As with many meetings in this early 2008 season, the weather played a major part in proceedings at Brands Hatch for the NG Road Racing meeting…. Although to be fair rain with intermittent and we had plenty of dry sunny spells… which was probably a better option than the snow the week previous that called a halt to the BSB meeting.

The rain caused some major problems for some big names, as James Cox, Charlie Bishop, Martin Sharpe, Dan Kift, Daniel Frear, Josh Day and Chay Newton, all proven race and championship winners fell foul. With Bishop and Day in particular being skittled by others errant machines.

Others like Joe Symonds, Nigel Wright, Mark Compton, Rich Bearcroft and Michael Blank suffered tyre choice problems. The worst of which was Nigel Wright as the defending Mini Twin champion was caught out in the worst of conditions with a full set of slicks on…. The same happened to Mark Compton on his Sound of Thunder Aprilia Mille although Mark in typical Compton style said he actually had a lot of fun slipping and sliding the big v-twin around.

If anyone mastered the wet then dry/sunny mixed conditions it was Matt Dix and Rob Beere on their distinctive orange and black No13 F2 600 CBR Baker Sidecar outfit. The East Sussex based pairing with backing from ID & C Bands Ltd had an unblemished weekend. They set the fastest lap in practice 1.5 seconds quicker than anyone else…. Took both qualifying race wins and both final wins….. and during one of the good dry spells set a new NG F2 Sidecar lap record. They lead every lap of every race and took maximum points in both the CSC Open Sidecar and Century 2000 F2 Sidecar classes.

The Phoenix Open saw the first final go James Cox’s way on his Team Phyco R1, while Joe Syomonds troubled Open campaign continued, after looking good for second, when his rear tyre started to chunk on the last couple of laps. That allowed Michael Blank on his Suzuki to close in the 4 second gap and pass Symonds on his faltering R1. Top British runner Pete Jennings joined the fray on Sunday and took the win with Symonds this time staying ahead of his season long rivals Mark Compton and Lee Keeble as it was Blank’s turn to falter in the wet conditions.

After a 12-month lay-off Jodie Duffill on the Smokey Joe ZXR returned to the NG grids and showed he has lost none of his aggression or entertainment value with two good wins over Chris Beverley and Patrick Mills. Les Vallender once more showed he is enjoying the return to the A and R Racing F400 class with two strong third placings on the True View Ariel RVF.

Racing brothers Daniel and Graham Frear hoped to make it a family affair in Saturdays George White 600 Final but after a race long three way battle with Joshua Day. The young Cirencester rider split the two brothers, although to be fair it could have gone any one of three ways, with each of them on lap record pace in the dry conditions.

For a full race report, get your copy of BikeSport News, on sale April 22.