Report: Toughsheet National Twinshock - Sandbach
By Geoff Shuttleworth on 27th Jul 16
The Toughsheet National Twin-shock Championship circus moved to Warmingham Lane, Sandbach, at the weekend, supported by KAIS Suspension, and 170 riders arrived to find the circuit in probably the best condition it has been in the last ten years.
Host club Cumbria Twin-shock put on another faultless show, with the water being laid down early on Sunday morning before the Woodys Vintage Honda Evolution riders went to the line to start the 21 race programme, with holeshot prizes supported by Putoline.
The battle of the two Smiths continued with Michael Smith on a Honda getting the better of young Yorkshireman Connor Smith on a big Kwacker each race, to narrow the gap at the top of the table from ten points to only one at the end of play.
Andy Hinchliffe's three thirds keeps him in the hunt, with young Lee Jones in fourth just edging Stefan Garton.
The West Mids Evo crew raced alongside the Evo boys, and Jim Shand raced top ten all day, to take three wins from three in the class.
Zac Hackett enjoyed the day in second from Neil Williams in third and WME coordinator, Nigel Green, in fourth.
The MD Racing Over 50 class saw the continuing battle between Pete Mathia, Willie Burgess and Alan Bott, with ‘Math' overcoming Burgess in races one and two, before Burgess claimed race three.
Mathia took the overall and extended his points lead over third placed Bott to 19 points. Norman Emery made the long journey worthwhile taking fourth overall from Mark Silvester.
Graham Challis was the man to beat in the MD Racing Over 50 class, and he took all three wins, having to pass runner-up Alan Hambridge to keep up the momentum.
Phil Wilkes was delighted with his third place from Dave Mozley and Steve Mitton.
Best
The Wulfsport Experts went to series leader Lee Holland, who won race one from Scott Mathia, with Michael Smith well down following his petrol tap being knocked off mid-race.
Smith then beat Holland in races two and three after some terrific racing between the pair.
Ricky Pedder had his best finish to date in third overall, and is really getting to grips with the Murphy Maico this year.
Scott Mathia took fourth despite seizing his Maico in race two. Ewan Johnston rode top six all day for fifth overall on another Wulfsport Maico.
Paul Croxon was the best Falcon Shocks 250cc rider and would have finished in the top six of the Experts. John Bennett was second best 250cc rider.
The CI Sport Intermediate is a good class to watch with all the riders of a very similar speed.
This week it was Rob Sadler on a 250 Moto Villa who took all three wins, and with it the Martindales ‘Rider of the Meeting' award. Jamie Biddulph took second and extended his class lead, from James Curtis in third. Ben Price again improved and took fourth from local rider Dom Bratt.
The LPE Clubman class once again was dominated by Dean Gray, who took another three wins, although he was headed by guest rider Peter Williamson, who was not riding for points.
Matt Bennett deserves a mention as runner-up though, as he was riding with a damaged ankle, awaiting surgery.
Steve Hogg mounted the podium once more in third, ahead of Mark Bill and returnee rider Phil Bayman, who had his best result for years.
The top six AB Race Cruisers Veterans on modern bikes were all over each other in every race, with probably the strongest field for some time.
The amount of trophy's collectively these guys have won over the years would surely fill someone's garage.
Rick De-Feu had to use all his experience each race to work his way to the front and took all three wins, ahead of Danny Blakeley, Paul Coward, series leader Jonno White, Richard Chinn and Garry Jones.
Mike Allport won the battle of the Over 50s Vets from Phil Daley and Mark Tilzey.
The MRH Consultants Evo 125cc class is another where anyone of five riders could take a win. However, it was Richard Chinn who won the battle of the Hondas with some true grit going 1-3-2 for the overall.
Holeshot king Andy Lawton tied on points with Chinn with a 2-1-3 but lost out on a last tie-breaker. Callum Whaling surprized them all, taking race three for third overall ahead of Nathan Marsden and David Blackburn.
Andrew Robinson had his best result ever winning the MRH Twin-shock 125cc class, with John Davis in second due to a DNF in race one. Chris Rowlands back on the twinnies took third.
Talent
There was a Modern support class added to the programme, and up and coming enduro rider Brad Freeman showed all of his talent, with the fastest laps of the day entertaining the crowds as he took all three wins by at least half a lap each time. Pete Hamlett took second from Jack Drogan and Jordan Dawes.
RESULTS
Martindales ‘Rider of the Meeting': Rob Sadler.
Woody Vintage Off-Road Honda Evolution: 1 Michael Smith, 2 Connor Smith, 3 Andy Hinchliffe, 4 Lee Jones, 5 Stefan Garton, 6 Tom Marsh.
West Midland Evo: 1 Jim Shand, 2 Zak Hackett, 3 Neil Williams, 4 Nigel Green, 5 Tony Giles, 6 Neil Griffiths.
MD Racing Over 50: 1 Pete Mathia, 2 Willie Burgess, 3 Alan Bott, 4 Norman Emery, 5 Mark Silvester, 6 Daran Williams.
MD Racing Over 60: 1 Graham Challis, 2 Alan Hambridge, 3 Phil Wilkes, 4 Dave Mozley, 5 Steve Mitton, 6 Bill Brown.
Wulfsport Expert: 1 Lee Holland, 2 Michael Smith, 3 Ricky Pedder, 4 Scott Mathia, 5 Ewan Johnston, 6 Matt Rudd.
CI Sport Intermediate: 1 Rob Sadler, 2 Jamie Biddulph, 3 James Curtis, 4 Ben Price, 5 Dom Bratt, 6 Mark Burrows.
Falcon Shocks 250cc: 1 Paul Croxon, 2 John Bennett.
LPE Clubman: 1 Dean Gray, 2 Mathew Bennett, 3 Steve Hogg, 4 Mark Bill, 5 Phil Bayman, 6 Mike Tucker.
AB Race Cruisers Veteran – Over 40: 1 Rick De-Feu, 2 Danny Blakeley, 3 Paul Coward, 4 Jonno White, 5 Richard Chinn, 6 Garry Jones.
AB Race Cruisers Veteran – Over 50: 1 Mike Allport, 2 Phil Daley, 3 Mark Tilzey, 4 Gary Mason, 5 Mark Bowden, 6 Tony Houseman.
MRH Consultants Twin-shock 125cc: 1 Andy Robinson, 2 John Davis, 3 Chris Rowlands, 4 Tim Grindrod.
MRH Consultants Evolution 125cc: 1 Richard Chinn, 2 Andy Lawton, 3 Callum Whaling, 4 Nathan Marsden, 5 David Blackburn, 6 Jack May.
Modern Support: 1 Brad Freeman, 2 Pete Hamlett, 3 Jack Drogan, 4 Jordan Dawes, 5 Chaz Nicholls, 6 Stu Dawes.
