BMCRC – Donington Park

BMCRC – Bemsee riders and teams all headed to legendary, past home of the GP, Donington Park last weekend (21st/22nd June) for the 5th round of the season and as always it was fast and furious stuff with some great racing all round. Words by James Sharpe.

Hat-trick For Truelove But Robertson Retains Lead

Harry Truelove took three wins from three at Donington Park and round five of the BMCRC MRO Minitwins, closing in on series leader Grant Robertson.

Robertson however retained his series lead with a brace of third placed finishes and a second in the final race. Race one saw Robertson, Truelove, and Joe Buxton take it in turns to lead in the opening laps, before Robertson dropped back to fourth in the closing stages. On the fifth lap Buxton fell from contention as Truelove pulled a gap on the chasers. As the flag came out, Truelove took the win with Povah second and Robertson three tenths back in third. Truelove was the lead Junior rider.

Sunday’s races saw Harry Truelove do the double, but he was pushed hard in race one by his brother Matthew. Harry made a break in the early stages, pulling out a three and half second lead as Matthew battled through the pack. Moving into second on lap five, Matthew chased down his younger brother, setting the fastest lap of the race along the way, but crossed the line half a second back. Robertson was third.

The final race again saw Harry Truelove take the win. A race-long scrap eventually saw Robertson finish second, just four tenths off the win, with James Nagy just a tenth further back. Truelove took the Junior win in both races, while Stuart Hill took the Rookie class win on Saturday with Steve Costin taking both wins on Sunday.

Higlett Dominates Eventful Donington

Graham Higlett dominated the DFDS Seaways Yamaha Past Masters, extending his 100% win record with a hat-trick.

Matt Barber qualified on pole ahead of Pete Moore and Higlett, but a pile up at the Melbourne Loop on the opening lap saw Barber and Moore crash out, with Doug Edmondson involved too. Higlett was handed the advantage and stormed to victory, ahead of Andy Davies and Mike Wake, who took his first ever podium finish. Paul Whitby was the lead Clubman after a titanic mid-pack battle, with Barry Drummond the lead Rookie on the class’s Club Bike.

Higlett’s won Sunday’s opener from Barber, while Davies came out on top in the battle for third. Higlett’s third win of the weekend came ahead of Pete Fishwick, and Moore. Trevor Sharpe and Whitby shared the Clubman honours, while Michael Stanley and Sacha Gyte took a Rookie win each.

Palmer Untouchable As Welsh Calls It A Day

Former champion Steve Palmer was untouchable in the EDIasia Formula 400s, taking maximum points from the three races, while defending champion Richie Welsh called it a day.

Welsh, only planning on select meetings this year after the birth of his son, continued racing in a bid to retain his crown while leading the series. However, a number of terminal issues forced his retirement from the meeting and the championship running. Palmer’s victory in race one came five seconds ahead of Francesco Cavalli and Dan Ruth. Graham Higlett scored an excellent fifth to take the Sub-64bhp class win. On Sunday Palmer strolled to the double, with Cavalli and Ruth on the podium in both races. A huge crash at Craner Curves on the opening lap of race one saw Higlett snap his Kawasaki in half, and hand the Sub-64 class win to Carl Johnstone. Johnstone took the class win in race two, with Higlett second on his Yamaha TZR250. Scott Pickles impressed in the Rookie 400 class, taking all three wins.

Freshdrop BMZRC 250s

With grid positions decided on championship standings, the Freshdrop BMZRC series were the only class to have four races at Donington, with three different riders standing on the top step of the podium. Chris Rogers took the win in race one from Mark Taylor and Chris Dowling, with Pete Woodall taking the win in race two, with Taylor again second and Reece Baldwin third.

Taylor did the double on Sunday, his first win coming from Ben Miles, the former Yamaha Past Masters regular putting in an impressive guest ride on former champion Dean Stimpson’s MZ. Rogers was third. Taylor’s second win came ahead of Baldwin and Woodall, with Miles crashing out of third on the last lap.

Harris Scores Thunderbike Hat-Trick

Luke Harris took all three wins in the BMCRC Thunderbike class, with a third and two fourths overall in the Thunderbike and Thunderbike Extreme races.

Harris raced to fourth in race one and the Thunderbike win, as Ben Gallaway took the overall victory ahead of Daniel Lawlor and Jason Byard. Gallaway took the overall win in Sunday’s opener ahead of Byard, as Harris took third overall and another Thunderbike win. However, Gallaway forwent a cleansweep, dropping from contention on the opening lap of Sunday’s second race. Byard took the win ahead of Ian Morgan and Lawlor, with Harris fourth and the lead Thunderbike runner.

Marklund Extends Narrow Championship Lead

Joel Marklund took two wins and a second to extend his lead over Ryan Folkes in the National Junior Cup standings.

Marklund took the win in Saturday’s race ahead of Thomas Lodge, who won the Senior 300 class, with Folkes third and second Junior, and backed that up with another win on Sunday morning. Folkes was second with Richard Hunt, the Senior 300 series leader, third. Folkes took victory in the final race with Marklund second. Lodge was third and the lead Senior runner.

Former Bemsee Champ Buchan Dominates MRO Powerbikes

Danny Buchan took three wins in the MRO Morello Services Powerbikes, however, running in the National Stock 1000 championship, Buchan was exempt from scoring championship points.

Jonathan Lodge took three second placed finishes, with Barry Chapman third in race one. Alan Smith was the lead Clubman with Andrew Johnston lead Rookie. Lodge was second in both Sunday’s racers, with Steve Smith and Roger Marsh taking a third each. Marsh was lead Clubman in the both races and Jack Croucher the lead Rookie.

Philp And Puttrell Class Apart in MRO 600s

Tommy Philp and James Puttrell were a class apart in the Team Respro MRO 600s and Clubman 600s respectively, taking all available class wins, with Puttrell setting a new lap-record too.

Philp’s victory in race one came ahead of Puttrell, and Chaz Beale before his double on Sunday. Puttrell took second in race one with Aaron Clarke third, before positions were reversed for race two. Puttrell was the lead Clubman in both outings. Stephen Draper took all Rookie class wins.

RKB-F1 / BMCRC F2 Sidecars

Three different outfits adorned the top step of the RKB-F1 sponsored sidecars at Donington Park, while Sean Reeves and Mark Wilkes dominated the BMCRC F2 series.

Founds and Christian took their 1000cc Suzuki outfit to victory in Saturday’s race, before Sunday saw both Matt MacLaurin and Adrian Hope and Martin Kirk and Paul McArdle on the top step of the F1 and overall podium.