Superkarts F125 Open English Championship – Darley Moor

CATTERMOLE RECORD BREAKING DOUBLE – At the opening rounds of the F125 Open English Championship at Darley Moor last weekend, Kirk Cattermole collected two wins and set a new lap record in the process. Words by Gary James.

After qualifying quickest in class he led the opening lap of race 1 from Val Fernandez and Chris Needham. On lap 2 Needham demoted Fernandez and chased after Cattermole. But the Raider SGM driver was able to increase his lead and by half distance was 1.68s ahead. Needham set about reducing the gap and on lap 7 he broke the 8 year old lap record previously set by Justin Doherty in September 2006. The leaders encountered backmarkers on the final lap and Needham just failed to snatch victory on the exit of the last corner.

In race 2 Needham took the lead at the start but Cattermole crossed the line at the end of lap 1 ahead with Fernandez in 3^rd place. At Paddock Corner on lap 2 Fernandez dropped out when his TM motor nipped up on the entry to the corner and he spun off, neatly parking his superkart alongside a spinner from the previous lap. Cattermole stretched his lead at the front and on lap 3 broke Needham’s earlier lap record. Unfortunately, Needham couldn’t respond and on lap 4 picked up a puncture in the left rear tyre. This allowed Cattermole to cruise away untroubled for his second win of the day. Needham nursed his Superkart home to collect second place with Neil Robinson finishing in a lonely third place after a good drive. Robinson also picked up the RG Racing prize for the best prepared superkart.