They really are itching to win!
October 2009 |
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It was the on-form granddad of the grid, Glen Beard, who showed age is not slowing him down by setting the pace for the Stallions in qualifying. KAD Racing were looking for another podium in second with championship hopefuls High Times looking good in third. Even better news for them was the fact that their main rivals Es Car Go and InkJet were way down in 24th and 27th respectively.
Putting down his walking stick and resting his weary back, Glen Beard managed to get in a few words before climbing back into his 115cc bath chair:
“It’s not bad really. I’m quite happy with that. I don’t think we’ll win because we’ve got a track record of not going anywhere in this championship but maybe today will change – who knows? I like this track so we’ll try and make a good start and see what Spiro can do. It’s all in his hands really.”
HB again struggled in qualifying, although this time they were more a victim of anal testing which caused practice to be extended by ten minutes. Chris Heaton also making the point that they had four karts before qualifying even started. Team mate Stuart Brierley gave his account of events:
“We were one of the teams without a kart at the end of practice so we're grateful that JV postponed qualifying. We'd had one kart change but the replacement hadn't been tested and it pulled badly to the left. Nicky confirmed this which left us waiting for a repaired kart to be tested. In all, I did 3 laps of practice. Chris did a little more but wasn't prepared for qualifying and so we started near the back.”
Determined to win the title in style, High Times make a cracking start to jump into the lead on the first lap. InkJet, MAD Racing and Es Car Go were all victims of the back of the grid melee.
The leaders maintained their position for much of the first stint. Vagisil were looking on the pace and keeping well in touch and they were also rapid in the pits and emerged after the first round of stops in the lead. 3Cubed, who have been looking very rapid in the latter part of the season, were also looking on course for some good points and were hoping for a good podium position to consolidate their place in the championship.
By the half way mark, The Joy Riders had got themselves in the mix and were battling with Vagisil, High Times, 3Cubed and KAD for the top 3.
KAD Racing were aiming for a podium to help push them up the championship order a bit after what Al described as a “slightly disappointing” year.
“Nothing really exciting is happening at the moment. We’re doing alright at the moment and Karl is putting some good times in now so hopefully we will be there or there abouts at the end. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Further back, Briatore Motorsport’s Sami Seppala was given a black flag and Loose Heads were once again breaking karts as the flamboyant James Akehurst explained during the race:
“The first kart we had was just pulling left. We got it tested and it was in tolerance but was pretty much un-drivable. We swapped it in the end and had no bottom end in the replacement but then at the end of my first stint it just started cutting out so we had to change the kart again. The third kart is great and I’m having fun but we’re nine laps down now so we can’t really do much from there.”
The other championship hopefuls, Es Car Go, were having a miserable day. Another team complaining bitterly about their equipment, they failed to make any impression during the race and ended up changing their kart. Their championship chances are now over.
Once all the pit stops had played out, Vagisil were looking comfortable up front with The Joy Riders 2 laps behind in second. 3Cubed had been looking good for a podium finish but a number of spins from both Carl Watt and John Emerson cost them dearly – much to the chagrin of the obviously irate Alex Withington:
“I drove well but both my team mates dropped it - end of. We should have had a trophy here and given the results elsewhere this was our opportunity to close the gap to High Times and set up a real shot for the title. We failed to take the opportunity and I'm still gutted”
High Times were third and comfortably on course for the title but with only 5 laps to go their throttle cable snapped dropping them way down the order. With the chequered flag almost in site, it was a bitter pill to swallow for the team. KAD Racing gladly took the place from them for their second podium in a row. Consolation for High Times was that their main rivals both finished behind them having had awful days.
Paul Lee Davis was happy with the team’s win in only their third race.
“I’m very pleased with it. To be honest I think I’m the weak link here and I think it is more down to Matt and Mike but I managed to keep it on the road. It was a great day. Brilliant. Our first kart was no good so we brought it in and put it at the back of the queue. We only had ten minutes practice and Mike didn’t have any practice before doing his qualifying and I’ve never driven this circuit on this layout so it was a pretty good day.”
He also confirmed rumours that Harry Landy may be joining the team next year. Look out for them to be serious contenders for the championship in 2010.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a race report without getting some quotes from High Times… so anyway, with the championship still open we move on to Buckmore Park in two weeks with the title still up for grabs.
