The sun comes out for Tee'time
By TMX Archives on 21st Aug 08
ROUND Six of the Gimoto National Supermoto Championship took place at Teesside Autodrome, sponsored by Danny Whitmee of Digging It Plant Hire.
The weekend's activities started off on the Friday evening with a speedway race at the venue. Then the sunshine brought out the spectators for the 450cc and Quad Championships on Saturday, with 250cc and Youth races making up the programme of the first day's racing.
YOUTH
THE experience of the Youth riders is really showing through on the track, with all of the riders exhibiting speed and consistency.
Oliver Harrison started the day by increasing his series points standings with victory in all three motos relatively unchallenged.
This left the second spot up for grabs. Jordan Holliday claimed the place in the opener, before Scott Pitchers claimed the honours and in both the second and third races.
Ben Stafford was unfortunate to finish in third after leading the early in the final race. He had to settle for three third place finishes which bagged him a hat ful of points and move him closer to Ryan Rudd, currently second in the championship points chase. Holliday added seventh and fourth pl
250cc
LEE Cunliffe continued to dominate the 250cc Series, scoring maximum points in five of the six rounds to date. After machinery problems at round five, Cunliffe bounced back to take all three of the wins at Teesside.
Currently series leader, Lee Rudd, finished in second spot in all three races, and Joel Baldwin followed in third place for races one and two. He had problems in the final encounter leaving the door open for Owen Connell to snatch the third place trophy.
450cc
ANDY Mitchell had an early lead in the first 450cc race but a couple of mistakes early on allowed James Addy to push through for the lead. James held the advantage and won the race convincingly. The top four riders had a clear lead over the pack Richard Sharp and Chris Walker claiming third and fourth.
In race two, Walker had the early lead though Addy soon deposed him, and then stretched out an advantage. Walker and Andy Mitchell were both eager to take second place, and neither wanted to concede ground. Andy finally took second but by that stage had little time to eat into James's lead. Over the line it was Addy, Mitchell, Walker and Richard Sharp.
OPEN
GRAEME Norris had an excellent day on Saturday and led the first Group A race on Sunday, surprisingly taking the lead from James Addy. He held the front for almost a full lap, before he dropped his bike when pushing hard. Norris then had to chase from the rear of the pack to eventually finish in 12th position.
Addy regained the lead, but it was short-lived, as Carl Shield swiftly moved ahead of Andy Mitchell and then Addy to claim pole position, and then pulled four seconds clear for the first win of the day.
Addy held his ground in second place while Mitchell pushed hard but could not better third spot. Sharp finished in fourth while Chris Walker had to be content with tenth place on a borrowed bike.
GIMOTO NATIONAL SUPERMOTO CHAMPS
Rd 6 Teesside Autodrome, Middlesbrough (NORA-Sport)
Final Race Results Youth Class: 1 Oliver Harrison, 2 Scott Pitchers, 3 Ben Stafford 4 Jordan Holliday, 5 Brett Sayer
Final Race Results 250cc Class: 1 Lee Cunliffe, 2 Lee Rudd 3 Owen Connell, 4 James Compton, 5 Josh Haselden.
Final Race Results 450cc Class: 1 James Addy, 2 Richard Sharp, 3 Andy Mitchell, 4 Chris Walker, 5 Graeme Norris.
Final Race Result Open Group A: 1 James Addy, 2 Carl Shield, 3 Andy Mitchell, 4 Chris Babbitt, 5 Scott Woodacre.
Final Race Result Open Group B: 1 David Perry, 2 David Hinch, 3 Steve Alford, 4 Rob Dickens, 5 Mark Smith.
Final Race Result Open Group C: 1 Andrew Wood, 2 Keith Topliss, 3 Jack Hannath, 4 Scott Emmerson, 5 Malcolm Wootton.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2008