Murphy's law
By Dick Law on 2nd Mar 07
TEPH Murphy, on a 450 Honda, won the first QRA Margate Beach-cross at the weekend as fast man, Paul Holmes (ATV World Honda) slumped to fourth overall with two chains-related non-finishes.
While Murphy and Holmes were fighting it out in the Quad races, Sam Simmons got progressively faster as the weekend progressed and the track got rougher to win the solo event from Suzuki mounted Andre David.
With nothing but hard work, the QRA (Quad Riders Association) headed by Tony Nash, and with the blessing and help of Thanet Council, constructed a reasonable sized track in the sand between the high tide mark and the sea wall, with ample jumps and flowing corners.
On Saturday morning as the sound of seagulls and the smell of candy floss was replaced by the sound four-strokes and the smell of racing motorcycles, people started flocking to the sea-wall where everyone could see all of the track as two groups of Quads went out for two qualifying heats. The faster riders going into Group A and the rest to Group B, followed by just the one line-up of solos.
All groups had three races on Saturday, with another three on Sunday, followed by a grand final all before the rising tide covered the route between the track and the paddock high up on the harbour wall beside the life boat station.
Holmes was in unbeatable form all weekend, and after passing Andrew Davies who seemed to get the holeshot on his 450 Suzuki every time, just cleared off without much of a challenge.
But it was the two DNFs, after snapping chains, that spoilt his party and Murphy was there to pick up the pieces.
Murphy was always in the top three, in all but the last race, to decide the overall. Then, as he challenged Holmes for the lead, their wheels touched and Murphy came off worst, his quad on its back, wheels in the air like a stricken beetle.
On a borrowed bike after troubles with his own in practice, Liam Carter was the only rider, other than Murphy and Holmes to win a race. He never finished out of the top four and that performance earned him second overall.
MARGATE BIG SKY BEACH-CROSS Margate Beach, Kent (QRA)
Quad A - Overall: 1 Steph Murphy (450 Honda), 2 Liam Cater (450 Yamaha), 3 Andrew Davies (450 Suzuki), 4 Paul Holmes (450 ATV World Honda), 5 Simon Davies (450 Suzuki), 6 Jon Morgan (700 Yamaha), 7 Julian Mawbey (450 Suzuki), 8 Mark Pearson (450 ATV UK Suzuki), 9 Ray Walker (450 ATV UK Suzuki), 10 Ben Morgan (450 Honda), 11 Roland Hopkins (450 Yamaha), 12 Richard Horton (450 Yamaha), 13 Chris Murphy (450 Laeger Yamaha), 14 Rodney Dennis (450 Honda, 15 Stumpy Lawrence (450 Suzuki), 16 Clyde Thompson (450 Honda), 17 Nick Davis (700 Yamaha), 18 Geoff Hamilton (450 Yamaha), 19 Steve Bradbury (350 Yamaha).
Quad B - Overall: 1 Robert Hanks (450 Suzuki), 2 Kevin Chilcott (450 Yamaha), 3 Simon Osenton (450 Suzuki), 4 Barrie Dennis (450 Honda), 5 Dave Currell (450 Yamaha), 6 Peter Gallagher (450 Honda), 7 Tim Wedgwood (450 Suzuki), 8 Paul Schofield (450 Honda), 9 Chris Jones (450 Yamaha), 10 Nigel Hughes (300 Gas Gas), 11 Neal Reid (450 Honda), 12 Jeff Evans (450 Honda), 13 Mark Collier (450 Suzuki), 14 Rhys Gubbins (450 Yamaha), 15 Gyles Robinson (Can am), 16 Geoff Hamilton (450 Yamaha), 17 Steve Pantrey (350 Yamaha), 18 Kevin Dixon (200 Yamaha), 19 Tony Holman (450 KTM), 20 Ian Lee Amies (450 Honda).
Solo - Overall: 1 Sam Simmons (250F Yamaha), 2 Andre David (250 Suzuki), 3 Jamie Arnold (250 Yamaha), 4 Paul Anderson (250 Kawasaki), 5 Ryan Matthews (250F Yamaha), 6 Paul Waddington (450 Honda), 7 Carl Smye (300 Gas Gas), 8 Samuel Holloway (250F KTM), 9 Ben Ely (250F Honda), 10 Nathan Preece (250F Yamaha), 11 Derek Aston (450 Yamaha), 12 Westleigh Brooks (250F Honda), 13 Ashley Hopper (250 Kawasaki), 14 Rickie Barnes (250 Suzuki), 15 Ryan Abrahams (450 Honda), 16 Jimmy Offley (450 Honda), 17 Bradley Hopper (250 Kawasaki), 18 Lee Towner (450 Honda), 19 Mark Foster (450 KTM), 20 Andrew Ouddah (125 Yamaha).
Quad Final: 1 Paul Holmes (450 ATV World Honda), 2 Steph Murphy (450 Honda), 3 Liam Cater (450 Yamaha), 4 Andrew Davies (450 Suzuki), 5 Simon Davies (450 Suzuki), 6 Jon Morgan (700 Yamaha), 7 Kevin Chilcott (450 Yamaha), 8 Robert Hanks (450 Suzuki), 9 Chris Murphy (450 Laeger Yamaha), 10 Simon Osenton (450 Suzuki).
Solo Final: 1 Andre David (250 Suzuki), 2 Sam Simmons (250F Yamaha), 3 Paul Anderson (250 Kawasaki), 4 Ryan Matthews (250F Yamaha), 5 Paul Waddington (450 Honda), 6 Carl Smye (300 Gas Gas).
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, March 2, 2007.