Lockey seals a special trophy success

»

AS the EMRA sidecar championship came to a close, Moreton-in-marsh driver Wayne Lockey lifted a trophy with great personal meaning in the club’s final race of the 2019 season, writes Mike Yiend.

The trophy is named in honour of Lockey’s friend and rival Phil Dongworth, who died in a crash on the Isle of Man 10 years ago.

Usual passenger Mark Sayers wasn’t available so up stepped fellow Moreton resident Joe Newbold, who would find himself on a fairly steep learning curve.

With the FSRA British Championship also on the card, Lockey and Newbold qualified fastest of the EMRA crews.

For once though, Lockey didn’t make his usual fast start.

“We had 4 or 5 outfits in front of us on the first lap” he said. “Joe hadn’t been on the new bike, so I gave him a few laps to get warmed up then went for it and he was absolutely brilliant.

They hit the front and stayed there to take a convincing win from Wiltshire driver Andy King.

Conditions the following day were vchilly and damp and in order to preserve his new wet tyres for the trophy race, Lockey had to go out on slick tyres and led early on until George Holden, came by on full wets.

With Holden not registered with EMRA Lockey took full points after finishing second on the road.

Track conditions were still dismal for the Phil Dongworth Trophy race as Lockey found out with a half spin on the warm-up lap.

They got away at the front and as the tyres came good they established a commanding lead over the other EMRA crews and were delighted to be pulled into pit lane to be presented with garlands and the coveted trophy.

Lockey said: “It’s the first time we’ve raced the new bike in the wet and our lap times were close to some of the best wet weather riders in the country. It was really good fun and Joe’s a natural. We even won a bit of money.”