Davies' delight
By TMX Archives on 14th Mar 14
The weather was the best of the year so far, the track at Mildenhall was primed to perfection and the paddock was fit to burst with the magic number of 300 topped.This was the opening round of the ACU GT Cup series and with the sun out on both days it was smiles all around.
New for 2014 is the British Clubman Open championship, and the first round win went to Rob Wood following a points tie.
Glory
The result settled in Wood's favour in a last race clincher as both he and veteran Greg Hanson totalled two heat wins apiece.
In a tight finish all around, Luke Spence with three second place returns claimed a solid third overall.
Spreading the glory around in the MX2 Under 23s, Alfie Smith made off with the win in heats one and four together with the overall victory.
Scott Elderfield and Carlton Husband made it first across the line second and third time out.
In a section where the start was crucial, Smith's showing in race four – coming from the back to win – whilst passing both Elderfield and Husband was arguably his best ride of the weekend.
Elsewhere in the section good shows came from wildcard Liam Garland, who led race one to half distance and also a storming two day performance from third overall Ashley Smith.
In the two-stroke 125cc races the much-expected battle of experience against youth materialised as reigning champion Jim Davies and young-gun Henry Williams finished in first and second respectively.
Davies won the opening gambit as Williams, following a poor start, sliced his way through to eventually finish in fifth.
Williams won heats two and three with the race-four victory going to Fraser Curtis. TM-mounted Davies took the overall plaudits going 1-2-2-2.
Curtis made third overall, as three more young guns in the shape of Josh Coleman, Rob Yates and Michael Ellis rounded out the top six.
Following a first-race demolition job Henry Siddiqui emerged as a strong favourite in the Rookie MXY2 section.
On day two Siddiqui added another win and a second – but with his machine failing him in heat two, seventh overall was the best he could muster.
Kyle Lane and Tony Saunders scooped the victory in the other two heats and ultimately they made one and two respectively on the podium steps.
Both guys proved very strong, with Kyle winning, going 2-2-3-1.
Connor Dennis was a happy bunny in third overall, with a best of third in heat two.
With a supercharged show the opening heat of the Big-wheel 85s went the way of Todd Richie.
After that, however, Dexter Douglas took the section by the scruff of the neck, winning overall with a 2-1-1-1 return.
Douglas was a classy fast act as Richie kept it all together for a gutsy second overall finish.
Making third overall Ethan Winchester upped his game on day two as he chased Douglas home twice, 24 seconds behind each time.
Taylor Hampshire came to the line in the Small-wheel 85s with a fair deal of confidence surrounding him.
And following four resounding heat wins he proved it was no way misplaced as on this showing he will take some beating.
Callum Mitchell and Josh Peters ran Hampshire the closest, but taking second overall was section newbie Reece Martin as he stayed impressive and consistent
(2-4-4-5).
After scoring two Sunday thirds, Drew Anderson claimed section bronze.
As section favourites go, reigning Junior 65 champion Eddie Jay Wade is a red-hot pick.
At the opening round it was four clear-cut wins for him, with the hype fully-underlined and endorsed.
The battle for the runner-up spot was almost as clear-cut, with Jack Grayshon running in all the second place returns.
Taking the third step on the podium was Olly Bertie Davidson, who held off the challenge of Louie Kessell.
In the Auto section the heat wins went the way of Billy Moriarty, Charlie Reynolds, and then twice in Sunday action for Jude Turton.
Moriarty put himself out of contention with a day-two injury and a relatively poor day one for Turton left him in third overall.
Bayliss Utting rode the wheels off it with a final race second in his efforts for overall glory, but ultimately he came up one point short.
The opening round winner was Reynolds, with his card showing
4-1-2-6.
