This spectacular 1.55 mile Anglesey Coastal circuit overlooks the Irish sea and the Snowdonia Mountains and offers competitors and spectators something very different to almost any other race venue. It is one of the few circuits to be designed and constructed with an entirely new concept.
They have taken full advantage of the undulating landscape with two hairpin bends and banked corners….plus the extremely popular corkscrew. The track offers a host of overtaking opportunities for the competitors, so riders and spectators alike are in for a real treat. It is a track that need the rider to be fully committed to the racing line from the high speed uphill coastal sweep past school gate to the all out drop down through the corkscrew. You really do need to know where this track goes to reap the rewards and get the results.
One rider that is expected to do well here is Phil Hacker on his powerful FJ1100. Phil uses his unique and very trick 1984 spec FJ in the pre injection class, and knows this circuit very well indeed. He is still smarting from loosing out on last year’s series to Adam Jeffery and dearly wants revenge. Phil and Adam traded wins all last season and the table topping position was changing round on round.... and this year is no different. We are eight rounds into this year’s thirteen round series and once more it’s Hacker and Jeffery fighting for the title.... and once more trading the top spot round on round, currently tied on points. Who ever steals the march this weekend will most certainly have the upper hand with just three more races to go (two at Pembrey and the finale at Thruxton).
Jamie Ashby is hoping to continue his consistent run of points scoring rides, that sees the teenager head the list of 125GP competitors on his RS125 Honda. Max Symonds too is looking to rack up more wins in the defence of his F125 title before making his planned move to the 600 series in 2012.
Daniel Jackson loves this 1.55mile Anglesey Coastal circuit and his overtaking exploits are something to watch out for down the corkscrew, his challengers for the 450 open class wins include Sain Brooks, Phil Guillou and Dave Hampton. Chris Harrison is likely to continue his domination in the GP45 Twins class on his Aprilia, but the GP45 Singles are not so easy to predict with Matthew Andrew, Gary Moran and Robbie Robson all capable of grabbing victory.
The Streetstocks classes have seen some controversy over the last couple of rounds, but now all the dust has settled we should see the normal order restored. Ben Marsden heads up the 400 division and Mattew Billington and Darrell Jones on 675 Triumph and GSXR 600 Suzuki head and shoulders above the rest in the 700cc category. The big 1300 class though is not so easy to predict with Phil Evans (CBR1000), Tom Louth (R1) and Dan Millard all up for the win. It looks as if Dave Beynon will be a non starter though after a nasty crash at Oulton Park.....just as he was starting to make an impact in the competitive streetstock class.
Ben Marsden is also going for Mini Twins glory on his SV 650 and has built up a solid points lead, but Matt Page has matched Marsdens win-rate, with 4, and is rueing some early season errors. Page will keep up the pressure this weekend. On the bigger twins and triples in the Sound of Thunder Sam Middemas still leads the way on his 675, but is under increasing pressure from reigning champion Paul Willis on the KTM RC8. This is a class though that could go any one of half a dozen ways as Duncan Gibson, Matt Billington, Darren Rumley or Chris Norris is well capable of the victory.
Jason Oakes is currently in prime spot in the 600 open on his R6 Yamaha and will be all out for the wins here, but after a below par last round at Mallory Park when his steering damper came loose Sam Middlemas and Darrel Jones have closed down his lead. This meeting also sees the return of Chris Beverley…. and he is keen to get back to winning ways.
As ever in recent years Phil Bevan is the man to beat in the Open and Powerbike classes on his R1 Yamaha. Such is Bevans dominance this year that a couple of podiums this weekend could see the Welshman secure both crowns that he holds with still two more race meetings to go (a feat almost unheard of !). Roo Cotton has hit a run of great form though, and will be going all out to take his first win of 2011 after a string of podiums. We also discount Michael Blank, Mark Compton or Chris Pope at our peril !.
Rupert Archer and Jason Grimes head up the Open sidecar field and now head the series in their first full season on the 1000cc Suzuki LCR. Keep an eye out though for Paul Corfield and Rithcie Bleakley who took a stunning win last time out, and Phil Larder/Ken Edwards. Meanwhile in the F2 600cc class Ralph Remnant and Ashley Moore are fighting to hold off defending class champions Miles Bennett and Kevin Perry who have now racked up 5 wins from the 8 rounds and are on a charge.
There are newcomer’s classes on the packed programme too, with Wayne Axon and Matt Page battling it out in the Mini Twins class. Phil Evans and Tom Louth fight for supremacy in the open, and young Connor Moody heads up the tight 500 class where just 15 points cover the top six riders.
