Ledbury MCC Evening Grasstrack, June 9 2012
Report: Ben Falconer
Pictures: Ron Hinsley/www.grasstrackimages.co.uk
RIDERS who mastered a tight and testing track were rewarded at Ledbury MCC's action-packed Saturday evening grasstrack meeting.
Josh Dingle, Martin Williams, and James Shanes ruled the 500cc, 350cc, and 250cc classes respectively and all three displayed poise and bravery to make it round tricky turns two and three ahead of the rest at Hazle Meadow.
Dingle reigned supreme in the premier class, which was hit by a series of crashes in the 500cc class's first heat.
Charley Powell, Charlie Saunders and Phil Ashcroft's evening was ended in turn three by a major collision, then Ben Millichap's fall at the same corner forced another re-run.
But it took another re-run to complete that heat, after Lyndsey Vaughan collided with Scott Creswell's stricken machine on the start straight. Vaughan was under full acceleration and the collision launched him at least 30 yards down the track.
As Aston Magna's Tim Nobes a non starter and several riders now out of the meeting, Cornishman Josh Dingle was the man to beat, with Rob Finlow and Adam Filmer at the front of the chasing pack.
Ledbury's Martin Williams had it all his own way in the 350cc class, so too the Herefordshire Championship race, with a series of composed performances.
Perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser of the evening was youngster James Shanes. The way the Dorchester rider backed his 250cc machine in to the corners from some distance on the straights in fine style marked him out as a star of the future. The 250cc class was a one horse race, and he was never headed.
Likewise Peter Lloyd and Daz Whetstone in the 1000cc sidecars. They were well ahead of a chasing pack who put on a great spectacle with close and sporting encounters.
Cirencester's Dave Hammond won through in the pre-75 500cc class, thanks to a measured set of performances. Wayne Garrett did the same in the class for upright engine machines.
The Centre wishes all riders who suffered injuries speedy recoveries, and recognises the sterling efforts of Ledbury club members and medical staff.
Footnote: Many Western Centre riders from other disciplines joined the regular grasstrack fraternity behind the ropes, and all went away impressed with the organisation of the event, and the commitment, bravery and skill of the riders, who put on a great show.