Topped off with a boisterous end of meeting prize giving ceremony where the champagne corks flew, the 2013 GT Cup competition came to a successful conclusion at Culham Moto Parc.
Another blockbuster entry some three hundred strong enjoyed round seven – highlighted on track by the absorbing Christopher Mills verses Tom Grimshaw battle for the 85cc small wheel crown.
The action began with the Autos where Charlie Heyman was already assured of his Championship trophy – it made little difference however as the stunning eight year old rattled off another five faultless winning performances. Heymans season-long unbeaten run also winning for him the gigantic GT Cup rider of the season trophy. In the battle for Championship Silver, Freddie Wyard made absolutely no mistake, finishing second in every heat and in the process bumping Harvey Cashmore down into series third. Cashmore ran in a hat-trick of thirds as his weekend best. Callum Murfit and Jago Beasty also carding one third each as they finished overall fourth and sixth respectively with Harrison Forde in fifth.
In the 65s wildcard runner Jack Carpenter stole the show laying down five truly blistering heat wins. Behind the untouchable Carpenter a fierce battle raged as more guest runners in the shape of Reece Martin and Tyler Rowe mixed it up with Championship favourite Eddie Jay Wade and the very much on form Bobby Bruce. Both Martin and Rowe having enough speed, guile and craft to post a stirring second place finish apiece – but in Championship terms it was Wade all the way as he coasted to his crown with three maximum points scores. Bruce stepping up to the plate twice carding Championship wins in heats one and three.
The dice for the small wheel 85cc crown had the crowd running from one side of the track to the other as Tom Grimshaw and Christopher Mills put on a real master class.
Through heats one – four, the best racing of the season saw Grimshaw with his nose in front at times but ultimately Mills had the edge. Mills winning four times and then carefully bringing the Championship home with a second in the weekend’s final race, while Grimshaw went 2-2-2-2-1, giving him the weekend and series second.
In as a wildcard runner Taylor Hampshire impressed as third quickest. Third overall on the weekend with a season’s best show (3-4-3-3-3) went to Jake Parker as he got the better of Callum Beekan, Carl Budge and Connor Ford. Budge however claiming Championship third.
Holding a strong series lead coming into Culham Henry Siddiqui wrapped up the 85cc b/w title up in no nonsense fashion with three thumping day-one wins. On day two wildcard entrant Jordan Eccles came to the party showing his class with two victories – having ridden in the 125s on day one.
Finishing in weekend second, George Grigg Pettite saved his Championship best until last – Pettite was impressive with four third-place finishes and a fourth on his card. Tommy Lockhart rode brilliantly once again for weekend third as unlucky Will Jeonney had to settle for weekend fourth. The Jeonney card was spoilt by a race four crash but bested with three rousing second-place finishes.
With both Rickie Roderick and George Fountain sidelined with injury, series leader Adam Day only needed to hold it all together to claim the Youth MXY2 crown. Day with a best of second in heat one did exactly this and fourth overall was plenty good enough. Ben Cole rode his socks off for third overall but a final race spill saw him taking an ambulance ride to hospital.
Second overall went the way of Tony Saunders as he won heat two – claiming an excellent series third overall. The undoubted weekend championship star was Kieran Banks with four impressive heat wins, giving Banks the series runner-up. Putting the Championship aside, it was wildcard Josh Gilbert racing in a class of his own – easily winning all five heats. A performance from Josh that announces he will be a major force for all top youth honours next year.
In the all action Adult 125s’ Jim Davis was again a class apart. There was no real challenge from the young guns this time around as the experienced TM pilot claimed his title with five clear cut and emphatic wins.
In the battle for Championship second going 2-4 Jamie Carpenter started well but an unfortunate race three spill put him out of the meeting. Claiming three of the other second-place finishes, Henry Williams nailed weekend Silver as Husqvarna mounted Leighton Holmes grabbed third. Holmes with his best race of the series finished second in heat five – and all added this good enough to edge out Ryan Butler on the day – Butler however claimed series second.
Going 4-3-5-3 a third-place overall result in the Adult Clubman was more than enough to see Scott Hambridge walk away with the title. The Championship heat wins in the section going to Andy Peedle twice, Alex Fountain and Dan Guy. Not forgetting a sparkling show coming from wildcard Jamie Trankle as he actually won twice with one second-place finish. Elsewhere in the section, on a weekend of full on action, entertaining shows also came from Ben Spill on both days, and Sean Bardwell on day two.
You can always rely on Lewis Trickett (MX1) to put on something of a show – this time allied with awesome pace riding the Lanes Kawasaki the show was sensational and he chalked up four wins in the mixed capacity MX1/2 races. On day one Seb Osbourne and Rob Davidson (MX2) traded blow for blow with a second and a third each.
On day two Scott Elderfield (MX1) gave it his best but ultimately he also had no answer for the Trickett supremacy. Elderfield finished with a Sunday 2-2 as in general with Jake Millward and James Harrison in fine fettle the wild cards ruled.
Osbourne was by far and away the best of the Championship contenders and with yet another spectacular display he won the weekend and the MX2 championship in style.
Ashley Smith claimed weekend second overall and he wasn’t far behind Osbourne when it came to styling over the Culham jumps. In the MX1 championship Josh Spinks had to endure some mixed fortunes settling for third overall with one heat win. Darryl Maxwell carded his best of the season taking two wins and the overall. The remaining maximum went to second overall man Dominic Foreman.
