BRANDS HATCH KICKS OFF 80TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON NEXT WEEKEND
08 March 2006 - MotorSport Vision

Club bike racing starts a packed year of motorsport action

Next weekend, eighty years after racing began at the Brands Hatch, the Kent circuit will enter one of its biggest seasons ever. From March 11 through until November 18, the track will run racing every single weekend and, with the Superbike World Championship, A1 Grand Prix, World Touring Car Championship and DTM Series as well as two visits from British Touring Cars and British Superbikes, this year it will host more major international meetings than any other circuit in Europe.

The season begins with the British Motor Cycle Racing Club’s season opener on Saturday and Sunday. As ever with club racing, there are a host of local competitors aiming to start their season with victory on home turf. Based closest to the circuit, and one of the favourites, is West Malling’s Matt Goldsmith. The reigning MZ250 champion, Goldsmith will face tough competition from Maidstone’s Andy Bettridge and Beckenham’s Matt Higgins, as well as riders from across the country filling a capacity grid.

The Yamaha Past Masters championship will feature more than 60 competitors, with local interest focusing on Ashford’s James Bucket, Gravesend’s Gary Fry and Gillingham’s Doug Howell. Martyn White, an aircraft technician from Rochester by profession, will be going against the mould by campaigning an LCR Yamaha as opposed to a dominant TZR 250s that make up most of the field.

Rob Elsmere, from Erith, and Steve Mercer, from Maidstone, will go head-to-head in the Open 1300 category. Elsmere is on top form and Mercer may find things tough after switching from a Yamaha R6 to a Suzuki GSXR, but Gillingham’s Mike Baxter is expected to be at the front along with Tonbridge racer Shawn Hildage, Maidstone’s Harvey Pebble and Snodland’s Mark Thornton.

In the GP bikes, Sittingbourne’s Chris Bishop will begin the defence of the MRO GP250 title in Sunday’s opening rounds, after winning last year after a nail biting cliff hanger in the final round at Brands Hatch. There’s also action from the Aprilia 125 Superteen championship and GP125.

For those who enjoy sidecars, Maidstone’s Dudley Tomlinson and Sole Street’s Roger Body were a formidable pairing in 2005 and should be on the leaderboard at the opening meeting. Maidstone couple Bob Greenwood and his wife Lynn also proved to be very effective last season and could well be a surprise package this year.

Tickets for the meeting cost £12 per adult per day, with children aged 12 and under admitted free. Parking and paddock access are also free.

www.motorsportvision.co.uk

More News
  For March 2006
  From MotorSport Vision
  For Racing General
  Biker247.com Home Page