Rising star Mitch the bright spark
HUDDERSFIELD Falcons were back in action for the seventh round of their club championship series.
The fearsome Nethermoor Farm was the venue of choice where heavy rain in the days leading up to the event had made the going soft under foot.
Phil Dyson was the man in charge of course design, plotting ten sections in and around the deep Wooded valley, although after recent feedback the severity was scaled back to give a testing but not difficult event.
On the Championship Course rising youth star, Buxton’s Mitch Brightmore, was the star of the show completing the tricky event for just a meagre eight marks lost.
Charlie Smith kept Brightmore under pressure, though, finishing just by a country mile. It’s frustrating as there was nothing I could have done differently to change them, but that’s motorsport.
“The car was strong all weekend, as it has been all season.
“The JAS Motorsport guys have given us the tools to do a great job this season, and it’s been a brilliant two marks further adrift – these two were comfortably in front of third placed Will Tolson.
Brightmore’s heaviest loses came on section five, where he totalled four experience racing with the Dongfeng Honda crew.
“They are a great bunch and have worked really hard all year.
“I’m delighted to have been able to help them claim the Manufacturers title. They really deserve all of the glory.
“It’s been a strong end to a great marks. Ben Robinson rolled back the years to post best performance with three.
Brigthmore bounced back on section eight where he was the only rider to keep his feet firmly on the footrests on all four visits.
Tony Heath headed a trio of Beta riders on the Clubman A course, topping the results sheet with a total of 17.
Stuart Oughton followed four marks further into the red with Andy Turner rounding out the top three.
The Clubman A riders had sections two, four, six, eight and ten to be ridden as hard course options with eight and ten proving to be the hardest. Only Ian Haigh and Richard Beever managed a feet-up ride on section eight, although Heath posted best performance on seven. Turner signed off with best performance on season for me. I’m excited to see what 2020 brings.” The weekend’s results were a fitting end to Lloyd’s superb maiden season competing in the TCR China series with the Dongfeng Honda Racing Team.
The 27-year-old is already discussing further TCR opportunities for the 2020 season. section ten with a total of four. Heath nearly lost the plot with a total of ten.
Willie Wood showed his experience to ace the Clubman B course, topping the results with a winning total of ten.
Dave Morley filled the runner up spot five marks further adrift with course plotter, Phil Dyson, rounding out the top three, clearly starting to get to grips with his TRS machine.
Section six accounted for Wood’s heaviest loses where he suffered a maximum on his final lap. Morley was best here with a total of two.
Results: Championship course: Expert Mitch Brightmore (Gas Gas) 8, Harry Turner (Gas Gas) 21. Inter: Ryan Lawson (Montesa) 49. Novices: Charlie Smith (Beta) 10, Will Tolson (Beta) 15mc,
Ben Robinson (Jotagas) 15. Over 40: Andrew Jackson (Gas Gas) 26. Clubman A: Tony Heath (Beta) 17, Andy Turner (Beta) 26, Ian Blackburn (Sherco) 27. Over 40: Richard Beever (Montesa) 30, Trevor Shingler (Beta) 52, Richard Bryant (Montesa) 51. Over 60: Stewart Oughton (Beta) 21, Roy Palmer (Jotagas) 49.Clubman B: Novices: Luke Sellers (Honda) 29, Andy Johnson (TRS) 89. Over 40’s: Dave Morley (Sherco) 15, Stephen Partlow (Beta) 34, Darrin Stock (TRS) 54 Over 60’s: William Wood (Beta) 10, Phil Dyson (TRS) 27, Martin Greenwood (Beta) 50. Youth Class D: Zachary Sellers (Beta) 108.