UK Cup
Bishopscourt 7th June
Round 5 and 6 - 250 MSA British Championship, 250
Clubman Chalange 125 Open BSA Championship and 125 ICC BSA Championship
Round 3 and 4 - 250 Division 1 BSA Championship.
125 Open and 250 Div 1 Qualifying and Results
250 National Qualifying and Results
Reports by Rob Willshire (Div 1 and 125's) and Ian Rushforth
(250 Nats)
Sun on the Emerald Isle! Well yes. In fact the webmasters solar
panel got sunburnt on the Friday!!!
Testing - Friday 6th June.
Friday testing started slightly late but once we were underway
it was testing as normal. Finding the correct gearing was piroity 1 for the
visiting drivers. Credit to the local drivers they gave us a few pointers to
assist.
The event also had a circuit configured for the BCKC classes
that were also running. So it was 2 sessions for the gearbox classes 125 and Div
1 and 250 Nat's then sessions for the fixed drive karts.
The weather held for the day with testing finishing early
due to MSA permit issues.
The organisers had a BBQ for the teams / drivers which was
welcome for those not watching the weight, so I was OK.
Timed Practice - Saturday 7th May.
Trevor Robert's on the Viper Racing Anderson was straight on the
pace in Div 1 with a 1:06:917 which was blistering. Steve McAdam (Dukes
Transport) and Liam Fox were behind in the 1:08's. Paul Kenning the current
British Champion was back in 6th suffering from the pain of a dislocated
shoulder.
Ben Willshire (Apex / RG Racing) was on Pole for the 125 Opens
for some 5 mins until James Irvine bumped him of the top. Irvine and
Justin Doherty swapping times during the session. Louise Collin and Dan Edwards managed
to then put in 2 good laps. Damian Sleep (ICS) was having a torrid time with his
set up and ended up at the back of the grid when the session finished.
The local 250 National driver James O'Reilly was swapping times
with visiting Jason Dredge, both in the 1:08's. Gavin Bennett (Anderson Honda)
was struggling down in the 1:09's with Hawley and Fleming. Sam Moss and Kevin
Waring were the quickest in the 250 Challernge class with some respectable
times. In fact they were quicker than some of the National boys.
Div 1 and 125's Championship Race 1
The 250 twins started of the front of the grid with Roberts on
pole. The lights went to green and the pack 250s being chased by the 125's
headed down to the flat out turn 1. As the finished the first lap it was Roberts
out in front with a 2 second lead. The chasing pack of Fox, McAdam, Kennings and
Lindsey in hot pursuit. With the 125 of James Irving close behind.
Roberts was pulled out a comfortable lead in the twins to come
home 3.5 seconds ahead.
James Irvin was in a class of his own in the 125's leaving the
rest to fight it out. Justin Doherty seized in turn 1 causing the pack to take
avoiding actions. Danny Edwards and Danny Butler (ICC) were having a wheel to
wheel race for the whole 10 laps finishing some 0.207 seconds apart at the line
with Butler getting the better of Edwards. Willshire finished some 5 seconds
behind them. Lindsay, Turner and Gaston were the only other finishers in 125.
Top runners Colin, Sleep and Doherty all suffering mechanical problems.
Div 1 and 125's Championship Race 2
Results from Race 1 gave the grid positions for Race 2. The
Irish drivers Roberts and Irving on Pole for the 250 and 125 combined grid respectively.
The race was lead by Roberts with the remainder in chase once
again. This time it was Steve McAdam who gave chase with Fox and Kennings some
10 seconds behind by the flag.
In the 125's James Irvine was once again would dominate. Butler,
Edwards and Willshire closest of the 125's. Doherty, Sleep and Colin's were once
again blighted with mechanical problems.
UK Cup for Div 1 and 125's
The pace car pulled of the light whet to green. The pack
departed to the first corner. The fist to arrive was Roberts with the rest close
behind.
Over the next 10 laps Roberts demonstrated why he is the current
world champion. That left Fox, Dewart Kinsey to fight it out, Liam Fox managed
to build a gap and held 2nd to the flag Dewart leading Kinsey home by 0.4 of a
second.
In the 125 class Irvine did his normal vanishing trick with
Doherty in tow. Colin had to start from the back of the grid. She managed to get
the jump on Willshire to take 3rd when he missed a gear on the second chaince
allowing Edwards to close on Willshire. Butler in ICC was putting on a good show
lapping in the 1:15's. Edwards pushed Willshire for the last 5 laps with
only half a kart length in it over the line.
| Div 1 UK Cup Winners |
125 Open UK Cup Winners |
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250 MSA National Championship Race 1
Series leader Jason Dredge and James
Oreilly were involved in a closely fought contest at the front with Gavin
Bennett some distance behind in third, then towards the end of the last lap
Jason and James had a coming together which resulted in Gavin Bennett inheriting
the lead and victory from James Oreilly who had by now gathered himself up to
retrieve second place. Jason unfortunately did not complete the race.
Scotsman Matt Bett was third with Zytek race engineer Dean Hawley fourth.
Jon Neville in his first season in 250 having moved up from ICC was a splendid
fifth and Kevin Waring renewed his early season form with a strong sixth place
finish.
- Gavin
Bennett
Anderson/Honda
11.35.28/94.75mph
- James
Oreilly
PVP/Honda
- Matt
Bett
Anderson/Honda
- Dean
Hawley
Anderson/Honda
- Jon
Neville
Anderson/Honda
- Kevin
Waring
Anderson/Honda
- Richard
Dewart
Anderson/Honda
- Charlie
Johnson
Anderson/Honda
- Craig
Fleming
Anderson/Honda
- Sam
Moss
Anderson/Honda
Fastest Lap
- Jason
Dredge -
1.08.43/96.27mph
250 MSA National Championship Race 2
European Superkart Champion Gavin
Bennett held a big lead on opening lap but toured in next lap round with a
mechanical problem which handed victory to James Oreilly. The drive of the race
however came from Jason Dredge who charged through the field from the back of
the grid to take an excellent second place.
Matt Bett keep his good form going by
taking another third. The next three places were very hotly contested all race
long between Sam Moss, Jon Neville and Craig Fleming. With never more than a
second or two between them the result was in doubt right up to the flag. By the
end Moss took fourth, Neville fifth and Fleming sixth.
- James
Oreilly PVP/Honda
11.39.762/94.15mph
- Jason
Dredge
Anderson/Honda
- Matt
Bett
Anderson/Honda
- San
Moss
Anderson/Honda
- Jon
Neville
Anderson/Honda
- Craig
Fleming
Anderson/Honda
- Kevin
Waring
Anderson/Honda
- Richard
Dewart
Anderson/Honda
- Charlie
Johnson
Anderson/Honda
- Mark
Montgomery
Anderson/Honda
Fastest Lap
- Jason
Dredge -
1.08.6/96.03mph
At the half way point in the season
the Championship standings are as follows:-
- Jason
Dredge
175
- Kevin
Waring
169
- Dean
Hawley
154
- Matt
Bett
134
- Don
Kennedy
128
- Charlie
Johnson
118
- James
Oreilly
115
- Gavin
Bennett / Stuart Parker
112
10.
Craig Fleming /
Jon
Neville
100
UK Cup for 250 Nationals
Report To Follow
| 250 National UK Cup Winners |
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