Pirelli UK GP45 Championship

Just four weeks after a frosty Championship opener at Brands Hatch the NGRRC paddock was treated to a fantastic race weekend basking in glorious Cadwell Park sunshine for rounds three and four of the Pirelli UK GP45 Championship.

Saturday 17th April, round three
Midday on Saturday arrived and the GP45 Super Singles and Twins lined up for the start of the first qualifying heat of the weekend, three per row on the narrow grid in amoungst the mini-twins. The five Super Singles included Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM and Honda, perfectly demonstrating the range of options available for these nimble racers.
From the off #96 Matthew Andrew on the Wedds & Co and Machine Tool Sales GP45 RMZ Suzuki was on a charge, pushing through the field to 11th. By lap two Andrew was up into 9th on-the-road chasing down the Motobits’ Super Twin Aprilia of Brad Davey. The next Single on the move was novice jacketted Gary Moran enjoying his first outing on the NGRRC GP45 Kawasaki followed by the Trevor Pope Racing KTM of Robbie Robson – both riders claiming several mini-twin scalps over the 10.87 race miles. The GoFasterBits.co.uk Kawasaki of Martin Thrower was relieved not to give away any places following some frustrating friday test day mechanical issues. The final Super Single to complete the line-up was another new face, Tony Bridgefoot, onboard the Bluebell Lakes Honda.
Heading up the Super Twins yet again was Chris Harrison eager to claim another sweep of victories for the Motobits team. By the second lap the blue SXV was in 3rd spot overall which he was to retain until the end, securing a front row start for the final. Teammate Brad Davey enjoyed a strong ride finishing just three places behind.
Matthew Andrew achieved the fastest Super Single lap with a 1:50.02. Chris Harrison’s 1:45.32 was a close match for the best mini-twin lap of 1:45.28. The race unfortunately ended on a red flag on the final lap.
The grid for the Pirelli supported final held three GP45s on the inside spots in as many rows – a determined Chris Harrison took his front row position on the inside ready for the first corner. In his wheel tracks on row two came Brad Davey with the Suzuki Single of Matthew Andrew just one row back.
The race was hectic at the front as Harrison battled with his mini-twin rivals for the overall win, consistently in 2nd over the line but with many changes of position throughout each lap. The pace hotted up considerably from their lunchtime outing, Harrison’s best lap of 1:42.47 was a second faster than the nearest mini-twin challenger. With four changes of leader over the last lap Harrison eclipsed the mini-twins at the line to take a well earned victory on-the-road and in the GP45 class. Brad Davey also enjoyed a strong ride with a 6th overall.
The Singles too enjoyed a challenging race, holding their own amongst the mini-twins. Matthew Andrew was head of the class dropping another second and a half off his laptime and taking the GP45 Super Single win on the Suzuki. Gary Moran complete his first day’s racing on the NGRRC Kawasaki grabbing the 2nd GP45 Super Single spot with Martin Thrower’s GoFasterBits.co.uk Kawasaki taking 3rd.

Sunday 18th April, round four
Sunday’s spring temperatures provided ideal racing conditions. NGRRC’s guest bike now had a new rider with Ant Hart on-board looking to make an early impression. The opening lap of the qualifier was again hectic, the fast sweeping corners allowing the most determined riders to push their way through. At the notoriously tricky Gooseneck, Harrison lost the front and went down putting an abrupt end to his successes of the previous day and handing Brad Davey the opportunity to grab the weekend’s big GP45 points plus the Championship lead in the final.›
In addition to the Pirelli UK GP45 Championship contenders NGRRC were delighted to welcome two additional Super Twin riders Jamie and Luke Thackery on their pair of Aprilias. Both lads elected to keep their own choice of tyres and compete for position not points, also making their presence felt with some great results in the GoFasterBits.co.uk Open 450 class. The impressive 16 year old, Jamie, confidently placed the North Yorks Racing Supporters’ Aprilia on the front row in 3rd overall spot with brother Luke in 7th and 2nd of the Super Twins. These ex-minimoto and Superteen racers have been making superb progress on the Twins.
The Super Singles were going from strength-to-strength, Ant Hart having no trouble adapting to his new ride and claiming a top 10 finish and a best lap of 1:45.84. Matthew Andrew gave chase making several places to take the 2nd GP45 Super Single grid position for the final followed by Thrower in 3rd.
In the final both Thackery’s were pushing hard, Jamie grabbing 2nd spot overall and the first Super Twin home with Luke achieving 5th position on-the-road and 2nd Super Twin, with Brad Davey’s Aprilia in 3rd.
Ant Hart was the man to beat for the Singles getting the better of Matthew Andrew by lap three and bringing home the NGRRC Kawasaki in 8th place on-the-road with a superb best lap of 1:45.16. Andrew just three seconds behind at the flag also lapping in the 1:45s. Martin Thrower and the KTM of Robbie Robson took the final two GP45 Super Single positions. A disappointed Tony Bridgefoot retired from the race with a suspected mechanical issue. Having last tackled Cadwell 25 years ago, Bridgefoot was delighted with his continuing improvement knocking a massive 12 seconds of his laptimes as the weekend progressed.

Pirelli UK GP45 Championship standings:
Super Twins: Brad Davey 85, Chris Harrison 75, Martin Thrower 32
Super Singles: Matthew Andrew 90, Robbie Robson 62, Martin Thrower 32.

Next round:
Pembrey 14-15th May 2011
Trophies awarded for both classes.

For entries please contact Denise:raceoffice@ngroadracing.org

 

Here's some feedback from the riders giving some first hand feedback on the bike and the running costs – which are proving to be extremely favourable. For more information and to register your interest visit www.gp45.co.uk

Matt Andrew
What a start to the season...Brand Hatch followed by Cadwell Park and sunny and warm for both weekends...this is the life!!! I decided to move away from last years 600 Superstock bike due to the expense of tyres, and we bought the Clubs demo bike from last year...we've done a bit of work on front and rear suspension and refreshed the engine over the winter too and now have a really great little race bike...I've never seen so much attention when its sat on its stand outside the garage...it just look right somehow!... We also managed to attract 2 sponsors to help us out this year too...Wedds & Co and Machine Tool Sales Online . COM, they both liked the idea of being involved in a New Generation of racing and have had some fantastic web name checks in the race reports thanks to NG!!
I now lead the Singles Championship by a good margin having had a win and a 2nd in both meetings Championship races...
The bike handles great and goes great too...it just seems to do what you want it to do without trying to throw you at the scenery at every opportunity...Running costs to date have unbelievable!! We've now done 110 laps of Brands Hatch's Indy circuit and have just done another 63 laps of Cadwell on the same tyres...both front and rear tyres are still good enough for another weekend at least! Not only that, but we've only used 22 litres of fuel across the 2 weekends!! Its almost incredible as our lap time at Brands were 55 to 56 second laps and at Cadwell we were lapping in the 1 min 45's, so we werent hanging around either!! Rol on Pembrey!

Gary Moran:
I was offered a ride on Saturday at Cadwell Park on the Clubs Kawasaki GP45 bike...When I arrived at the circuit, I couldn't believe I was going to ride this bike. it looks fantastic! I usulaly ride a Hionda K4 at the CRMC, a good club, but everyone at NG was just so happy and welcoming. Its long way from where I live In Scotland, but what a day! I have a 2nd in the Championship race and havent stopped grinning since...I'm delighted to say that as a result of the experience, I've now a bought a Suzuki RMZ GP45 from Mark Hanna and will be on the Grid at Pembrey and for the rest of season. Thanks to all for their help and support on Saturday!

Ant Hart: (Sunday on the Club bike)
As soon as I turned up to ride the bike I was amazed with how good looking it was. It looked beautiful, like a mini motogp bike.
The whole club had a very friendly atmosphere about it too from the scrutiniser's to the women in the office when signing on. Nothing seemed too much trouble and they were all very welcoming. It was very well run from the calling of the races to lining us up on the grid etc etc. I've never done a qualifying race either but that seemed to work ok and it was good in the championship race to be gridded up in your rightful place and not tagged on to the back of the other grid as is sometimes the case in mixed races.
My only criticism, and nothing can really be done about it overnight, is that there wasn't enough of the bikes in the race. If you could get about 20 GP45's in their own race it would be brilliant both for spectators and for the riders. It's getting people to part with there hard earned cash that's going to be the tricky thing though and it's a shame as once the initial outlay has been made they will be very cheap to run. Tyre wear was virtually nill and they hardly use any fuel either and as it's just a moto x engine it should be cheap to maintain too.
I suppose the only worry would be somebody spending a lot of money on one and clearing off into the distance