Hottrax Motorsport Racing Club National and Junior + Senior TAG Endurance Motorcycle Championship with MotoGrande Races – Round Four at Snetterton, Norfolk on 2nd + 3rd August 2008 – words and photos by Alfonso Lygo

Co-Ordit Get Left Behind At The Start	Sweatshop Moores Have A Lot To Do

National + Senior TAG Endurance

Visiting BSB team Co-Ordit Racing (Phil Bevan/Richard Cooper/Pete Bradshaw/R1) grabbed pole by over a second from title chasers Sweatshop Moores Racing 2 (Hugh Brasher/Rod Lynn/Ben Wylie/R1) with last years champions GBMoto (Mark Smith Halvorsen/Mick Godfrey/Mike Dickenson/R1) rounding off the top 3. Newcomers Ecclectic Racing (Guy Bolam/Robert Pike/Paul Noble) and T3 Racing (Andrew Marriott/Lance Carey/Simon Marriott) were next up whilst both Senior TAG teams were followed home by freelance motorcycle journo Paul Smyth on the Best Choice Endurance R6 (Richard Greenland/Alan Stevens/Paul Smythe).

Drama occurred at the very start of the race with Co-Ordit being last off the grid in drying conditions. The mercurial Cooperman rocketing into 6th spot after lap 2 when the pace car appeared after an early off by John Higham on the Black Flag Racing 600 (George Duncan/John Higham/Sam Smithson), which also involved George Bicket on the AMA R1 (George Bicket/Mark Westcott/Robert Knoyle). By 30 minutes Cooperman was comfortably in control from Sweatshop Moores & GBMoto as MAD Racing (Darryll Elliot/Mick Watts/Andrew Browning) went missing from the field. Pitlane was busy with AMA rejoining without a fairing – a sort of street fighter/endurance hybrid, MAD pitted for repairs before the one hour mark which saw Co-Ordit less than 2 seconds in front of GBMoto whilst BSB Supersport warrior Ben Wylie dumped the R1 at Russells necessitating a trip to hospital with a dislocated shoulder. Best Choice were in the wars and required a spell in the garage to repair the effects of a low-side and Rod Lynn pitted the R1 again after much shaking of the head on the quick side of the pit wall indicating concerns as to the bike’s condition and speed.

At third distance GBMoto held a 6 second lead over the ‘quicker on track’ Co-Ordit R1, Ducks Cross Racing (Jon Railton/Grant Wagstaff/Martin Landmann/R6) were a couple of laps down with Senior newcomers Ecclectic Racing in a handy fourth place on a line up which included the KTM LC8. On the same lap were the consistently quick R6 of Darkside Endurance (Andy Buik/Darren Jones/Kevin Upstone), Moores Racing (Tony Jimenez/Mike Eglington/Jim Agombar/R6) were a lap down from their class rivals. The third hour was not, however a good one for Ecclectic, from challenging for a podium place on their debut, they tipped off at Russells requiring the transponder to be picked up to allow the KTM LC8 to continue. Best Choice spent a while too long in the garage following that earlier spill and coupled with two penalties for infringements it was always going to be a tall order to recover a higher position.

Co-Ordit held a three lap advantage over GBMoto at the half way point with Ducks X a solid third from the Moores Racing R6 who was now ahead of Darkside. On the same lap was White Tiger Racing (Nigel Bryan/Ash Joice/Chris Lang) – Nigel travelling from Australia to contest the final four HMRC rounds of the championship, Ecclectic & T3.

Pit stops shuffled positions and the Sweatshop R1 was a regular visitor to the pits as the gear selector was flexing under pressure making gear selection difficult. The trick here was for the team to complete at least 75% of the winning distance to keep at the top of the table going into the final three races of the season.

Co-Ordit kept their 3 lap lead going into the final third of the race ahead of a chasing GBMoto who never gave up hunting down the BSB visitors, Ducks X consolidated a good third 3 laps up on Moores R6 with again Ecclectic, T3 and White Tiger sharing the same lap. Earlier Team Viking (Paul Clarke/Crispin d’Albertanson/Barry Salmon/R6) had experienced a punctured slick costing them time lost out on track as well as in the pits. Barry was enjoying his comeback ride after injury at Round One in Anglesey.

When it really mattered Co-Ordit Racing secured their first win in the National Endurance championship ahead of GBMoto who did their title hopes no harm by finishing second a mere lap down. Ducks X were a brilliant third and first 600 home ahead of class rivals Darkside and Moores who could have been second in class but for an infringement during the race. Sweatshop Moores - championship leaders going into Round Four - finished 14th on the road but more importantly fourth on class to make it nice and close at the top of the table with GBMoto.

The Senior class was won Ecclectic Racing from White Tiger and Throttle Monkey 72 Racing (Andy McKnight/Eric Chitty/Kevin Doughty) and series newcomers T3 – originally planning to contest three Hinckley Triumphs – were delighted to take the Senior 600 class.

First Form Racing (Paul Robey/Jay Smith/ZX10R) plugged away throughout the six hours and was rewarded with a third in the ProSuperbike class, whilst Feisty Racing (Susie Grayson/Deb Cartright/Amanda Wake/R6) worked hard to consolidate 11th place overall and 4th in class. Phoenix Endurance (Shelley Pike/Andy Jones/Pete Gibson just lost out to 5th in the ultra competitive Supersport class being passed by Team Viking in the closing stages. Phoenix will be missing the next round at Cadwell as they are away contesting the Manx Grand Prix during late August.

Massive congratulations to Andy Jones who married the lovely Annie on the Friday before the meeting, Annie hails from the village of East Harling (next door to the circuit) and the honeymoon was spent in the wet at Snetterton! – The couple celebrated on track aboard Andy’s Ducati and we wish them all the best for the future.

Results

1 Co-Ordit Racing *                          280 laps
2 GBMoto                                       279 laps
3 Ducks Cross Racing *                    270 laps
4 Darkside Endurance                      267 laps
5 Moores Racing                             266 laps
6 Ecclectic Racing *                        266 laps
7 T3 Racing *                                264 laps
8 White Tiger Racing                       262 laps
9 First Form Endurance                    262 laps
10 Throttle Monkey 72 Racing           260 laps
11 Feisty Racing                              258 laps
12 Team Viking                               255 laps
13 Phoenix Endurance                      255 laps
14 Sweatshop Moores Racing 2          247 laps
15 Black Flag Racing                        241 laps
16 MAD Racing                                239 laps
17 Best Choice Endurance                  233 laps
18 AMA Racing                                 227 laps

Fastest Lap Richard Cooper (Co-Ordit Racing) 1m 08.654s            102.357mph
* denotes class winners

Junior TAG Endurance Championship

Another massive grid amassed at a changeable Snetterton, following dryish qualifying it was British Supersport Cup leader Craig Fitzpatrick who secured pole by well over a second from other national 600 runner Jenny Tinmouth with championship leaders Team Trackcraft in third. At the start of the three hour race it was obvious that the weather and tyre choice would be paramount for race success. Fitz established an early lead with Trackcraft (Mark Linscott/Mike Dickenson) and Freaks of Nature Too (Dave Stewartson/Kevin Tait) following in his wake, sometimes literally. A couple of riders alighted around the circuit as they tried to judge conditions including Jenny Tinmouth which introduced the pace car for the first time for 20+ minutes leaving teams to make their minds up how to best utilise the pit stop to gain maximum advantage from the situation.

Around the hour mark the heavens opened and wets were order of the day - Trackcraft were now at the front ahead of Co-Ordit (Dave Wardle/Ian Walker), GBMoto Junior (Sam Neate/Maria Costello) & Advanced Bike Shipping (Mike Bull/Jason Pittaway) who had earlier lead on the roads. At two thirds distance Trackcraft led before another pace car appearance caused a spate of carefully timed pit stops. In the final 30 minutes doused in warm sunshine, GBMoto Junior held a slender lead over Freaks of Nature Too which was maintained to the flag; however both teams were two laps adrift of the first place R1s of Linscott & Dickenson. In fourth place was Advanced Bike Shipping - their best placing of the season. The Rawlings Racing brothers, Lee and Matt, finished in fifth and rounding off the top seven were Spellframe Racing who was 20 seconds ahead of MIB with second 600 home, ETA Racing in eighth.

Results

1 Team Trackcraft (Mark Linscott/Mike Dickenson) *       113laps
2 GBMoto Junior (Sam Neate/Maria Costello) *              111laps
3 Freaks of Nature Too (Dave Stewartson/Kevin Tait)      111laps
4 Advanced Bike Shipping (Mike Bull/Jason Pittaway)     110laps
5 Rawlings Racing (Lee & Matt Rawlings)                      109laps
6 Spellfame Racing (Andrew Mai/Richard Lloyd)             109laps
7 MIB (Dave Padley/Greg Allsop)                                 108laps
8 ETA Racing (Ian Courts/Darren Brearley)                     108laps
9 S and P Racing (Peter Carr/Scott Adam)                     107laps
10 PUR Racing (Rob Wardle/Pete Allen)                        107laps
11 Gasi Racing (Grant & Helen Gaskins)                        107laps
12 SMF Racing (Pete Rogers/Simon Fenwick)                 106laps
13 Slaters Bikes (Nigel Slater/Lee Trumble)                    106laps
14 Throttle Monkey 172 (Claire Bowyer/Ryan Peters)       106laps
15 Damoose Racing (Mark Harrison/Andrew Barratt)        106laps
16 BLDS Couriers (Craig Fitzpatrick/William Lilly)            105laps
17 Name With Held (Phil Muldowney/Tim Westley)         105laps
18 Demonbikes.com (Bill Hunnan/Paul McCormack         104laps
19 RC Racing (Carl Costa/Richard Spencer Fleet)            104laps
20 SOBER (Gary Bransgrove/Steve Callahan)                 103laps
21 MC Racing (Mark Wadeson/Jason McKinnon)            101laps
22 Monkey Six (Dave Allen/Steven Baggett)                  101laps
23 Lone Dangers (Paul Ratite/Gary James)                    100laps
24 Throttle Monkey (Geoff Rhodes/Dion Robinson)        100laps
25 Rabbit Racing (Ray Warren/Aaron Hobart)                99laps
26 Roundall Racing (Simon Allen/Dave Rose)                98laps
27 GT Racing (Keith Tribe/Brad Parts)                          95laps
28 Team Tortoise (Grahame Marshall/Brett Allsop)          86laps
29 DNR Motorsport (Richard Payne/Dave Brooking)        80laps

Fastest lap Craig Fitzpatrick             1m 10.802s            99.251mph           

* denotes class winners

MotoGrande - Race 1 - 20 laps

Run in sunny but damp conditions, front row man Greg Allsop shot off into the lead leaving Deb Cartright and ex endurance racer Richard Cunningham in his wake with ‘back to racing’ Andy McKnight in close contention. As the track dried Allsop pushed a little too hard at Coram and crashed out leaving Feisty Racing’s Deb to chase after McKnight. At the conclusion the pink R6 rider caught but couldn't pass the 1000 Suzuki, the gap being less than a quarter of a second. Even closer were Jed Angles and Cunningham with Nathan Horsfield & the throaty Aprilia of David Rose rounding off the top six.

Results

1 Andy McKnight                   1000 Suzuki
2 Deb Cartright                     600 Yamaha
3 Jed Angles                        1000 Kawasaki           
4 Richard Cunningham           1000 Yamaha
5 Nathan Horsfield                 600 Yamaha
6 David Rose                        1000 Aprilia
7 Tom Rutherford                  1000 Yamaha
8 Russell Horton                    600 Yamaha
9 Ray Warren                        1000 Yamaha
10 Mark Floyd                       
11 John Higham                    600 Yamaha
12 Aaron Hobart                    600 Yamaha

MotoGrande - Race 2 - 22 laps

Richard Cunningham cleverly turned pole into an emphatic win of 36 seconds in the second MotoGrande race. Behind Richard there was a battle royal for the rest of the top six places. Ryan Peters was busy compounding a solid podium place before taking to the grass in the second half of the race and having to fight his way back into sixth and first 600 home. Dion Robinson, Gary Bransgrove and Scott Adam fought all the way and Jed Angles was fifth and a lap down on the leaders. Having a ding dong battle were Nigel Slater & Martin Stainer on a brace of Hornets to complete the top three 600s. Winner Richard is currently supporting Steve Mercer racing at national level and is an endurance veteran of some repute himself.

Results

1 Richard Cunningham              1000 Yamaha
2 Dion Robinson                                   
3 Gary Bransgrove                    1000 Suzuki
4 Scott Adam                           1000 Aprilia
5 Jed Angles                            1000 Kawasaki
6 Ryan Peters                           600 Yamaha
7 Mark Floyd
8 Nigel Slater                           600 Honda
9 Mark Stanier                          600 Honda
10 David Rose                          1000 Aprilia
11 Helen Gaskins
12 Simon Allen

Fastest Lap            Richie Cunningham            1m 14.112s            94.819mph