MAY DAY FOR THE TWO ROBS

Gary May’s master class was there for all to see again this weekend as he grabbed two wins out of three in the Thundersport 600 class and battled to all three wins in the GP1 class.
 
His closest competitor in the 600 class, Rob Hoyles was struggling with set up for most of the weekend but even he wouldn’t take away the pace that May had. A win and two thirds for Northern Irish rider Cliffy Hamilton stated his ambitions as he prepares to join the grid for 2009.

In GP1, Rob Elsmere in second had to settle for eighth on the grid and was made to watch May clear off in each race as his title chances took a serious dent. Irish rider Rory Clarke fought with May in every race but couldn’t quite beat the Hungerford harrier, as he too noted his intentions for ’09 are Thundersport bound.

Great rides from Scott Kelly and Jamie Wilkins who both made podium visits and solid performances for rookie Richard Webb, Craig Morley and local rider Paul Shook.

REVELEY MADE TO WAIT ANOTHER ROUND

Sound of Thunder Championship leader Lee Reveley could have become another Thundersport champion this weekend had results gone his way. Two wins from three were not enough though as Lee Cutts-Bland, currently second in the points table, grabbed two seconds and a win when Reveley retired in race one on Sunday.

Cutts-Bland is 122 points behind Reveley and that seems quite a tall order, but racing’s a funny old game and stranger things have happened. Good podium finishes for Graham Goodyear and the returning Brian Greenfield, made their trip to Wales more than worthwhile.

WINS FOR HARLAND & WINFIELD BUT ROGERS EXTENDS LEAD

Josh Harland took advantage of a race one spill on Sunday morning which involved all top three contenders for the Championship, and raced to victory to notch up his first win since Oulton Park back in April.

George Martindale had led the race with two laps to go but it was the #69 machine of Harlands that went across the line first to secure victory and keep his hopes of third overall alive.

Race two was won brilliantly by the talented Bruce Winfield, who beat a stunned looking Frazer Rogers in second. Winfield still sits third overall but can smell the exhaust pipe of Shelton in front of him who fell further behind Championship leader Rogers.

The ‘Stinger’ Shelton was unlucky not to finish two of the four races and with Rogers winning both races on the Saturday, he sits 111 points behind Rogers with 150 points left to play for.

RENDELL MADE TO WORK FOR THE POINTS

Ed Rendell won three from four races at Pembrey but was made to work for every one as he closes in on the GP3 title. Ross Ashman was the only rider that beat Rendell in the last race on Sunday but brave performances from Jamie Edwards, Adam Robinson and Adam Dudley kept Rendell pushing all the way.

Tom Weeden, who still leads the ACU Clubmans 125 Championship was always there but couldn’t quite challenge for the lead this time around.
The class itself produced some great action and the field gets tighter week in week out. Although Rendell’s dominance this year has been clear for everyone to see, the names mentioned for the 2009 grid, wet the appetite somewhat.

BALLERINI BLASTS TO WIN TWO

Whoever said there’s life in the old dog yet was certainly right on this occasion as Rik Ballerini battled the best to take two from four victories at Pembrey. The green #22 Kawasaki screamed by with Rik on top to stun the current Junior Powerbike title contenders.

Clinton De Tarnowsky who currently leads the series and Tony Coombs in second, both shared the remaining race wins to take the battle on into Anglesey with nothing to choose between the pair, but it was Rik that would take a bow after excellent riding.

Steve Joy continued to edge away from Steve ‘Huddy’ Hodgson in the Streetfighter ‘A’ class but still needs to stay alert, and Sam Read’s retirement gave John Hardwicke hope in the Streetfighter ‘B’ class, as Sam Parry impressed all with four fantastic wins, pushing him from eighth overall to fourth in one weekend.