Sand Race Report May 7th 2011

Racing returned to a more traditional start month for the first meeting of this season & though the beach was in perfect condition, flat, dry & no stones the weather was not very spring like with heavy showers once racing got under way. With this later start to the season it was hoped that the number of competitors would increase & with 19 riders spread across 3 classes this was not a bad bike turnout, but the cars were very disappointing with only 8 starters with 2 of these dropping out after their practice runs.

The couple of cadets entered were given their own small track to race on & even though they were only competing for fun there was a determination to win each race with the spoils being evenly spread as the mastered the technique of trailing their inside leg on the corners, well done to Daniel Clark & Barnaby Queripel on their 1^st sand race event.

Moving up to juniors it was Billy-Reece Rive who dominated proceedings only missing out on a clean sweep of wins when he stalled his bike on the start line for the final championship race, taking a lap to get back into the race. The position of 2^nd in the races was hotly contended by Ricky-Lee Rive, Josh Lambourne & Jarod Carrington so if this continues during the whole of the season there will be some very exciting racing. Billy Russell just needs to fine a little bit more speed then he too could join in the fun. Newcomer Alain Bronquet on the largest bike in this class was improving all afternoon & by the end of the meeting was also enjoying some close racing with the other competitors so he also may be one to watch out for in the future.

For once all the senior riders were in the over 350cc class with almost local resident Englishman Dan Winterton taking on local Anthony Queripel for claim on 1^st position with Dan taking it by 4 to 3 through Anthony did get the better lower positions as Dan did suffered from mechanical problems. 60 year old Dave Cleal still rode with consistency

to claim a number of 2^nd & 3^rd spots but may have to watch out for an improved Rob Teed & a fairly quick Jamie Thompson. In mid field Colin Teed will have to watch out for both Dave Patten & Eddie Goracy who has moved up from his 250motocross machine to a slider with great effect. Of the road going bikes there was little between last year’s contenders Pierre Rive & Nick Russell who was joined by 1^st timer on the beach Lee Luxton who was riding the smallest road bike a Suzuki 750cc.

The racing cars should have provided some good racing but unfortunately both newcomers Jarod Smith & Stephen Oliviera both suffered misfires in their 1000cc grass trackers in practice so did not race thus leaving Mark Ozanne to dominate in his 2200cc special from the closely matched 600cc grass trackers of Simon Carre & Jean-Paul Bailey.

All 3 saloons present did all belong in the same class but it was Nigel Ozanne in the ex John Dean winning Honda Civic of 2010 that took most honours from Eric Trump in his Peugeot whereas Karl West was having overheating problems in his Toyota MR2 which was eventually fixed by removing the thermostat. Hopefully by next meeting on May 21^st all these car problems have been solved & there will be better car races.

Paul Stanford