Our sponsored riders had mixed fortunes in the latest rounds of racing.
Haydon Smith had a great weekend, winning a clutch of trophies, while Fred Mcmullan had some consistent finishes before an ‘off’ ended his weekend.
Haydon was at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire, for the second round of the NG Road Racing Championship, competing in 750 Formula Prostocks Racing FP3 classic superbike and Formula 400.
Saturday morning qualifying saw him lose the front of the Kawasaki ZXR750R at Hall Bends but, luckily, minimal damage meant ‘Perky’ was ready to go again for race one.
Formula 400 qualifying went well and, without pushing too hard, he took pole on his Kawasaki ZXR400.
Starting FP3 race one from the back of the grid, a great start and a solid few laps put him sixth overall and first in class for a while.
But he was overtaken and finished second in class, his first podium position on the Shelf & Rail Co 750.
He got away in the lead in F400 race one and managed the gap without pushing on or risking too much.
It was all going to plan until the chicane on the last lap. Losing the bolt from his gearshift rod meant he could not change down and had to complete the last half lap in third gear.
He crossed the line fourth overall, and first in class, after losing out to three Suzuki 600 Bandits.
The team made a few suspension changes to the 750 on Sunday morning.
Once again, it flew off the line but, unfortunately, the set-up changes made the bike difficult to turn and his lap times were off compared to Saturday’s first race. Haydon was happy to bring it home, scoring solid points, with a third in class.
The second F400 race saw him get away well but he had a fairly lonely race with another first in class and finishing second overall.
After putting the 750’s suspension back to Saturday’s set-up, the bike felt better and the team finished the race with another second in class.
Haydon had a few exchanges, and a bit of fun with a Bandit, in the last race of the weekend on the 400 but had the advantage down the straights. He finished first in class and first overall to end a great weekend on a high.
Fred Mcmullan raced in Bemsee’s Dart MRO 600 class at the Pembrey Circuit in Wales.
Riding his 2020 Kawasaki ZX-6R, he was disappointed to qualify 12th overall, and ninth in class, as he knew he had more to give.
There were mixed weather conditions for the first race on the Saturday but he felt comfortable on the bike and enjoyed some good battles. He finished ninth overall and seventh in class.
The mixed weather continued for the second race.
Fred and his team decided to run a wet front and a dry rear. It paid off as the track started to dry towards the end of the race.
He finished ninth overall, and seventh in class, again. A good lap time meant he started seventh on the grid for Sunday’s first race.
The weather had improved for that first race.
Fred had a good start and held his position but a rookie mistake at turn six on the first lap resulted in a highside which was the end of his weekend.
His bike needs a bit of work but, apart from being little bit bruised and stiff, Fred is looking forward to Snetterton.
There was some good news for Fred who was given a Dart Motorsport spot prize of a £40 discount for the next round.