Seconds out!
By TMX Archives on 26th May 10
ON Bank Holiday Monday, May 31, Frome and DMCC will be hosting the second round of this year's Dunlop-supported ACU MX323' series and the fourth round of the Maxxis British Sidecar-cross Championship at the popular Asham Woods circuit.
The first round of the MX323 series, held at Little Silver earlier this month, proved to be a quality success and with the very same combination of MX3, Under 23 and Sidecars about to go for it once again, the scene is all set to produce another winning event.
PAR Honda hotshots Ray Rowson and Scott Elderfield were the more than worthy winners at the opening round and once again in the Under 23 section down in Somerset, 17-year-old Scott will be on the start line for what is the second round of competition.
The opening round close quarters three-way battle between Scott, Moto One's super quick KTM pilot Shane Carless and Suzuki-mpunted Alan Keet proved to be a compulsive watch at times and with the same trio in attendance again there's every reason to believe round two will be just that will as exciting. Other riders to look out for include Lewis Tombs, James Dodd, Josh Spinks, Ashley Wilde, and Matt Bayliss.
The main focus of attention at the sharp end in the MX3 Open championship chase would seem to be a two-way Suzuki affair as John May on a Meredith-sponsored machine squares to Lakeland Bikesport's Jamie Law. John May finished on the podium at round one in the runners-up position, with Jamie in fourth, just seven-points adrift.
A full line-up of 34 of the country's top crews will contest the three 20-minute plus two lap races. Currently leading the championship are defending champions Stuart Brown and Luke Peters who have only been beaten once this year and in the last decade have won 14 of the 16 races they have contested at this venue.
Hoping to put an end to this run of success will be Scott Wilkinson/ David Keane who won the very first race of this year's championship series, but since then have been sharing second and third places with the local pairing of Dan and Joe Millard.
The Millards live just a few miles from Asham Woods and as is so often the case, their local track has been their jinx track. For the last three years they have had their worst score of the series at this track, so they will be hoping for a serious change of luck this time round.
The only other crew to finish in the top three in a race this year are Richard Jenkins / Pete Girling. Engine reliability at the last round at Little Silver let them down badly when they had to pull out of the second and third legs. Their performance recently at the Italian GP indicates that their Zabel engines are back on song. Other teams to watch out for are current AMCA champions Steve France / Lee Machin, Andy & Tim Breacher and Jack Etheridge now reunited with regular crewman Lewis Luxford.
The circuit at Asham Woods Leighton nr Frome has been modified over the past few years and the days racing for both of the MX323 classes will be run over three 20 min races that will follow a timed qualification session to determine gate position. The timetable of events will see the sidecars go out first with racing due to commence at 11.30am with practise starting at 9.30am.
Practice starts at 9.30am with the first race due to go off at 11.30am. Admission for adults is 10 and OAPs are 5 with kids under 16 free.
The track will be signposted from the A361 Frome to Shepton Mallet road and for those with SatNav the nearest postcode is BA11 4PW.