the Classic 250 class on the Suzuki, including a good battle with Ken Hankey (Suzuki) in the 2nd race, in which he got the better of her by half a second.
Adrian Harrison (Jackson Suzuki) tops the points’ table with three wins, four ahead of Roberts and five clear of Hankey. Roberts had a win and two seconds in the Forgotten Era 250 class. She had problems with a misfire on the Yamaha in the last race so was happy just to finish.
Huw Edwards leads the championship on 29 with two and a second. Roberts is second on 28, with Dave Edwards third on 24 points.
Lewis Blackstock and Paddy Rosney share the lead in the Sidecars with John Shipley and Ian Cunliffe, both on 28, after Blackstock won two races and was third in the other, while Shipley had two seconds and a win.
There were many hat trick of wins on the day. Derek Clark won all the 125 races, Alan Russell was unbeaten in the Minitwins and Martin McGrath took three victories in the Steel Frames.
Bruce McGeoghegan won all his Classic 125/250 Singles races, Jason Markham raced unbeaten in the Classic 251-500 races, Richard Ford leads the Classic over 501 series on maximum points and Steve Birtles tops the Forgotten Era over 501 class with three wins.
Crewe & South Cheshire Motorcycle Road Racing, Tonfanau, April 5
400cc Supersports & 250cc GP – Timekeepers
Steve & Ellen Gregory
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 R. Hardisty (Yamaha) 5m 22.80s, 2 S. Harris, 3 M. Carter, 4 P. Odlum, 5 K. Bovill, 6 A.
Timbrell, 7 J. Price, 8 M. Purslow, 9 A. Varey, 10 K. Rose, 11 P. Millard, 12
P. Leatherland, 13 N. Ward, 14 D. Glover, 15 S. Rowe, 16 J. Sutton, 17 S.
Collins, 18 I. Blackburn, 19 N. Cowles.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 S. Harris (Yamaha) 5m 24.52s, 2 K. Bovill, 3 M.
Carter, 4 P. Odlum, 5 J. Price, 6 A. Varey, 7 A. Timbrell, 8 M. Purslow, 9 K.
Rose, 10 P. Millard, 11 N. Ward, 12 P. Leatherland, 13 G. Willis, 14 D. Glover,
15 S. Rowe, 16 J. Sutton, 17 S. Collins, 18 I. Blackburn, 19 M. Moreton.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 S. Harris (Yamaha) 5m 21.29s, 2 R. Hardisty, 3 M.
Carter, 4 K. Bovill, 5 P. Odlum, 6 J. Price, 7 A. Varey, 8 M. Purslow, 9 P.
Leatherland, 10 P. Millard, 11 K. Rose, 12 G. Willis, 13 N. Ward, 14 D. Glover,
15 S. Rowe, 16 S. Collins, 17 J. Sutton, 18 N. Cowles.
Classic Machines 125cc – 250cc Single Cylinder & 50cc Machines – Dr
D Church
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 A. Jackson (Suzuki) 6m 33.79s, 2 B. McGeoghegan, 3
C. Purslow, 4 D. Thorp, 5 R. Mullin, 6 A. Randall, 7 S. Grief, 8 B. Heaton, 9
S. Measures, 10 C. Gunson, 11 J. Widdowson, 12 A. Naul, 13 A. Leeson, 14 S.
Porter, 15 D. Blunt, 16 J. Harrison, 17 H. Markham, 18 J. Gellatly, 19 J. Lee,
20 B. Jackson.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 A. Jackson (Suzuki) 6m 16.97s, 2 B. McGeoghegan, 3
D. Thorp, 4 R. Mullin, 5 C. Bennion, 6 B. Heaton, 7 S. Grief, 8 S. Measures, 9
A. Randall, 10 A. Naul, 11 A. Leeson, 12 S. Porter, 13 J. Harrison, 14 D.
Blunt, 15 H. Markham, 16 J. Gellatly, 17 B. Jackson, 18 J. Lee.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 A. Jackson (Suzuki) 6m 16.33s, 2 B. McGeoghegan, 3
C. Purslow, 4 D. Thorp, 5 R. Mullin, 6 C. Bennion, 7 R. Smith, 8 B. Heaton, 9
C. Gunson, 10 S. Measures, 11 A. Randall, 12 S. Grief, 13 A. Naul, 14 S.
Porter, 15 H. Markham, 16 J. Harrison, 17 J. Gellatly, 18 B. Jackson, 19 J.
Lee.
450cc – 1100cc Open – North East Controls
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 P. Williams (BMW) 5m 04.92s, 2 B. Lee Evans, 3 J.
Osborn, 4 J. Evans, 5 R. Williams, 6 S. Seddon, 7 J. Wright, 8 T. Bryant, 9 R.
Howells, 10 L. Evans, 11 D. Lewis, 12 B. Heaton, 13 M. Jones, 14 S. Gibbons, 15
P. Myler, 16 M. Lowe, 17 W. Martin, 18 C. Jones, 19 D. Evans, 20 C. Lewis, 21
A. Norris.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 B. Lee Evans (Yamaha) 4m 59.02s, 2 P. Williams, 3
J. Osborn, 4 R. Williams, 5 C. Mort, 6 C. Ganderton, 7 J. Wright, 8 J. Evans, 9
S. Seddon, 10 R. Howells, 11 T. Bryant, 12 L. Evans, 13 S. Gibbons, 14 B.
Heaton, 15 D. Lewis, 16 M. Lowe, 17 M. Jones, 18 P. Myler, 19 C. Jones, 20 D.
Evans, 21 C. Lewis, 22 A. Norris.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 P. Williams (BMW) 5m 01.74s, 2 J. Osborn, 3 C.
Mort, 4 R. Williams, 5 J. Wright, 6 J. Evans, 7 S. Seddon, 8 C. Ganderton, 9 T.
Bryant, 10 R. Howells, 11 L. Evans, 12 D. Lewis, 13 M. Jones, 14 P. Myler, 15
B. Heaton, 16 S. Gibbons, 17 M. Lowe, 18 C. Jones, 19 W. Martin, 20 D. Evans,
21 A. Norris, 22 C. Lewis.
125cc GP & Mini Twins – Dr R Bishdon
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 A. Russell (Suzuki) 5m 21.13s, 2 M. Brookes, 3 S.
Hall, 4 J. Coward, 5 R. Taylor, 6 V. Brett, 7 J. Nicklin, 8 W. Martin, 9 C.
Morgan, 10 G. Taylor, 11 D. Clark, 12 G. Evans, 13 I. Cunliffe, 14 K. Rose, 15
S. Gormley, 16 T. Cornes, 17 C. Brain, 18 C. Gunson, 19 N. Gauden.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 A. Russell (Suzuki) 5m 19.26s, 2 J. Coward, 3 V.
Brett, 4 S. Hall, 5 M. Brookes, 6 R. Taylor, 7 G. Taylor, 8 P. Odlum, 9 W.
Martin, 10 C. Morgan, 11 I. Cunliffe, 12 D. Clark, 13 K. Rose, 14 G. Evans, 15
S. Gormley, 16 C. Brain, 17 T. Cornes, 18 N. Gauden, 19 C. Gunson.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 A. Russell (Suzuki) 5m 19.06s, 2 V. Brett, 3 M.
Brookes, 4 S. Hall, 5 R. Taylor, 6 G. Taylor, 7 D. Clark, 8 G. Evans, 9 I.
Cunliffe, 10 K. Rose, 11 T. Cornes, 12 C. Brain, 13 C. Gunson, 14 N. Gauden, 15
C. Morgan.
Forgotten Era Machines 251cc – 500cc & Over & Over 501cc – Caldo
Oils Ltd Rhuddlan
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 S. Birtles (Yamaha) 5m 19.32s, 2 P. Myler, 3 M.
Taylor, 4 S. Mara, 5 K. Bovill, 6 G. Martin, 7 P. Millard, 8 J. Price, 9 K.
Bartley, 10 R. Ford, 11 N. Ward, 12 D. Edwards, 13 M. Clarke, 14 C. Brain, 15
S. Collins, 16 L. Dibble.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 S. Birtles (Yamaha) 5m 16.24s, 2 P. Myler, 3 M.
Taylor, 4 K. Bovill, 5 J. Price, 6 K. Bartley, 7 P. Millard, 8 R. Ford, 9 D.
Edwards, 10 N. Ward, 11 J. Nicklin, 12 C. Brain, 13 S. Collins, 14 L. Dibble,
15 M. Clarke, 16 A. Smith.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 S. Birtles (Yamaha) 5m 15.88s, 2 M. Taylor, 3 P.
Myler, 4 S. Mara, 5 J. Price, 6 K. Bovill, 7 K. Bartley, 8 R. Ford, 9 N. Ward,
10 D. Edwards, 11 S. Collins, 12 C. Brain, 13 M. Clarke, 14 L. Dibble.
Classic Machines 250cc, 251cc – 500cc & Over 501cc – Q B Holmes
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 R. Ford (Norton) 5m 43.12s, 2 J. Markham, 3 A.
Jackson, 4 A. Day, 5 A. Harrison, 6 C. Roberts, 7 K. Hankey, 8 A. Norris, 9 R.
Phipps, 10 J. Shipley, 11 G. Dickinson, 12 J. Seele, 13 M. Moreton.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 R. Ford (Norton) 5m 42.37s, 2 J. Markham, 3 A.
Day, 4 P. Johnson, 5 A. Jackson, 6 A. Harrison, 7 K. Hankey, 8 C. Roberts, 9 D.
Glover, 10 R. Phipps, 11 G. Dickinson, 12 T. Jackson, 13 J. Seele, 14 J.
Shipley, 15 A. Norris, 16 S. Bostock, 17 M. Moreton, 18 B. Barker.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 R. Ford (Norton) 5m 30.57s, 2 J. Markham, 3 P.
Johnson, 4 A. Day, 5 A. Harrison, 6 A. Jackson, 7 C. Roberts, 8 D. Glover, 9 K.
Hankey, 10 R. Phipps, 11 G. Dickinson, 12 J. Shipley.
Forgotten Era 250cc & Steel Frame 600cc – www.biker-retreat.com
Race 1 (8 laps):
1 M. McGrath (Honda) 5m 15.26s, 2 D. Ephgrave, 3 R.
Taylor, 4 N. Jefferies, 5 L. Clark, 6 G. Taylor, 7 J. Leatham, 8 M. Goodfield,
9 P. Tye, 10 M. Robinson, 11 M. Day, 12 H. Edwards, 13 R. Morgan, 14 R.
Stockton, 15 C. Roberts, 16 P. Leatherland, 17 R. Allman, 18 D. Edwards, 19 G.
Willis, 20 D. King.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 M. McGrath (Honda) 5m 15.99s, 2 D. Ephgrave, 3 N.
Jefferies, 4 R. Taylor, 5 G. Taylor, 6 M. Robinson, 7 L. Clark, 8 R. Stockton,
9 M. Goodfield, 10 P. Tye, 11 M. Day, 12 C. Roberts, 13 H. Edwards, 14 R.
Morgan, 15 J. Leatham, 16 R. Allman, 17 D. Edwards.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 M. McGrath (Honda) 5m 16.28s, 2 D. Ephgrave, 3 N.
Jefferies, 4 R. Taylor, 5 L. Clark, 6 M. Goodfield, 7 R. Stockton, 8 M.
Robinson, 9 G. Taylor, 10 M. Day, 11 R. Morgan, 12 R. Allman, 13 J. Leatham, 14
H. Edwards, 15 C. Roberts, 16 P. Leatherland, 17 D. Edwards.
Sidecars F1 & F2 – Brian Glover
Race 1 (6 laps):
1 Blackstock/Rosney (Ireson) 3m 58.30s, 2
Shipley/Cunliffe, 3 Berry/Illman.
Race 2 (8 laps):
1 Blackstock/Rosney (Ireson) 5m 18.14s, 2
Shipley/Cunliffe, 3 Berry/Illman.
Race 3 (8 laps):
1 Shipley/Cunliffe (LCR Suzuki) 5m 23.44s, 2
Blackstock/Rosney, 3 Berry/Illman.
