No-one remembers who came second – unless they saw this one!

Gary May was in outstanding form at the second-ever Thundersport GB event, at Oulton Park.
In the GP1 and Sound of Thunder race, he was riding the sole 600, giving away 400cc to everyone in the field, and he simply creamed them, disappearing into the distance to win by over half a minute.
There was a biting wind, and the track was never completely dry all day, and Gary’s was a special performance.
But the talk of the paddock was the race for second.
Marty Lennon, many people’s pre-race favourite for the win, Tony Keilty, Rob Elsmere, Mark Littler and Craig Morley were at it like knives, fighting over second place like rats in bag for most of the race.
It was enthralling stuff, with constant place-changes at the head of the group, and just when you thought it couldn’t last, it didn’t.
Morley and Littler disappeared with a couple of laps to go, and Keilty was dropped as Lennon and Elsmere went head-to-head.
Three-hundredths of a second was the gap at the flag, Rob Elsmere just squeaking it from Marty Lennon.
Gary May had parked it up, had a shower, a shave, and a rub-down with a crumpled copy of the Daily Mirror before the others crossed the line, but the after-race buzz was all about the titanic battle for the lesser podium places.
Great stuff, more please.

A step in the right direction

Geoff Lapworth is a talented young rider from Lancaster.
He’s contesting the Derby Phoenix 751 –1300 Fourstrokes, and picked up a tenth and an eleventh in the ‘A’ finals, at their Easter meeting at Brands Hatch.
Good performances, yes, but nothing startling.
Until you realise what he’s been up against.
The final Derby Phoenix event of 2007, at Cadwell Park, and Geoff is in third, chasing hard after Jonathan Lester and eventual winner, Daz Bellworthy.
It’s his first season on the big Suzuki, having stepped up from Formula 400.
And then it all goes wrong.
A broken leg and a dislocated ankle.
But this motorcycle technician is made from tough stuff, and less than six months later, he’s back on board.
All the best, Geoff.

If I had a hat, I know where I’d hang it…

Three gigantic, heart-felt cheers for the Bikesport News Girls, who were, once again, outstanding at Oulton Park!
Sunshine, showers, an Arctic blast, sleet and snow, they weathered it all, defying the elements with little more than brollies, elasticky stuff, and lovely smiles, as they accompanied the front row starters for each race.
It was so cold that the entire pitlane, paddock and spectators alike looked like members of the Pudding Club auditioning for a musical about the Michelin Man, whilst the lithe little lovelies on the grid went about their business with brave good humour.
Hayley, Charlotte, Ellie and Gemma, you were stars….roll on Summer!