Common sense
By TMX Archives on 25th Sep 08
WITH 2008 being another successful year for the RDH Motorhome Centre National Twin-shock series, and as the season drew to a close, the competitors descended on the Welsh Newton Common circuit, near Monmouth, for the final round, hosted by Herefordshire Twin-shock Club.
With many championship classes still to be decided, riders and spectators alike were in for a treat with some fast and furious racing.
Report and Pictures: EMMA DEER
First onto the line was the MD Racing Products Over 50 class. Going into this final round Peter Lightfoot had a 41-point advantage over Martin Snape, and knew he just needed to have three consistent rides to secure the 2008 title.
It was, however, wild card rider Andy Roberton, aboard his big BSA machine, who showed the rest how to blast round the track as he took three convincing race wins ahead of Snape, who did give Roberton a good run for his money in the final encounter of the day. Lightfoot only managed fourth overall, but this was enough to give the 2008 title.
One of the closest championships going into this final round was that of the Wulfsport Masters. With only 14 points separating Roy Wells and Alan Eaves, both competitors knew that all was to play for as they rode out the final three races.
As the gate dropped for race one it was Eaves who showed his hand first as he blasted to an initial lead, however by lap five wild card rider Brad Nixon had found a way past and went on to take the opening victory with Eaves second and Wells third.
In race two it was Nixon again who took the victory but not after having to battle past Four-stroke-mounted Wayne Partington. Once again it was Eaves that got the better of Wells taking third spot ahead of Wells' fourth.
As they gathered on the line for the final race of the season, the points difference was now only nine, the fight for this championship was going to go down to the wire.
Eaves knew he had to win and this was just what he did, but a third registered rider position for Wells was enough to give him the title for 2008 title, much to the delight of the cheering crowd. Overall for the day went to Nixon who took a second in the final encounter.
In the Sammy Miller Products Intermediates class, a third, fourth and first position was enough to give Jon Rutherford the overall for the day but consistent riding by Dave Tunnicliff secured him the 2008 Intermediates title.
In the Links Plant Hire Clubman class there were some great battles all through the pack, but it was Midlander Aaron Stevenson with two great opening victories and third in the final race that took the overall for the day. The 2008 championship was, however, won by Phil Keen.
Going into this final round the 2008 Cheshire County Crossers Veterans class had already been won by Alan Eaves, and therefore he sat this final round out to concentrate on the Wulfsport Masters championship.
This left the others to battle it out for this final overall of this last round and it was the power of Gary Parker aboard his 450 Yamaha that rode to three very convincing race wins ahead of
2005 Veterans championship winner Ricky Salway.
As in previous rounds, the Motocross 365 125cc and the Falcon Shock Absorber 250cc classes were combined together to give some excellent racing. In the Motocross 365 125cc class RDH Motorhome Centre main man Richard Wood showed why he is the 2008 125cc champion by taking three excellent class victories.
In the Falcon Shock Absorbers 250cc class Lee Hartill rode to three fine race wins to give him the overall for the day, but two fourths positions and a third was enough to give Wayne Twidle the 2008 title.
Some of the closest racing of the day was in the Motolink Yamaha Evolution class, and after some great battles between Richard Chinn and Lee Holland it was eventually Chinn who came out in front taking the overall for the Day.
The biggest cheer was however for Roy Wells. He finished fourth overall on the day but this was enough to give the 2008 Evolution title.
The presentation evening for the championship will be held on Saturday, November 1, at the Moat House, in Stoke-on-Trent.
WELSH NEWTON RDH MOTORHOME
CENTRE NATIONAL TWIN-SHOCK
Rd 8 (Final) - Newton Common,
near Monmouth (Hereford Twin-shock MC)
MD Racing Products Over 50: 1 Andy Roberton, 2 Martin Snape, 3 Stuart Miller, 4 Peter Lightfoot, 5 Jack McEwan, 6 Alan Hardy.
Wulfsport Masters: 1 Brad Nixon, 2 Alan Eaves, 3 Roy Wells, 4 Wayne Partington, 5 Lee Holland, 6 Russell Hartill.
Sammy Miller Products Intermediate: 1 Jon Rutherford, 2 Dave Tunnicliff, 3 Michael Gardiner, 4 Ed Spear, 5 Aaron Jordan, 6 Kevin Webb.
Links Plant Hire Clubman: 1 Aaron Stevenson, 2 Chris Pritchett, 3 Alan Coyne, 4 Carl Boughton, 5 Phil Keen, 6 Derrick Chegwyn.
Cheshire County Crossers Veterans: 1 Gary Parker, 2 Ricky Salway, 3 Lee Davies, 4 Stephen Rowlands, 5 Tim Chiell, 6 Chris Cannon.
Motocross 365 125cc: 1 Richard Wood, 2 Russell Hartill, 3 Steve Cottam, 4 Adrian Hoskins, 5 Graham Appleton, 6 Ryan Newbury.
Falcon Shock Absorbers 250cc: 1 Lee Hartill, 2 Andy Holland, 3 Wayne Twidle, 4 Steve Shambrook, 5 Nigel Parker, 6 Steve Ryan.
Motolink Yamaha Evolution: 1 Richard Chinn, 2 Lee Holland, 3 Piers Waddington, 4 Roy Wells, 5 Brad Nixon, 6 Michael Gardiner.
Jon Burrows Haulage Man of the Meeting: Richard Wood.