With a reputation for taking awnings for an unexpected lap of the circuit, racers arrived at Pembrey praying for an extension of the recent sunny conditions. The Pirelli UK GP45 Championship brought along an ever-expanding gang of Super Singles and Twins to the coastal South Wales track and despite the clouds, everyone’s wets remained in their vans for yet another NGRRC weekend.

Saturday 14th April, round five

When Saturday morning arrived Matt Andrew came to the line side-by-side with some new challengers, all eager to contest his top Super Single spot.

In 2010 Steve Pond set the Pembrey GP45 Super Single lap record at 1:06.58 on the gofasterbits.co.uk Kawasaki, this time Taunton’s Henry Cox was onboard fresh from his 250GP NG Cup qualifier. Further new riders welcomed into the series were Paul Annetts on the Sturmey Talon Yamaha YZF 450 and Aprilia 125 rider Max Symonds on the NGRRC GP45 Kawasaki. Rounding out the grid for the Singles was Tony Bridgefoot on the Bluebell Lakes Honda and Gary Moran on the Machine Tool Sales Online RMZ Suzuki.

For the Twins Chris Harrison was back on his Motobits Aprilia, keen to regain the Championship lead in the absence of closest rival Brad Davey. Martin Thrower was also back in the saddle on his gofasterbits.co.uk Aprilia GP45 twin having raced the Super Single at April’s Cadwell meeting. The qualifing race saw Harrison march straight through into the top 10 on-the-road from his 26th grid position during the opening lap, chasing down the now familiar leading mini-twins.

He soon joined the tussle for the all important front row spots and completed the race in an impressive 3rd overall. Martin Thrower also pushed through from 27th to 8th delighted with his improvement and 2nd row grid spot for the final.

The battle for first Super Single home was won comfortably by Championship leader Matt Andrew, breaking into the top 10 on-the-road. Nearest rivals Henry Cox and Max Symonds enjoyed chasing each other to the flag and picking up valuable Super Single experience along the way.

Cox looked strong through the ‘Esses’ right hander confidently picking off several mini-twins in one swoop. Despite Henry’s best attempts, teenager Symonds took 13th overall and 2nd of the Singles with Cox in his draft in 14th and 3rd Super Single. Championship regular Gary Moran suffered a crash early on and was out of the race by lap 3 leaving a much improved Tony Bridgefoot to collect 4th Super Single. Newcomer Paul Annetts also DNF’d with a mechanical problem.

Come the final, Harrison’s 450cc Aprilia was now well placed to challenge the quickest of the 650cc Suzukis from the start. It was to be a race long and well-defended 2nd position for Harrison with mini-twin rider Ben Marsden snapping at his heels. Harrison’s result regained his Pirelli GP45 Super Twin Championship lead from the absent Brad Davey. Martin Thrower improved mid-race making ground up to 7th but finally crossed the line 10th and 2nd Super Twin, succumbing to both Matt Andrew and Max Symonds on the nimble Singles.

Matt Andrew’s race saw him finish in a healthy 7th on-the-road, Max Symonds next up in 8th and Henry Cox 12th rounding out the top three Super Singles. Symonds was now getting into his stride achieving the fastest GP45 Super Single lap at 1:06.96. Still suffering from post-crash gremlins a disappointed Gary Moran made several places from the back of the field to finish in front of Tony Bridgefoot and Paul Annetts.

Sunday 15th May, round six

Sunday’s brisk breeze kept temperatures cool for the final day’s racing. The Pirelli backed GP45 racers formed on the grid back to their original slots, Harrison faced another challenging heat from 26th. Seasoned Metrakit, GP125 and MOTO3 rider Rowan Miller took the reins from Symonds on the NGRRC Kawasaki single.

Harrison once again battled through the field to arrive at the flag 4th on the road and first Super Twin home. Thrower achieved another impressive result in 8th, this time three seconds clear of Andrew on the Single.

Henry Cox was back out on the gofasterbits.co.uk GP45 Super Single making many passes throughout the race to 13th on-the-road, three places behind the leading GP45 Suzuki of Andrew. Gary Moran made better progress this time, getting his Machine Tool Sales Online Suzuki next in line behind Cox. Bridgefoot and Annetts enjoyed a dice with just 0.16 separating them at the flag. Despite a promising opening lap Miller pulled in with a suspected problem.

For the Championship points race the GP45 riders were evenly spread throughout the grid, Harrison and Thrower line astern on rows one and two. A Super Single, or two, on each row from three to six. Early on Harrison settled into 3rd spot overall and successfully defended this position to the flag.

Thrower battled hard race-long, exchanging places with his Somerset neighbour and awning companion Henry Cox. Unfortunately Cox crashed out one lap from the end leaving Thrower to collect 9th on-the-road, one place behind the Super Single of Andrew who was enjoying another strong ride, dominating the Super Single class.

Rowan Miller, now sorted on the NGRRC GP45 Single progressed through the field to claim 14th position on-the-road and second Single. Tony Bridgefoot enjoyed his first top three Super Single finish on his GP45 Honda, once again hounded by Paul Annetts to the line. Annetts also collected a win in the Newcomers earlier in the race programme. A luckless Gary Moran laid it down at the hairpin on the opening lap suffering another DNF.

Pirelli UK GP45 Championship standings:

Super Twins: Chris Harrison 125, Brad Davey 85, Martin Thrower 72

Super Singles: Matthew Andrew 140, Robbie Robson 62, Tony Bridgefoot 38.

Next round: Mallory Park 5th June 2011 Trophies awarded for both classes.