Cheshire is the destination as Thundersport GB head to Oulton Park this Saturday 6th June for round seven of the championship. With a record number of entrants attending the event, the series continues to impress the motorcycle racing world and for those planning on visiting us, here are one or two names to look out for.
The Aprilia Dunlop Superteens is one of Britain's proudest classes and is perhaps most famous for creating stars in Casey Stoner, James Toseland, Bradley Smith etc... This year, the superteen races have been better than ever and the series, designed for 12-18 year olds is currently being led by 15-year-old Andy Reid from Northern Ireland. Belfast born Reid, sporting the #17, has been in stunning form since the opening round but is far from running away with it.
Keep an eye on #100 Connor Tagg and #2 Lee Jackson, the pair started the season well and despite a difficult last round at Pembrey in Wales, they're sure to feature at Oulton. Two other youngsters to never count out though are 13-year-old Wayne Ryan #12 and Aussie born #414 Matt Davies. The duo were delighted to take their first wins of 2009 at Pembrey and added thier names to the contenders list.
A young man who knows only too well how competitive the superteens are is pocket sized Fraser Rogers, the 2008 Aprilia Superteen Champion is this year competing in another tough championship, the E2E Solutions GP3 class. The 125GP bikes are the last of the genuine classes that sport a field of genuine racing machines, and at Oulton Park, 35 riders will be taking to the grid to challenge the likes of Rogers and the talented Sam Hornsey who both share the overall lead of the Championship.
The Bridgestone Thundersport 500 Class is new for 2009, the name derives from the simple fact that the grids are full of Honda CB500's with the allowance for Suzuki GS500's and Kawasaki ER500's. The CB500 class is famous for providing a platform for many of todays great riders including Leon Haslam, and both the likes of his dad Ron Haslam and ex-British Superbike Champion Niall Mackenzie have hailed Thundersport GB for keeping the series alive.
#18 John Butcher leads the pack after taking wins at every circuit visited this year, but #49 Jonathan Harrison is not too far away and names such as #31 Matt Bainbridge, #21 Chris Pickersgill and #19 Phil Davenport should not be forgotten as they all head to the tricky Chester circuit.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the BSN.com Junior Powerbike class is for youngsters on bigger machinery, current leader of the championship is none other than Rob Elsmere who finished second in last years GP1 Powerbike class, the word Junior is purely based on the fact that the machines are a smaller engine size to the open Powerbike class. This season Elsmere is on the saddle of a fine looking #42 Aprilia 550 sponsored by IN Competition, Dunlop and Nitro as the series continues to hold its reputation of producing some exciting battles.
Keep an eye on #7 Alex Hutchinson though on his Kawasaki ZXR400, another experienced rider, Hutch knows his way around most circuits in the UK and he as well as #9 Sam Coventry on the Ducati 800 Monster could all be podium bound this weekend. With a grid full of classes, look out for all sorts of other machinery too. The GiMoto Streetfighter B class, the Mintwins and the newly created Moto 450 series will all be out in this one.
The Metzeler Formula 600 class said goodbye to its Champion from last year at Pembrey. Gary May has moved on to concentrate on defending his other crown in the GP1 class, leaving the top step wide open for the likes of #175 Michael Price, #91 James Henry and #169 Darryl Cox (featured above).
The series is open to all 600 machines and with no BHP limit, some of these bikes are seriously quick and well worth watching.
On the subject of 600's, the Pirelli Superstock 600 class is another newby for 2009 and is primarily a series for near standard 600cc motorcycles. The only things likely to have been changed are exhaust systems, front and rear suspension and a few other minor tweaks. Leading the way is #69 Dan Miles, whose wins at the last two rounds has seen him break away from a hungry pack of competitors. #61 Sam Parry, #111 John Simpson, #55 Leon Jeacock and #27 Tom Gazzard will all be there or there abouts but the list is far from over in a class bursting with potential winners.
So to the big class, the CIA Insurance GP1's are the Powerbikes and with only a weight limit and again no BHP limit, the machinery in some cases are blisteringly quick. #8 Peter Baker heads a group of riders on his Suzuki rocket and he's sure to come up against top riders in Stuart Hall, Rob Hoyles, Phil Crowe and defending champion Gary May #13 who this weekend takes to the seat of an R1 for the first time in his Thundersport GB career, having sold his famous little 600.
Last but not least is the GiMoto Streetfighter 'A' class and the Supertwins, the two classes in one were a good watch at Pembrey and the mix of naked machinery and grunting sounds of thunder should keep you entertained from start to finish. #175 Michael Price, #36 Clint De Tarnowsky and #34 Brian Greenfield should lead the Supertwins around, whilst #95 Jamie Wilkins and #33 wont be too far away in the Streetfighter class.
With full grids everywhere, Cheshire has to be the region set up on your sat nav as Thundersport GB arrives at Oulton Park on Saturday 6th June.
