Cadwell Park: The MZ 25th Anniversary Meeting - 23 / 24 June 2012

Premier / Stock 1000s...Top Points Haul For Fowler

Dan Fowler took two seconds and a first overall in the Bemsee Premier and Stock 1000s at Cadwell, keeping him at the top of the Stock 1000 leader board. Fowler, on his MG Sear Plant Hire Honda Fireblade topped the time sheets in qualifying by nearly one and a half seconds, with Premier 1000 series leader Michael Neeves second on the grid, and Jon Waghorn making up the three-wide front row. In Saturday’s race Fowler couldn’t convert his pole into a win, despite getting away well at the front with BMW mounted Michael Neeves. The pair diced throughout, and Fowler led the way at the half way stage, before Neeves forced his way past and made it stick. And while this was going on, Michael O’Brien, who qualified down in eighth on the Chord-Moon BMW S1000RR, made his way through the pack and slotted into third. He was calm and calculated, and sat third for the majority of the race, before taking Fowler on the penultimate lap. He then took Neeves on the last lap, on his way to setting the fastest lap of the race. He eventually took the win by nearly two seconds. He was the leading Stock 1000, with Fowler, who managed to retake Neeves, second and second Stock 1000. Neeves in third was the leading Premier 1000. Jon Waghorn completed the Stock 1000 podium in fourth, 17 seconds back of the leading group.

Heavy rain Saturday night and Sunday morning delayed the start of proceedings for the second days racing, and even though the rain eventually subsided, the first race of the day was still a wet affair. In Race One on Sunday, Neeves got away at the front, but was soon passed by Peter Hay on his Go Racing Stock Kawasaki ZX-10R. Seeing Hay escaping, Fowler soon passed Neeves too, and set about sticking with Hay. However, he was still denied his first win of the weekend, with Hay just crossing the line, six tenths ahead of Fowler. The rain threw up a few surprises too, with Chaz Beale riding superbly for third place, after passing Michael Neeves, who struggled with set up, in the closing stages. He was third Stock 1000 rider. In the closing stages, Neeves dropped down the order, eventually finishing eighth. He was passed, too, by brother and teammate Ben Neeves, who finished in sixth and leading Premier 1000. Fowler’s elusive win came in the final race of the weekend, as he stormed to victory, crossing the line 21 seconds ahead of the rest of the pack. Fighting for the last podium places were four riders, with Waghorn taking second, just ahead of James Edwards. Hay and Beale had to settle for fourth and fifth. Ben Neeves was the leading Premier 1000, after his brother, Michael, crashed out of second place on lap five, after banging his engine casing on the kerb at the hairpin.

In the Rookie 1000s, Michael Honey took full house of wins, with Mark Fincham taking all four seconds. Four riders shared the bottom step of the podium over the weekend, with Barry Davison and Alan Wood taking a third each on Saturday, and Richard Payne and Danny Campion taking one each on Sunday.

DFDS Seaways Yamaha Past Masters....Hoare Takes Maiden Win

Tony Hoare took his maiden win the DFDS Seaways Yamaha Past Masters series, just one race after taking his first ever podium. After a year away from the class in 2011, Hoare has put the time and effort in over the winter, and despite a difficult start to this season, it all came together at Cadwell Park. The weekend didn’t start necessarily according to plan for Hoare, as he only managed to qualify on the third row, down in seventh. Jesse Jones took pole, ahead Graham Higlett and twice former champion Pat Herron. In race one the battle for the lead was a four way dice, with Hoare and Steven King joining Higlett and Herron. After the throttle jammed open on Jesse Jones’ Keith Roissetter TZR250 on the sighting lap, he didn’t make the start. A thrilling fight for the win ensued, and it was Higlett who took the win from Herron, Hoare and King, the four of them split by half a second. In race two and the same four took off at the front, with positions being swapped readily. Come the closing stages and Hoare made second his own, slotting in behind leader King. The two slowly began to gap Higlett and Herron, and starting the last lap it was a two-way scrap for the win. Hoare found his way past and pulled the pin, and on the lap of his life, he dropped King, set the fastest lap of the race, and took his first ever win by one and a half seconds. King took second, and Higlett bettered Herron for third.

On Sunday, with racing delayed due to rain, it looked like the first race at least would be a wet affair, but the sun came out and dried the track. Hoare finished off the podium for the first time over the weekend, but was in with a shout of the win until the final corner, and as the same four rounded barn they were nailed together. They fanned out to drag to the line, with less than two tenths covering them. Less than a second covered the top five. Higlett took his second win from Herron. King was third and Hoare fourth. Andy Bown was fifth. Hoare was back on the podium in the final race of the weekend, finishing second on count back after the red flag came out when Richard Sawyer crashed at the Gooseneck. The win was awarded to Higlett with Herron on the bottom step of the podium. King was fourth.

BMZRC 250 MZs...Jubilee Celebrations For The MZs and Stimpson

The British MZ Racing Club celebrated 25 years of existence at Cadwell, and had six races over the weekend, the usual four championship races, plus two Silver Jubilee races. A packed grid of around 38 riders entered, and on Saturday, Dean Stimpson took both wins in the championship races, and also stole the show in the first Jubilee race. His two championship wins came ahead of former champion Andy Saunders and Darren West. His first Jubilee win came ahead of West and Andrew Wales.

On Sunday, Stimpson took both championship wins again, and the second Jubilee race, making it a very good weekend indeed. His championship wins on Sunday came ahead of Saunders and Lee Wainwright, and ahead of another former champion Chris Rogers, with Wainwright again third.

His second Jubilee win came ahead of Saunders and Rogers.

EDI Asia Formula 400s...Welsh Keeps Championship Hopes Alive But Martin Doubles Up

Richie Welsh qualified on pole and took two wins in Lincolnshire to keep his championship bid alive, aided by Colin Martin’s DNF in the opener. Welsh put his Yamaha FZR400 on pole, ahead of Martin and James Runham, and took the win in race one by six seconds, ahead of Kawasaki mounted Runham and Chris Camps. Martin dropped out on lap six. Runham and Camps were second and third again in race two, this time with Martin on the top step of the podium. Welsh made a good enough start, but he dropped down the order as the race wore on, and when it was red flagged, he was awarded seventh. Martin took his second win of the weekend on Sunday morning, ahead of the TZR250 of Andy Bown, who put on a fantastic display to get himself on the podium, and Camps. Welsh was just off the podium in fourth. But Welsh returned to form in the final outing, and took his second win of the weekend, just over two seconds ahead of Martin in second. Camps bettered Runham for the final podium spot, just five hundredths of a second between them.

Premier / Stock 600s...Cooper Takes Three From Four

After qualifying on pole, Anthony Cooper took three wins from four races in the Premier 600s on his Yamaha R6. Alongside the Premier 600 rider on the front row was Clubman Jed Angles on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, and the Stock Triumph 675 of Will Leaning. And Cooper took his first win of the weekend in race one, passing Jed Angles early on, after he took the lead as the lights went out. Angles took second ahead of Helyer. Rookie 600 series leader Ben Gallaway was the first orange bib across the line. In race two Cooper took his second win by three seconds, ahead of Stock 600 riders George Hogton-Rusling and reigning Formula 400 champion Steve Murphy. Angles dropped out on lap three, and Helyer failed to make the start. Gallaway was again leading Rookie.

Sunday saw the rain arrive early in the morning, but luckily the track was near enough dry as the 600s made their way out. Cooper failed to make the start, but it was a hard fought battle at the front between Hogton-Rusling and Dan Helyer, the two Stock riders going at it hammer and tongs. They were joined at the front by Dan Fuller and Matt Ogden, who finished third and fourth. Ben Gallaway was the leading Rookie in seventh, one place behind leading Clubman Angles. The leading Premier bike was Darren Jones in ninth. Cooper took his third win of the weekend in the final race and was leading Premier 600. Joining him on the podium were Stock runners Helyer and Hogton-Rusling, the three of them just over half a second apart. Angles was the leading Clubman in fifth and Stuart Carter was the leading Rookie. Gallaway went missing on lap two, and with Ben Doolan second Rookie for the fourth race in a row, it keeps it tight at the top of the Rookie 600 Championship standings.

Rapid Solicitors National Junior Cup...Maxfield Takes Three Wins And A Second In NJC

Aaron Maxfield qualified on pole in the Rapid Solicitors National Junior Cup, nearly three seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Mason Law. Max Alexander made up the front row. Maxfield then stormed to victory in race one, nearly 10 seconds ahead of Law. Callum Grigor rode to an excellent third, after Alexander dropped out. Delays in the schedule saw the second race carried over to Sunday, and in the wet conditions, Stefan Hill came to the fore to take his first win of the weekend, two tenths ahead of Maxfield. Law was third. Maxfield took his second win in race three, two tenths of a second ahead of Law, after the duo left the rest of the field in their wake. Hill rode to a lonely third for his second podium of the weekend.

The same three adorned the podium in the last race of the weekend, in the same order, keeping it tight at the top of the championship standings between Law and Maxfield.

BMCRC Michelin Minitwins...King Takes Minitwin Double

Charlie King took two wins and a second in the Michelin Minitwins to help cement himself as a regular front-runner, after qualifying fourth. On Saturday, King took the win in race one, ahead of Jones and reigning champion Dan Couzens, before Ashley Buxton put in a sterling ride to take victory in race two, ahead of King and Jones.

On Sunday morning, King took his second win from Buxton in second, with former Superteen rider Jordan Gilbert riding superbly for third. In the final race Couzens took his only win of the weekend, ahead of Gilbert and Jones. King unfortunately went missing from proceedings.

All Comers Open...Double For Waghorn

Jon Waghorn took two wins, with Helyer taking the other, in the three races in the All Comers Open Championship races. The fourth race will be held over to Snetterton for round six.