This is the first time that NG Road racing have been to Mallory Park since the mid 1980’s, and believe it or not some of the riders back then are still racing this year and will be at this meeting. Paul Willis from the Sound of Thunder class, being the main one.
Since those days though the circuit has undergone major changes and improvements, and the circuit is now very smooth with several new corners including the tricky Edwina’s. Gerrard’s was always, and still is a daunting corner for any rider, especially as now the exit is much changed. There are still the historic sections that remain unchanged and just as challenging as they always have been…..The John Cooper Esses…. Shaws Hairpin…. and the Devils Elbow.
With six rounds of our series gone, any mathematician will tell you that we are at the mid-point of our season. Brands, Cadwell and Pembrey done…. all very different tracks…. and now another. Mallory has had and always will have riders that love or hate the 1.4 mile circuit. It takes aggression and commitment to get results here, however too much of either will see mistakes heavily punished. So anyone with an eye on one of our class championships must come away from this weekend with points in the bag.
Looking at the ones most likely to be grabbing the big points we start with the 125GP class, and that means local man Jamie Ashby on his Ducati Coventry backed RS125 Honda could take over at the top of the point’s table if he goes well. He will though face stiff opposition from Andrew Fisher. Sticking with the pure race bike classes it’s difficult to see who can get the better of TZ250 Yamaha mounted Daniel Jackson in the 450cc class, although Sain Brooks will be going all out to upset the formbook.
The Superbike classes once more see Welshman Phil Bevan in fine form on his R1, but his list of challengers is long with Mark Littler, Roo Cotton, Chris Pope, Michael Blank and Mark Compton all proven race winners. Paul Shook on his ZX10 can never be overlooked and Mallory could well just suit his aggressive style on the now sorted Kawasaki.
One of the toughest classes is the 600 open, but this weekend all eyes will be on Sam Middlemas, who live just a stone throw up the road. He has a proven record at Mallory with countless wins, and is the current 600 stock lap record holder here. He should start hot favourite on his 675 Triumph, but Jason Oakes, Chris Beverley, Jamie Morris and defending NG 600 champ Ricky Elder will be going all out to topple the local star. There will be a lot of pressure on young Sam this weekend who will be looking to grab his first win of 2011 in this class. Middlemas will also use his Hinkley built 675 in the Sound of Thunder, where currently he leads the title chase, but oddly once more still looking for his first 2011 victory. He will have to hold off the hugely experienced Paul Willis on his KTM, Duncan Gibson on his JHP Ducati Coventry 1098 as well as Ricky Elder and Matthew Billington on two more of the popular 675-3’s.
Ben Mardsen will be looking to continue his rich vain of form that sees his lead the way on both the Mini Twins class where Matt Page is his main treat (both on SV650’s) and the 400 Streetstock class where he has taken wins at Brands, Cadwell and Pembrey. Robert Rout and Louise Rout have a proven 2011 track record at this little 1.4 mile circuit so Ben will have to be on top form to keep his winning run going on the GF Racing CBR 400. Defending F125 champ, and current front runner in ’11 Max Symonds is really enjoying his year, but Jordan Rushby and George Stanley will be going all out to spoil Max’s winning run.
Shannon Hale will be looking to get back to winning ways on her Formula 400 ZXR 400 after suffering machine problems last time out. Max Alexandre, Alistair Rowland-Rouse, and her season long challengers, but they will all have to keep an eye out for Tim Bradley on his FZR 400 Yamaha who has a history of good form at Mallory. The GP45’s should be ideal little machines to really enjoy lapping Mallory and Chris Harrison has proven how well the Twin 450 Aprilia go and with five wins from six starts this year he is the man to beat. The Single cylinder GP45’s are more evenly matched but Matthew Andrew has taken four hard working wins so far this year, he will again have to fight off the attentions of Robbie Robson, and Gary Moran as well as guest rider on the NG Road Racing owned GP45 Ricky Elder.
Phil Evans and Tom Louth head the 1300 Streetstock line up, but keep and eye on Dave Beynon on his 1098 to cause an upset. Whilst in the 700 Street legal class Darrel Jones will be looking to extend his series lead on his GSXR 600 over his nearest rival Matthew Billington who is returning from injury (very early !) after a big high-side at Pembrey just three weeks ago.
Nigel Palmer on his TZ250 looks to be the main to beat in the Two Stroke GP class for the classic GP bikes. Although personally I cannot wait to see and hear the distinctive ring of the expansion chamber exhaust of the 1980’s RG500 GP Suzuki’s of Paul Streets and Stephen Sweetman…. ahhh the memories.
Paul Corfield and Ritchie Bleakley will be hoping to put their run of mechanical problems behind them with a good meeting. Despite their problems they currently lie 5th in the series, but the 1000cc Suzuki could well prove a handful around Mallory. The short wheel-base 600cc F2 machines are much more suited to this compact 1.4 mile track so Ralph Remnant/Ashley Moore and Chas and Kris Greatrex must be hoping for the big points.
This looks like being a vital meeting for all those in championship contention, as errors will be punished.
