Toughsheet National Twinshock Championship

Toughsheet National Twinshock Championships Round 2

Cumbria Twinshock Club

Hawkstone Park

Report Geoff Shuttleworth

Pictures Andrew Fairclough Photography

The second round of the Toughsheet National Twinshocks championships took place at Hawkstone Park last weekend hosted by the Cumbria Twinshock Club and supported by Vans of Westwood. The event incorporated the Matt Murphy Memorial, and the very handsome trophy was won by Andy Lawton, and was presented by Matts Dad Gary at the end of the meeting.

As is usual at this event there was a huge turnout, and due to heavy rain the week before, the going was soft, and riders found the going extremely tough, but the club worked wonders to complete the 24 race programme on the day. The sun shone through though, and although the track got rough, it certainly dried out, and there is no doubting there was a few aching bodies after the racing.

The Hazport Vets modern were first to the line this week, and Jonno White took the holeshot on the vintage Suzuki in race one, but he had to succumb to the pressure from Danny Blakeley on the second lap. Danny went on to dominate the class and took all three wins to take the overall in the Over 40’s and extend his series lead. Jonno ended up in second overall with his 2-3-2 scorecard. Adam Wilkinson had his best ride to date in third overall, helped by his second race second position. Event sponsor Simon Bonser overcame two crashes to salvage fourth, and Grant Hacking took fifth.

Best of the Vets Over 50’s went to a delighted Melvyn Homer helped by two sixth places. Second and third went to Adrian Lewis and Mike Allport.

Reigning National Twinshock champion, Barry Turnbull, was back to his old self in the Wulfsport Experts, as he reeled off three wins on his big Honda. Bryn Clarke tried all he could to stay with him in race one, but bike trouble stopped him in his tracks in race two. That left series leader Jimmy Margetson to take second overall, albeit with a reduced points lead going into round three. Michael Smith on the Sourbutts Monda took third, by a point from Albert Martindale who was only out on his Dads Maico for the second time. Martindale looked really smooth, and also took the Martindales Rider of the Meeting award for his vastly improved showing. Luke Hill took the PDS Triumph to fifth place.

Andy Hinchliffe once again dominated the MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock class with three wins, and has yet to be beaten. Matt Rudd followed Andy home in each race to take second, and Jason Slater had his best ride so far in third, in front of Rob Glynn and Robin Cowgill.

Matt Bennett took his first overall win in the Falcon Shocks 250 Twinshock class with a win and two seconds, beating third race winner Jamie Biddulph by two points. Jim Shand was in amongst the action and took third place.

It was great to see former GP rider Dave Watson out in the MotoX Concepts Over 50 Twinshock class, and everyone was eager to see him back in action against fellow Irishman Willie Burgess.

Burgess got the race one victory, with Watson shadowing him all the way home, and John Iddon always there in third. But it all changed in race two, as Willies Murphy Maico was misfiring going to the line with ignition problems. This left Watson out in front to take the next two races to take a well deserved overall win. Scotlands Craig Smith really got to grips with the Hawkstone sand and took second overall from John Iddon on a third race tie break. Burgess managed fourth and Alan Bott battled to fifth.

Jerseys Wayne Le Marquand on the Marsh HPF is another rider yet to be beaten in the MotoX Concepts Over 60’s, as he took another trio of wins. His nearest challenger was Alan Hambridge in second, and Jon Wood took third on a tie break with Graham Challis.

There was huge anticipation before the MRH Evo 125 class, as it is usually a very close run class, but each race Andy Lawton hit the front, and checked out, without anyone actually getting near his back wheel all day. It was made all the sweeter as he took the Matt Murphy Trophy for his dominance. Wildcard rider Corey Nemeth followed Andy home in each leg to take second, with Lee Holland having a great day in third. Matt Wild and Matty Sanders completed the podium with some top four finishes.

Debutant Keelan Noble shook up the Black Art Tuning Clubman Twinshock class with two wins and a third to take the laurels, but it was regular Steve Hakes who rolled back the years to take the runner up berth. First race winner Riley Copeland would have been challenging for the overall but for a third race DNF, but still took third from Craig Ruck and Steve Hinchliffe.

Barry Turnbull reigned supreme in the Woodys Vintage Off Road Honda Evo Open class, as he reeled off three wins to take his tally to six for the day. Michael Ogden recovered from a first race fight back from last to take second overall. Then it was a battle between Chris Sanders, Danny Blakeley and Jamie Dobson for the right to get on the podium.

The Mauds Café Pontefract Super Evos had their own race at this round, and 25 took to the line for the racing. Guest rider James Lassu was in a class of his own, and took three very comfortable wins for the victory. Paul Smith had three seconds for runner up, and series leader Chris Hind was third, just getting the better of Jake Moss and Grant Hacking, in a tightly fought finish.

The Partridge Ventilation Pre-83 125’s joined the fun in the sand, and it was George Gough who headed all three races to lead the series. James Shand was runner up in each race to take second, and he was followed by Paul Baldwin with three thirds. Adrian Jessop riding two classes took fourth from Kevin Jewell.

The final class of the day was the CI Sport Inters Twinshocks, and another of the series leaders made it count as David Hopkins on his Husky won two and was second in the final race to win the day. Guest rider Kyle Noble had a good day taking the third race win and second overall, and third was Fyn Townson with his best ride so far. Chris Lambourne got the better of Chris Anderton to take fourth.

The series now moves onto Bevercotes, Notts for round three in two weeks time on on Sunday May 26.

Martindales Rider of the Meeting – Albert Martindale.

Hazport Veterans Over 40’s

1 Danny Blakeley, 2 Jonno White, 3 Adam Wilkinson, 4 Simon Bonser, 5 Grant Hacking,

6 Chris Hind.

Hazport Veterans Over 50’s

1 Melvyn Homer, 2 Adrian Lewis, 3 Mike Allport, 4 Steve Thornton, 5 Adrian Jessop, 6 Paul Wright.

Wulfsport Experts Twinshock

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Jimmy Margetson, 3 Michael Smith, 4 Albert Martindale, 5 Luke Hill,

6 Ben James.

Falcon Shocks 250 Twinshock

1 Matt Bennett, 2 Jamie Biddulph, 3 Jim Shand, 4 Kyle Godbear, 5 Dave Ellis.

MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock

1 Andy Hinchliffe, 2 Matt Rudd, 3 Jason Slater, 4 Rob Glynn, 5 Robin Cowgill, 6 Chris Kirkbride.

MotoX Concepts Over 50’s Twinshock

1 Dave Watson, 2 Craig Smith, 3 John Iddon, 4 Willie Burgess, 5 Alan Bott, 6 Paul Chiappa.

MotoX Concepts Over 60’s Twinshock

1 Wayne Le Marquand, 2 Alan Hambridge, 3 Jon Wood, 4 Graham Challis, 5 John Newsome, 6 Steve Mitton.

MRH Consultants 125 Evolution

1 Andy Lawton, 2 Corey Nemeth, 3 Lee Holland, 4 Matt Wild, 5 Matty Sanders, 6 Jack May.

Black Art Tuning Clubman Twinshock

1 Keelan Noble, 2 Steve Hakes, 3 Riley Copeland, 4 Craig Ruck, 5 Steve Hinchliffe, 6 Ashley Smith.

Woody Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Michael Ogden, 3 Chris Sanders, 4 Danny Blakeley, 5 Jamie Dobson,

6 Michael Smith.

Mauds Café Pontefract Super Evos

1 James Lassu, 2 Paul Smith, 3 Chris Hind, 4 Jake Moss, 5 Grant Hacking, 6 Craig Marsden.

Partridge Ventilation Pre-83 125’s

1 George Gough, 2 James Shand, 3 Paul Baldwin, 4 Adrian Jessop, 5 Kevin Jewell, 6 Andy Wreford.

CI Sport Inters Twinshock

1 David Hopkins, 2 Kyle Noble, 3 Fyn Townson, 4 Chris Lambourne, 5 Chris Anderton,

6 Timmy Gravener.

Cumbria Twinshock Club

Stipers Hill, Polesworth

Report Geoff Shuttleworth

Pictures Andrew Fairclough Photography

New Kids on the Block

The opening round of the 2019 Toughsheet National Twinshock Championships took place at Polesworth last weekend, as it has done for the last fifteen years. The Cumbria Twinshock Club event was supported by Moto Sports Services from Haydock, and attracted an entry of over 260 eager riders. The club as always ran a very slick event, and had the track watered early to avoid dust, which worked a treat, although the old quarry began to show its core by the end of the days racing. The 24 race programme ran like clockwork, with only one mishap as local Inters rider Jamie Lawrence ended his day with a visit to A&E. Get well soon Jamie.

There were a whole host of riders new to the series, and several of them ended up on the various podiums, seeing a changing of the old guard.

First up were the Wulfsport Experts, who race alongside the Falcon Shock 250’s and the MRH 125 twinshocks. And it was former speedway star Matt Williamson, who had a dream debut, winning the first experts race from Jimmy Margetson and Barry Turnbull. But it was overall winner Jimmy Margetson, who then took control, reeling off two race wins, beating Williamson by seven points to take it. Third place went to another new rider, with Bryn Clarke squeezing everything out of his Maico to just pip Luke Hill on the PDS Triumph on a tie break. Ben Margetson took fifth with three very consistent rides.

Andy Hinchliffe was on fire on the little Honda, and took three wins in the 125’s, to take overall victory, beating two former champions John Davis and Matt Rudd. Mark Burrows and Robin Cowgill battled to fourth and fifth.

Stevie Denton returned to the fray for another season in the 250’s, and took the first two wins and a second to win the class. Jim Shand was second after winning the final race. And Matt Bennetts move from the Inters proved successful after he took the final podium step. Steve Riley just got the beating of Dave Ellis by a single point to take fourth.

Irelands Willie Burgess started where he left off last year, by dominating the MotoX Concepts Over 50 Twinshock class, and took three unchallenged wins for the overall. Alan Bott went 4-3-2 for a great second place, and but for a last race off, Tim Sabine may well have improved on his third place after a third and second in the first two motos. Paul Lippitt blasted his big four stroke into fourth just in front of Andy Holland.

There was a good showing in the Over 60’s races, and Wayne Le Marquand was the man to beat, as he reeled off a trio of wins. Norman Emery was back in the saddle, and was well pleased with runner up. Alan Hambridge took third from Jon Wood and Alan Hardy.

In the MRH Consultants 125 Evo class, reigning champion Shane Holmes looked to be in control of things as he raced to the first two wins, but machine problems left him empty handed. Up stepped Andy Lawton who won the overall with a 3-2-2 scorecard, to lead the series. Lee Holland battled away in the super fast class, and took the runner up berth, with Jack May, David Blackburn, and Holmes taking the final silverware.

The Black Art Tuning Clubman class saw some really close racing, especially in race one as Mark Gardner beat Lucy Tilzey by 0.3 of a second. But after that Lucy made no mistakes, and secured two fine wins to win the class and with it, take the Martindales Rider of the Meeting award. Gardner stayed top three all day and took runner up, and Steve Hakes was another rider who stepped it up to take third, from Danny Braddick and Chris Reynolds.

The final twinshock class was the CI Sport Inters, and another man at the top of his game was David Hopkins on the Husky, taking all three victories to win. His nearest challenger was Ben Weaver in second with a couple of second places, just seeing off Carl Hodgson on a tie break. Chris Lambourne and Ben Braddick filled fourth and fifth.

The Woodys Vintage Honda Evo Open class saw Barry Turnbull, finally getting to grips with things, and although he finished a lowly fourth in race one, he managed to claw it back with two victories to win the class by a single point from Matt Williamson who won race one. Jamie Dobson took his big Kawasaki to third, from Chris Sanders. Shane Holmes had posted two seconds, but a DNF in race three left him in fifth.

The all new Mauds Café Super Evo Class took to the line, with Chris Hind winning the first two, and settling for fourth in race three to take the overall by a single point from third race winner Jake Moss in second. Tom Holland took third place from Sam Vickers and Lee Harris.

The full line up of riders in the Hazport Vets Modern Over 40’s certainly woke the village up as they blasted off up the start straight, but it was two stroke Yamaha mounted Danny Blakeley who won the overall with two race wins and a fourth place. He had some close battles, and none better than with third race winner Simon Bonser, who had to battle through the pack to get on terms. Blakeley takes a seven point lead over Bonser to Hawkstone for the next round. Jon McBrides debut in the Vets was a revelation and he took a great third overall. Fourth went to Grant Hacking, who led quite a few laps on the day but just couldn’t hold off the leaders on the final laps. Top of the Over 50 Vets Modern went to Nev King, another debutant, with Gary Henson and Mark Spruce in second and third.

The West Mids Evo Pre-85’s all set off together, and Jonathan Tapp seems to be the man to beat, although Jordan Davies did beat him in the final race. Matt Hitchman was also up there on the four stroke and it made for some good racing. When the dust had settled, the overall winners were Hitchman, Jake Chamberlain, Dean Warren and Jonathan Tapp.

The second round is the Matt Murphy Memorial event at Hawkstone Park on Saturday May 4.

Martindales Rider of the Meeting – Lucy Tilzey

Wulfsport Experts Twinshock

1 Jimmy Margetson, 2 Matt Williamson, 3 Bryn Clarke, 4 Luke Hill, 5 Ben Margetson, 6 Barry Turnbull.

Falcon Shocks 250 Twinshock

1 Stevie Denton, 2 Jim Shand, 3 Matt Bennett, 4 Steve Riley, 5 Dave Ellis, 6 Russ Hartill.

MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock

1 Andy Hinchliffe, 2 John Davis, 3 Matt Rudd, 4 Mark Burrows, 5 Robin Cowgill, 6 Jason Herring.

MotoX Concepts Over 50’s Twinshock

1 Willie Burgess, 2 Alan Bott, 3 Tim Sabine, 4 Paul Lippitt, 5 Andy Holland, 6 Pete Williamson.

MotoX Concepts Over 60’s Twinshock

1 Wayne Le Marquand, 2 Norman Emery, 3 Alan Hambridge, 4 Jon Wood, 5 Alan Hardy,

6 Chris Smejkal.

MRH Consultants 125 Evolution

1 Andy Lawton, 2 Lee Holland, 3 Jack May, 4 David Blackburn, 5 Shane Holmes, 6 Richard Sharp.

Black Art Tuning Clubman Twinshock

1 Lucy Tilzey, 2 Mark Gardner, 3 Steve Hakes, 4 Danny Braddick, 5 Chris Reynolds, 6 Paul Spencer.

CI Sport Inters Twinshock

1 David Hopkins, 2 Ben Weaver, 3 Carl Hodgson, 4 Chris Lambourne, 5 Ben Braddick,

6 Mark Lakeland.

Woody Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Matt Williamson, 3 Jamie Dobson, 4 Chris Sanders, 5 Shane Holmes,

6 Jamie Simpson.

Mauds Café Pontefract Super Evos

1 Chris Hind, 2 Jake Moss, 3 Brett Revell, 4 Lee Brown, 5 Tom Holland, 6 Sam Vickers.

Hazport Veterans Over 40’s

1 Danny Blakeley, 2 Simon Bonser, 3 Jon McBride, 4 Grant Hacking, 5 Darren Dobson,

6 Nev King.

Hazport Veterans Over 50’s

1 Nev King, 2 Gary Henson, 3 Mark Spruce, 4 Mike Allport, 5 Adrian Lewis, 6 Mark Bowden.

West Midland Evos 125’s

1 Jake Chamberlain, 2 Zac Hackett, 3 Jacob Griffiths, 4 James Hudson, 5 Kane Winstone,

6 Jordan Hands.

West Midland Evos 250’s

1 Dean Warren, 2 Steve Gray, 3 Jim Shand, 4 Dan Woodman, 5 Steve Chamberlain,

6 Jonathan Smith.

West Midland Evos 500

1 Jonathan Tapp, 2 Jordan Davies, 3 Kevin Reed, 4 Stephen Sparrow, 5 James Reeves,

6 Nathan Smith.

National Twinshock MX Championships 2019

Entries for rounds one and two are now open for registered riders, and payments can be made over the phone to Chloe and Heather at Cumbria Twinshock on 01229-463805 / 07887-407590. Registered riders do not have to fill out entry forms for Cumbria Twinshock events. Please let them know if you require a hired ‘mylaps’ transponder.

Some classes are over-subscribed, and therefore if you intend to do the full series, it would be advisable to enter well in advance of the event, especially the early rounds.

You will be able to collect your IOPD licence at the first event that you attend.

Please help the clubs by entering in mid-January, as non-registered riders will be accepted as the event date approaches.

Good news for the all new Super Evo class is that they will be doing all the rounds, including the opener at Polesworth.

Super Evos will be in the same race as the Evo Open riders, with a split start, and will be scored separately.

Inters Twinshock riders will race with the 250 Twinshock riders, and will be scored separately.

Over 50/60 Twinshock riders will race together, with a split start, and will be scored separately.

Vets Over 40/50 riders will race together, and scored together.

Experts Twinshock and 125 Twinshock riders will race together, and be scored separately.

The Clubman Twinshock class will be for registered riders only, and riders will be upgraded after the first two rounds if too fast for the class.

Finally, if you have any questions on the above please do not hesitate to ask.

Geoff Shuttleworth 01524-824409 or 07816-283252 or e mail geoff.shuttleworth121@outlook.com

Here are some details if you are considering registering for the 2019 Toughsheet National Twinshock MX Championship series. The registration fee enables us as an organisation, to provide each event with programmes and a commentary, and helps pay for the end of season trophies, and entitles you to a cheaper entry than non-registered riders or other organisations that join us at individual events.

Our class structure for 2019 is as follows;
Clubman Twinshock (For registered novices and beginners – Upgrades will be decided at rounds 1&2)
Intermediate Twinshock
Experts Twinshock
Over 50’s / 60’s Twinshock
125 Twinshock
250 Twinshock
125 Evolution (Monoshock Bikes Pre-90)
Evolution Open (Monoshock Bikes Pre-90)
Super Evolution Rounds 2-6 (Pre 97 steel frames and may race with Evo Open class and a split start)
Veterans (Over 40’s and 50’s on any bike in the same race)

Helpful Information
You will be able to collect your IOPD licence at the first event that you attend.
You may enter and pay over the phone at all Cumbria Twinshock events, and do not need to complete an entry form. See individual entry forms for other clubs arrangements.
All entry forms, with phone numbers, fees and directions will be available to download from www.nationaltwinshock.co.uk where you will also find a full set of rules for the championship.
Some classes are over-subscribed, and therefore if you intend to do the full series, it would be advisable to enter well in advance of the event, especially the early rounds.
Transponders will be used at all our events, and your number must be submitted to the secretary.
If you require a hired transponder, please let the secretary know at least one week prior to the event.
Riders must be registered to score championship points, and non-registered riders will be removed from the points, and you will move up and receive their points.
Twinshock bikes must have two rear shocks, be air cooled and have drum brakes, but will include all pre-82 water cooled monoshock Yamahas and other pre-82 water cooled machines. Forks must not exceed 46mm diameter.
Evolution machines must be pre-1990 and fitted with period parts, and have the original frame, engine and braking system. In the event of a protest, riders within that class may vote on the acceptability of that machine.
Super Evo bikes must be Pre-97 with steel frames, and we hope to include them at all the rounds, but may struggle at the opening round until we know the entry situation.
Please help the clubs by entering as soon as possible, as non-registered riders will be accepted as the event date approaches.

Also, please support our many sponsors, and give them something back in return for supporting us.

Finally, if you have any questions on the above please do not hesitate to ask.
Geoff Shuttleworth 01524-824409 or 07816-283252 or e mail geoff.shuttleworth121@outlook.com

I have to admit to being totally downhearted following the cancellation at Pontrilas, but the comments I have read over the last couple of weeks have put things into perspective, and made me feel a lot better. That’s what this sport does to you. Down one minute and back up the next. What a great bunch of people you all are, we are one special family with the best riders, supporters, clubs, sponsors, marshals, medics, commentators, photographers and helpers. Please spare a thought for Darren, Richard, Chris and Russ who had to dismantle the track, before making the 200 mile journey home. And Heather and Chloe had to make refunds to the 140 riders who entered, which is no easy task. Well done guys.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at the Moat House, Stoke on Saturday October 20^th for the presentation, for which I will need your menus ASAP. Everyone is welcome, whether you have won or not, and the AGM is at 4pm before the meal where we discuss classes and dates for 2019. Please let us know if you can’t make it and we will put your trophies to one side.

Here is the list of trophy winners this year;

LPE Clubman (Upgrades based on lap times during the season)

1 David Taylor 408 (Upgraded)

2 Timmy Gravener 400 (Upgraded)

3 Luke Freudenau 331

4 Mark Lakeland 278 (Upgraded)

5 Kevin Hall 236

6 Ashley Smith 227

CI Sport Inters

1 Kyle Godbear 364

2 Jem Parker 320

3 Mathew Bennett 271

4 Sean Burrows 232

5 James Cowgill 230

6 Mitch Hughes 205

Over 40 Champion Jem Parker

Four Stroke Champion Sean Burrows

Wulfsport Experts

1 Barry Turnbull 469

2 Michael Smith 413 (4 wins)

3 Ben Margetson 413 (1 win)

4 Jamie Biddulph 304

5 Jon McBride 297

6 Jimmy Margetson 139

Falcon Shocks 250

Jamie Biddulph.

MotoX Concepts Over 50’s

1 Willie Burgess 420

2 Gary Parker 415

3 Tim Sabine 341

4 Andy Holland

5 Alan Bott 268

6 Pete Mathia 232

MotoX Concepts Over 60’s

1 Martin Snape 466

2 Alan Hambridge 401

3 Wayne Le Marquand 335

4 Steve Mitton 254

5 Alan Hardy 227

6 Ray Hodgkins 134

MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock

1 Matt Rudd 452

2 John Davis 438

3 Steve Riley 308

4 Robin Cowgill 303

5 Jason Slater 273

6 Mark Burrows 188

MRH Consultants 125 Evolution

1 Shane Holmes 448

2 Andy Lawton 438

3 Nathan Marsden 394

4 Lee Holland 269

5 Jack May 259

6 Jake Moss 242

Hazport Veterans Over 40’s

1 Richard Chinn 450

2 Danny Blakeley 462

3 Adam Wilkinson 350

4 Grant Hacking 257

5 Darren Dobson 253

6 Thurlow Bone 222

Hazport Veterans Over 50’s

1 Marc Spruce 244

2 Steve Ward 243

3 Dave Clayborn 126

4 Mark Bowden 66

5 Daran Williams 44

6 Neil Smith 36

Woodys Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution Open

1 Barry Turnbull 481

2 Michael Ogden 337

3 Michael Smith 327

4 Rian Warren 292

5 Dan Shepherd 273

6 Conor Smith 249

Woodys Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution Best 250

Rian Warren

Twinshock Hall of Fame

To be announced on the night