Toughsheet National Twinshock Championship

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

 

Our AGM is on Saturday October 20^th at the Moat House Hotel Stoke, where we will be drawing up a provisional calendar of events, and looking to see if we can tinker with the classes again. We are hoping to have either a six or seven round series in 2019, which is becoming difficult, as more and more series and events come on to the calendar.

Registration forms for the 2019 season will be available from the website or at the Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh, which runs from November 1^st to November 4^th.

Due to the popularity of the Vets and Evo 125 classes, we may have to limit the number of registrations to the first 50 riders, as they were over subscribed at the first four rounds in 2018.

If approved at the AGM, we may also have a Super Evo class, which would run with the Evolution Open class on a split start basis, with the first 20 riders to register.

Toughsheet National Twinshock Championships Round 6

Cumbria Twinshock Club

Hawkstone Park Festival of Legends

Report Geoff Shuttleworth

Pictures Andrew Fairclough Photography

If you are into your nostalgia, the place to be last weekend was the iconic Hawkstone Park,

where the Cumbria Twinshock Club pulled off the third edition of their Festival of Legends.

And there was an interesting comment on social media that asked, in which other sport could you

be stood chatting with former World or British Champions, who are without the big egos that

are the norm nowadays. Well this was the case over the weekend as riders and spectators mingled

with 1981 250 World Champion Neil Hudson, and British Champions Freddie Mayes, Alan

Clough, Roger Harvey, Pete Mathia, Perry Leask and Neil Prince. Invited guests arrived on the

Sunday and were greeted by Jack Burnicle, in the Putoline VIP hospitality unit provided by Rob

Wainwright. The superb interval interviews with Jack drew a rather large audience, who were

kept entertained by stories of bygone days, with Cloughy and Freddie discussing their 250 British

Championship wins in the 60’s, and how the forms of transport to the events have changed

dramatically, and especially how they had to make ends meet back in the day.

Neil Hudson spoke of his 1981 World title, and his victory at Hawkstone in the 250 GP,

and his reply to Jack, when asked where he kept all his trophies was, ‘They are in my garage,

gathering dust, although the USA GP one is a bit special so that is kept indoors’.

Back in the 70’s and 80’s, Jack was covering all the GP’s for TMX, so had to get there

any way he could, so had to thumb lifts with a lot of the riders, and it was great to hear some of

the stories of his exploits with Andy Ainsworth, Harvey and Mathia. And it was good to see one

of the original TMX staffers, Dave Dewhurst who was over visiting family, and made the

pilgrimage to the Festival, saying ‘What a treat to see all these old faces from the past. A truly

special event’. And among the fifteen former AMCA and IMBA Champions, was Robert

Bentham, who said ‘How good is this, I have met people I haven’t seen for thirty years.’

Former Leask Husky rider Alan Clarke told of the days he worked on Saturday night down the

mines, before travelling to an event, and paid tribute to the professionalism of Jacks

commentaries and knowledge of all the disciplines of the sport he covers. Alan said ‘It is still

the best sport in the World, and I absolutely love coming to these events, and long may it

continue’. Perry Leask spoke of his six British Four Stroke titles and growing up knowing all the

riders who rode for his father, and Dave Tomasik told of his love for the KTM bikes that almost

won him the British Championship in 1980, just losing out to Geoff Mayes. Chris Ginn travelled

up with Freddie, and spoke about his days on Suzuki and CZ, and his friendship with Dave

Bickers. Finally, Jack presented Dick Clayton and Terry ‘Sylvia’ Silvester, with a pair of prints of

them taken back in the 60’s. Andy and Ken Nurden spoke of the days the South West was the hot

spot for four stroke racing doing the Haynes series.

If that wasn’t enough, following the interviews, the mini parade laps got a bit tasty,

with Robert Bentham setting the fastest laps in a battle with Craig Hacking.

Race Report

The Festival of Legends at Hawkstone Park, once again had two top days of Toughsheet and

West Mids Evo racing, supported by KAIS Suspension, with the track in superb condition, and

well prepped by the Salop Club. The famous hill was used, which was a bonus for the 260 riders

who made the pilgrimage to the Shropshire circuit, for the Cumbria Twinshock event. There were

three blocks of racing on Saturday, and two on Sunday, so there was plenty of racing to keep the

large crowd entertained.

Gary Parker dominated the Moto X Concepts Over 50 Twinshock class, but a broken carb

circlip prevented him taking all five victories, and the subsequent DNF, handed the overall

victory to Irelands Willie Burgess, who was presented with the Frank Mercer Memorial Trophy.

Pete Mathia, in his 50^th year of competition. on his home turf rode both days, taking a great third

overall, just in front of Alan Bott and Tim Sabine.

Martin Snape won the Over 60 class with four wins, with his main rival Wayne Le Marquand

absent due to injury. Alan Hambridge won one race, which helped him to the runner up spot from

Davie Robb and Steve Mitton. And the Twinshock founder Alan Hardy had three thirds on the

Saturday.

As usual some of the best racing was reserved for the MRH Consultants 125 Evolution class,

with the top six riders all disputing the lead throughout the five races. Andy Lawton eventually

came out on top by finishing in the top three each time, and a first race win. Shane Holmes

fought his way to the front in every race, winning four out of five, but a DNF in race one meant

he had to settle for second. Third was Nathan Marsden, despite a really nasty high side over the

table top before the Hawk bridge. Jack May took fourth from David Blackburn.

Barry Turnbull was once again in a class of his own in the Wulfsport Experts, as he took four

race wins, with just a machine problem, in race four preventing the clean sweep. Ben Margetson

tried all he could to keep on Barry’s tail, but had to settle for second. Michael Smith took third,

helped by winning race four. Next was Jamie Biddulph on his 250 Maico, from Jon McBride.

Matt Rudd was locked in combat with John Davis in every MRH 125 Twinshock race, but took

two race wins which gave him the overall. Jason Slater was second, just beating Davis, who had

three wins and a DNF in third.

Rick Du Feu showed he has lost none of his class and speed in the Hazport Vets races, and took

all five victories. Danny Blakeley rode very consistently in second, with Richard Chinn taking

third. Adam Wilkinson took fourth from a battered and bruised Simon Bonser.

There were some frantic battles at the front of the LPE Clubman class, as the lead changed hands

almost every lap of every race. But it was Mark Lakeland who eventually dominated, with five

race wins. Series leader David Taylor took second from his main rival Timmy Gravener. Riley

Copeland had his best result of the season in fourth in front of Luke Freudenau.

David Hopkins took his Husky to four wins and the overall victory in the CI Sport Inters class.

Chris Lambourne won race one and that helped him to second, with James Cowgill in third.

An extra modern class was added to the programme, and Ryan Morris enjoyed his weekend to

take the top step with three wins from four, Robert Johnson took second and Peter Hamblett was

third.

The speed of the Woodys Vintage Honda Evolution class was amazing as Howard Wainwright

absolutely blitzed the opposition in every race, but a DNF in race two, gifted the overall to a

delighted Barry Turnbull. Michael Ogden took race two which helped him to third overall from

Michael Samith and Rian Warren.

The Super Evos was well supported, with some class riders, and Micky Eccles on the John

Newsome bike was another who nailed every race to take the win. James Lassu enjoyed the

experience as well taking second.

The final class was the West Midlands Pre-85 Evo classes, and with them all racing together,

it made for really close racing. James Hudson won the 125 class from Zac Hackett. Matt

Hitchman got the better of Mitch Griffin in the four strokes, Chris Jones won the 250 class, and

Jonathan Tapp took the 500’s.

The final round will be hosted by Cumbria Twinshock at Howton Court, Pontrilas over the weekend of September 22-23.

Frank Mercer Memorial Trophy – Willie Burgess

Martindales Rider of the Meeting – David Hopkins

MotoX Concepts Over 50’s

1 Willie Burgess, 2 Gary Parker, 3 Pete Mathia, 4 Alan Bott, 5 Tim Sabine, 6 Craig Holmes.

MotoX Concepts Over 60’s

1 Martin Snape, 2 Alan Hambridge, 3 Davie Robb, 4 Steve Mitton, 5 Andrew Savage,

6 Martin Savage.

MRH Consultants 125 Evolution

1 Andy Lawton, 2 Shane Holmes, 3 Nathan Marsden, 4 Jack May, 5 David Blackburn,

6 Alec Everitt.

Wulfsport Experts

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Ben Margetson, 3 Michael Smith, 4 Jamie Biddulph (Best Falcon Shocks 250), 5 Jon McBride.

MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock

1 Matt Rudd, 2 Jason Slater, 3 John Davis, 4 Robin Cowgill, 5 Steve Riley, 6 Jason Herring.

Hazport Veterans Over 40’s

1 Rick Du Feu, 2 Danny Blakeley, 3 Richard Chinn, 4 Adam Wilkinson, 5 Simon Bonser,

6 Gran Hacking.

Hazport Veterans Over 50’s

1 Steve Ward, 2 Nev King, 3 Rob Lewis, 4 Adrian Lewis, 5 Mark Spruce, 6 Rob Glynn.

CI Sport Inters

1 David Hopkins, 2 Chris Lambourne, 3 Jsames Cowgill, 4 Brian Littler, 5 Kyle Godbear,

6 Steve Morgan.

LPE Clubman

1 Mark Lakeland, 2 David Taylor, 3 Timmy Gravener, 4 Riley Copeland, 5 Luke Freudenau,

6 Mark Gardner.

Modern Class

1 Ryan Morris, 2 Robert Johnson, 3 Peter Hamblett, 4 Bradley Harrison, 5 Jimmy Margetson, 6 Craig Reynolds.

Woody Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Howard Wainwright, 3 Michael Ogden, 4 Michael Smith, 5 Rian Warren, 6 Dan Shepherd.

Super Evos

1 Mickey Eccles, 2 James Lassu, 3 Darryl Hall, 4 Taylor Baton, 5 Derek Reed, 6 Glen Whitlock.

West Mids Evos 125

1 James Hudson, 2 Zac Hackett, 3 Dean Eggleton, 4 James Shand.

West Mids Evos 250

1 Chris Jones, 2 Jacob Griffiths, 3 Jim Shand, 4 Liam Hunt, 5 Jonathan Smith, 6 Nick Peyton.

West Mids Evos 500

1 Jonathan Tapp, 2 Scott Reed, 3 Nathan Smith, 4 Louis Hamer, 5 Ryan Griffiths.

West Mids Evos Four Stroke

1 Matt Hitchman, 2 Mitch Griffin, 3 Neil Williams.

Can you believe it?

We are already getting ready for the awards evening at the end of the year! Where does time go?

Visit our Entry Forms page, and you will see in the Registration section a download of the event.

Have a good read through and send it to Big Geoff when you are ready.

Ta,

 

Toughsheet National Twinshock Championships Round 5

Cumbria Twinshock Club

The Grange, Tern Hill

Report Geoff Shuttleworth

Pictures Scorch Images Steve Bagladi

Round five of the Toughsheet National Twinshock Championships had a superb July turnout of 180 riders at the Grange, Tern Hill, hosted by the Cumbria Twinshock Club. It turned out to be a great move to hire the Telford MXC track, which had a week of perfect preparation by both clubs, ready for the older bikes. The track had a bit of everything, and the loamy Shropshire soil meant there were lots of lines to choose from on the 1.2 miles circuit. The scorching heat really tested the riders, marshals and medics to the limit, but the 21 race programme ran like the proverbial Swiss clock, despite a couple of red flags for injured riders. The whole paddock came together before practice for a minutes applause, in memory of Stuart Miller, which was immaculately observed, for one of the gentleman of the sport, and a rider who had ridden the championships from its inception back in the early nineties.

For this round the MRH Consultants 125 Evo class were first to the line, and with the track dried out after practice Andy Lawton led the first race from start to finish. Championship leader Shane Holmes was buried in fourth, and couldn’t find a way past fast starting Alec Everitt and Nathan Marsden. But in races two and three it was Holmes who led from the front to take both wins and the overall victory. Lawton took second with a 1-2-3 card, Marsden was third, and Matt Williamson fourth, just in front of Aiden Wharton.

In the Wulfsport Experts it was a straight battle between reigning champion Barry Turnbull and former champion Alex Rach. Turnbull had an early scare as he broke a finger in the first block, but fought through the pain to take three wins, each time from Rach in second. Jimmy Margetson was the best of the rest taking third by three points from brother Ben Margetson. Jordan Davies in his first outing at the championships took fifth, in front of Michael Smith and Craig Reynolds.

There were 15 riders in the MRH 125 Twinshock class, and again it was a real tight affair between Matt Rudd and John Davis for supremacy. Matt Rudd won the first two from Davis, and managed to follow him home in the third race to take the overall win, but Davis just holds on to the lead of the championship by a slender five points. Third place went to a delighted Phil Oxley, who had been out for a year with injury. Fourth and fifth went to Mark Burrows and Jason Herring after some great battles.

The CI Sport Inters class threw up a few surprises, and it was Chris Anderton, who was the man on a mission, and he took two wins and a third to take the honours as well as the deserved Martindales Rider of the Meeting award. Kyle Godbear tried his best with a win in the second race, but couldn’t keep up with the pace of Anderton, and had to settle for second. Championship leader Jem Parker led all three races early on, but recent injuries meant he had to succumb once the pain got to much, but still managed third overall, in front of James Cowgill and Chris Lambourne.

A full line up of Hazport Vets took to the line next and it was wild card rider Simon Bonser who reigned supreme with three classy wins. His nearest challenger was Richard Chinn on his TM, and he went 2-2-4 for second overall. Danny Blakeley was another rider trying to overcome recent injuries, and did well to take third. Former British Championship rider Andy Watkins took fourth overall, and was the best Over 50 rider, and fifth was Grant Hacking, who just pipped Richard Sharp by virtue of best last race result. Steve Ward was second best Over 50 rider gaining a few points on Mark Spruce who was third.

David Taylor had a great day in the LPE Clubman class, taking the overall win with a second and two victories. He now takes over the lead of the championship, leap frogging Timmy Gravener, who finished second on the day. Luke Freudenau had his best result of the year in third overall, Mark Gardner took fourth, Ashley Smith took fifth, and first race winner Mark Lakeland was sixth.

Jamie Dobson was on fire in the Woodys Vintage Honda Evolution class, and stormed away to a first race win. But whilst disputing the lead of race two, he had a big off, which sadly ended his day. In the restarted second leg, there was a race long battle between Michael Ogden and Barry Turnbull, and it was Ogden who held it together for the win. But in race three Turnbull took the win, which gave him the overall from Ogden who had a bad racer one result. Third went to Rian Warren, who used his local tracks knowledge to have his best result of the year. Another rider who had his best result was Dan Shepherd in fourth, beating one of the favourites Danny Blakeley into fifth.

In the Super Evos it was Bradley Watling who came away with the silverware, taking three out of three for the win. Luke Storey was in second with Steve Thornton third.

The final class to the line was the MotoX Concepts Over 50’s and 60’s twinshock boys. And there is no stopping Willie Burgess this year, wherever he goes, and he reeled off three fantastic wins. Gary Parker had to do it the hard way to take second, as he fought through the field in each race. Surprise of the day was a fast starting John Iddon, who was up at the sharp end in each race, and eventually took third overall. Alan Bott took fourth, in front of Tim Sabine and Andy Holland.

The Over 60’s once again was a shootout between Wayne Le Marquand and Martin Snape, but it was the man from Jersey who took control with all three wins, from Snape in second. Martin now holds a slender lead of nine points in the series. Alan Hambridge took third from Graham Challis and Steve Mitton.

The next round is the Cumbria Twinshock Festival of Legends at Hawkstone Park over the weekend of September 1-2.

Martindales Rider of the Meeting – Chris Anderton.

MRH Consultants 125 Evolution

1 Shane Holmes, 2 Andy Lawton, 3 Nathan Marsden, 4 Matthew Williamson, 5 Aiden Wharton, 6 Jack May.

Wulfsport Experts

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Alex Rach, 3 Jimmy Margetson, 4 Ben Margetson, 5 Jordan Davies,

6 Michael Smith. Jamie Biddulph (Best Falcon Shocks 250).

MRH Consultants 125 Twinshock

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

CI Sport Inters

1 Chris Anderton, 2 Kyle Godbear, 3 Jem Parker, 4 James Cowgill, 5 Chris Lambourne,

6 Matt Bennett.

Hazport Veterans Over 40’s

1 Simon Bonser, 2 Richard Chinn, 3 Danny Blakeley, 4 Andy Watkins, 5 Grant Hacking,

6 Richard Sharp.

Hazport Veterans Over 50’s

1 Andy Watkins, 2 Steve Ward, 3 Mark Spruce, 4 Dave Clayborn, 5 Mark Bowden, 6 Neil Smith.

LPE Clubman

1 David Taylor, 2 Timmy Gravener, 3 Luke Freudenau, 4 Mark Gardner, 5 Mark Lakeland,

6 Ashley Smith.

Woody Vintage Off Road Honda Evolution

1 Barry Turnbull, 2 Michael Ogden, 3 Rian Warren, 4 Dan Shepherd, 5 Danny Blakeley,

6 Conor Smith.

Super Evos

1 Bradley Watling, 2 Luke Storey, 3 Steve Thornton, 4 Lee Brown, 5 Tom Holland, 6 Jake Chappell.

MotoX Concepts Over 50’s

1 Willie Burgess, 2 Gary Parker, 3 John Iddon, 4 Alan Bott, 5 Tim Sabine, 6 Andy Holland.

MotoX Concepts Over 60’s

1 Wayne Le Marquand, 2 Martin Snape, 3 Alan Hambridge, 4 Graham Challis, 5 Steve Mitton, 6 Ray Hodgkins.