CRMC Round One: Snetterton
The CRMC’S 2017 opening day, mid-march, saw all classes limited to one race following weather and oil issues but the Sunday at Snetterton saw dry, windy conditions and a full programme of races that produced some enthralling action. Russell Lee and Graham
Graham Lawlor and Russ Lee were in attendance at the opening CRMC event in the flatlands of Norfolk. Here's their report on the event.
1: Joe Barton has been added to the line-up of Lee Hodge and Mark Cronshaw at Minnovation Racing, where he will help to develop the team’s 7R based 350 model and also ride one of their G50 Matchlesses (as shown here).
2: Squadron Leader Symon Woodward set a fine example for the large contingent of RAFMSA racers with a three-timer in the air-cooled 250 class on his RD250. The 49-year-old engineering officer from RAF Syerston did, however, slightly blot his copybook with a heavy fall from his RD400 in the P/C 500 class.
3: Tom Norton was one of the stars of the meeting with his spectacular riding on the Kawasaki 1170 P/C Superbike.
4: A brief moment of alarm for David Holden/ Krishna Hanns (Yamaha 750) but fortunately this was one of those occasions when gravity turned out to be their friend. They went on to finish all three races.
5: Sunday saw a good entry of Classic 50s, with Sam Grief (Kreidler) comfortably taking the honours in both races from Paul Whiting (Kawasaki) and Kevin Burton (UFO Minarelli). Grief holds the John Siddons Trophy, donated and presented by Bill Spencer (right) in memory of his recently deceased friend and well known 50cc enthusiast. 4 2 3
6: Using his spare Honda XL engine after a Saturday blow-up, Brian Hopwood put in a pair of storming rides to take the aircooled 500 honours in both of Sunday’s rounds.
7: After two years of poor health everyone was delighted to see the return of John Hynes on his Ducati Mk.3. Incredibly, he won all three 250 European races, thereby finding himself the very popular winner of the rider of the meeting award.
8: As usual, Ian Ashley/roy Cunningham were speed and smoothness personified on their immaculate Period 2 BMW 750.
9: New father, Olie Linsdell, was first time out on this Rob North T150 and was quickly up to speed, winning both Sunday’s Formula 750 races.
10: Not recommended for viewers of a nervous disposition! The P/C Open 125cc class carried on where it left off last season with three outrageously close races. Here Jordan Greenshields (5) attempts to hold off kid brother Aiden (24) and 2016 champion, Steph Waddelow (34), all riding RS Hondas.
11: This is the only view riders got of Grant Goodings (FZ600 Yamaha) as he led all three Junior Production races from flag to flag.
1: Another season, another Alan Oversby masterclass. The quiet man from Carnforth made it look so easy as he saw off a high quality field in the 350 Twins and Europeans on the Davies Motorsport Honda.
2: The opening round of the 2017 Minnovation/acu Classic 500 was a cracker, with defending champion Mike Cooper (24, Craven Manx) and young pretender Richard Molnar (1, Molnar Manx) engaging in a no-holds-barred ten-lap battle. Cooper got it by just 0.029 seconds and this championship already looks as if it will go to the wire.
3: TTRA President Alex George doesn’t live far from Snetterton and he was on the spot to hand out the Minnovation/ ACU Classic 500 prizes. Left to right: Rich Molnar (Second place, Molnar Manx); winner Mike Cooper (Craven Manx) and, right, third place man, Alan Oversby (Davies Motorsport Honda).
4: George Hogton-rusling (Suzuki 1100) recorded a blistering lap of 92.553mph en route to an inspired victory in the Hercberg International Classic Race of Aces, which is the first round of the CRMC King of the Classic Series. Tom Norton (left, Kawasaki 1170) and Mike Cooper (right, Craven TZ350) were left to scrap it out for the minor podium places. Alex George joins GHR on the top step of the podium to present the cup and cash.
5: Early stages of the Hercberg International Classic Race of Aces with Kevin Wholey (31, TZ350) leading the charge.