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Snetterton 300 Circuit hosts round four as title chase comes to the boil
In total contrast to anything experienced so far this year, the Hyundai Heavy Industries sidecar series in association with the Molson Group steams up the A11 to the ultra-fast Snetterton venue just south of Norwich, for the next episode of this thrilling championship. First lap drama at Oulton Park, allied to a spate of retirements in the solitary race, saw former Champions Roger Lovelock/Aki Alto (BB Bikeshop/Phoenix ECIGS BMW) grab a slender two-point lead over previous leaders Ricky Stevens/Ryan Charlwood (AOS/Be Wiser Kawasaki). Reigning Champions Sean Hegarty/James Neave (Hegarty Racing Suzuki) got their title defence up and running, and bring a thirty-three point haul to home ground in East Anglia, placing them eighth. Hugely disappointing for Steve Kershaw/Rob Wilson (Express Tyres/Blinkbonny Kawasaki) was a DNF at Oulton which failed to move them above fourth spot. They are the filling in the sandwich in the table between two world class crews. The Birchall Brothers (Mitchells of Mansfield Suzuki) and Tim Reeves/Greg Cluze (Team Eaide Motorsport Kawasaki) are fresh from TT action, and now hungry to establish domination in the British Championship. At the time of going to press, both teams had enlisted to compete, so expect to see fireworks from two of the best teams in the business.
Paymundo.com’s Tony Brown/Sam Christie have been quietly getting on with the job in hand, and are very much in touch, ahead of Andy Peach/Charlie Richardson, another of the crews to be involved in the first-lap retirements at Oulton. Peach has shown his speed and determination, and Snetterton will suit his rapid L&W Kawasaki. A very worthy start to the season sees newcomers Martin Kirk/Ben Hughes (LCR Suzuki) in the top twelve, just five points behind fellow newcomers and reigning BEMSEE Champions Matt MacLaurin/Ady Hope (LCR Yamaha). The performance of these two crews has more than justified their step-up to the “Blue Riband” series. Of the five crews who took the ferry to the IOM for the 2015 TT, results could not have been more diverse. Ben and Tom Birchall, riding the Manx-Gas 600 Honda/LCR, were in unbeatable form with a stunning double win, and new lap record to boot. Fellow former winner John Holden and Dan Sayle clocked up sensational double podiums with second and third places, whilst Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance and Sean Hegarty/James Neave were plagued with mechanical issues, failing to finish either race. Finally, a brave TT by Gary Bryan/Jamie Winn saw them ride to sixth and a silver replica in race one, only to retire on lap two of the Wednesday’s race.
All this elation and frustration, now comes to Snetterton, where new battle lines will be drawn up to resume the business of the British F1 Championship. With races on Saturday and Sunday, live Eurosport coverage, and another packed grid, you can expect to see the real fireworks for the points.
Standings – Lovelock/Alto 67, Stevens/Charlwood 65, Birchall/Birchall 50, Kershaw/Wilson 45.5, Reeves/Cluze 45, Brown/Christie 43.5, Peach/Richardson 42.5. Hegarty/Neave 33.
Media Matters – Barry Nutley