Grasstrack racing at Ugley

GRASSTRACK returned to Ugley on Sunday as the Dunmow and District MCC organised the ‘Good and the Bad’ at Ugley event.

Grasstrack racing at Ugley

And the event was a hailed a success by both riders, spectators and organisers, as a large crowd was treat to an exciting day of racing

The 1000cc Sidecars put on a display of fast and furious action all day, with current Masters champions Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth going unbeaten through the heats. But as the tapes went up in the final it was Rod Winterburn/Liam Brown who made the holeshot and lead into the first bend with Cossar/Blyth tracking them all the way.

As they entered the last lap Cossar made the move up the inside and once in front never looked back, taking the chequered flag. But the action behind them went right to the wire with Rob Wilson/Terry Saunters snatching second place on the line, after Winterburn’s rear tyre left the rim as they came out the last bend.

The 350s that took over top solo billing with a boost in prize-money was won by Harland Cook. But in the final it was Matt Etherington that headed the pack into the first corner. It had not been a good day for Etherington only scraping into the final after two mechanical failures in previous heats whilst in good point-scoring positions, left him sweating as the qualifiers were announced.

Grasstrack racing at Ugley

But a change of fortune it was not to be and on the second lap the gremlins struck, and it was Richard Smith that took over the lead chased hard by Cook. And on the next corner Cook took his chance and powered past taking a well-earned victory. Rising Star Josh Dingle, the only rider to have beaten Cook on the day, took a well-earned podium place.

Some of the best races of the day were seen in the fast growing Solo Upright/Two-Valve class. Some fantastic races all day especially when Wayne Barrett and Steve Daw ‘locked-horns’.

Crowd favourite Daw, famous for his all-action leg-trailing style took the honours. Daw’s day got off to a bad one as he dropped his machine whilst leading his first race. But his day just got better and better with two heat wins which included a mammoth scrap with Barrett in heat three, and it was top step on the rostrum for the Eastern Centre man.

In the 250cc solo class Jed Collins took the win, but it was an unlucky day’s rising star Sam Radley-Smith. At the start or the day It looked that these two would be the predominant riders in the class. And in heat one it was ‘first-blood to Radley-Smith with Collins having to settle for second place.

Grasstrack racing at Ugley

The tables were turned in heat two, but two chain failures whilst in potential good points scoring positions ensured first place for Collins, seven points ahead of Chris Still and Ashley Hill who took the other rostrum places.

Adam Filmer took the 500cc class, taking a win and three solid second places. But Harland Cook was left ruing a non-points score in his first heat, another chain related failure that was the misfortune that struck many during the event.

Three wins and 36 points was not enough to make the top three. Filmer was joined by Dan Berwick and Ashley Gardner on the podium.

250cc

1. Jed Collins

2. Chris Still

3. Ashley Hill

4. Giles Dismore

5. Steve Darville

6. Sam Radley-Smith

350cc

1. Harland Cook

2. Richard Smith

3. Josh Dingle

4. Bob Dolman

5. Dave Mears

6. Mark Giles

500cc

1.Adam Filmer

2. Chris Berwick

3.Ashley Gardener

4. Harland Cook

Solo Upright/Two Valve

1. Steve Daw

2. Wayne Barrett

3. Tim Curnock

4. Tom Meakins

5. Lee Barley

6. Brian Cornelius

1000cc Sidecar - Kevin Parmenter Shield

1. Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth

2. Rob Wilson/TerrySaunters

3. Rob Winterburn/Liam Brown

4. Gareth Winterburn/Danny Hogg

5. Robbie Wilson/Bradley Steer

6. Stef Blyth/Jason Gill