WEATHER

Sunny, Partially Cloudy and Warm

TRACK CONDITIONS

Dry 

FGA ARE GO !!

Thirty riders came to the tapes for the first round of the 2015 FGA season last Saturday at the Rally Site Malpas. On a slightly bigger track than normal and with perfect weather condition’s everyone put in some fine performances !

The auto’s class 6-8yrs saw Liam Cox back out with the FGA along with newbie Billy Budd. Both lads rode superbly all day but at the end it was Cox’s fast KTM that was just the difference. Nice to see young Liam look out for Billy in the last race when he conked. A real sporting gesture that brought loud applause from the healthy crowd watching.

Autocadets Finishing Order        1st: Liam Cox

                                                       2nd: Billy Budd

The cub class 8-12yrs saw Katie Gordon take her maiden win over last years front runner Sam Hall. On her newly prepared monoshock machine Gordon was fast out of the gate all day often mixing it with the older youth riders as the classes were combined, a fantastic performance from this young lady. Hall also on a new machine got better as the day went on, sure he will want to reverse this result at the next round at Chetton in a few weeks time.

Cubs Finishing Order        1st: Katie Gordon

                                            2nd: Samuel Hall

Liam Ashcroft was a class above in the juniors 12-16yrs. The current champ led from tapes to flag in all 6 of his rides to score his first max of the season often beating times from the senior class, will he be beaten in 2015 ?? After some gearing changes Brandon Gutteridge put in his best performance yet. Slow starts made him work hard all day but some neat overtakes saw him get the runners up spot and also take the rider of the day award. Jack Budd also put in a fine display, mixing it all day he took a very credible third spot. Also it was great to see this young man assisting with the track preparation early on putting some of the senior riders to shame !!

Juniors Finishing Order   1st: Liam Ashcroft

                                           2nd: Brandon Gutteridge

                                           3rd: Jack Budd

Current Senior FGA champ Phil Thomas started his season in fine form by just dropping a single point to take the top spot, however it could have been a different story if former champion Elvis Jones and Ryan Ashcroft had not had machine trouble in their heats.

Jones who always goes well at this venue threw a chain in his first race and didn’t score but then went through the card unbeaten. Ashcroft developed a misfire in a key race and dropped some valuable points. Thomas also had machine gremlins in practise when his generator came adrift but got it back on song for the main event. Tommy Crewe and Ross Wharton again put in their usual solid performances both scoring 32, the same as Ashcroft.

Along with Jones on 30, the display of the day from Wrexam’s Rob Cuffin. In only his second season on the grass, this was his best performance by far – one to watch for the future and a top 3 finish surely can’t be far away!

Below are the placings after final run off.

Seniors Finishing Order   1st: Phil Thomas

                                           2nd: Ryan Ashcroft

                                           3rd: Ross Wharton

                                           4th: Tommy Crewe

                                           5th: Elvis Jones

                                           6th: Rob Cuffin

Other good performances – John Higham continues to improve with his best score since his return, getting a race win along the way. Steve Mace who went into the interval in 2nd place after only dropping one point. Mick Keeling had his best meet for a while making the top 10. Luke Keeling who was only a couple of positions behind had a cracking day. Luke Postlethwaite and Marcus Crutchington both had good rides.

Nice to see Gary Hollingsworth return to the FGA after a ten year absence.

Fantastic weather, Fantastic crowd, Fantastic FGA. Roll on round 2 16th May at Chetton.

WEATHER

Sunny, Partially Cloudy and Warm

TRACK CONDITIONS

Dry

FGA ARE GO !!

Last Saturday saw another quality entry produce some of the best FGA action seen so far in 2015. The WMCCs new Malpas circuit at the popular Rally Site venue just got better and better as the day went on even when track temperatures soared into 30 degree plus temperature’s. Great to see another healthy crowd witness Formula Grasstrack at its very best !

Runcorn’s Ted Wilkinson (Autos 6-8yrs) Eversham’s Eli Meadow’s (Cub 8-12yrs) Coventry’s Brandon Gutteridge (Junior 12-16yrs) and Shrewsbury’s Phil Thomas (Senior 16-83yrs) came out with the top spots but all were pushed hard in each of their six programmed rides.

Liam Cox who certainly has got his KTM flying had some great battle’s he finished runner up with newbie Billy Budd also now on a new KTM machine getting third. Great to see this young lad get up and walk away plus continue racing after a big high side in one of the heats. “A little sore and bruised” was the report on Sunday. “but he can’t wait for the next one” Nick said. Well done Billy !

Great to see this AUTO CLASS working in the FGA….plus the smell of two stoke oil again..FANTASTIC !

Autocadets Finishing Order        1st: Liam Cox

                                                       2nd: Billy Budd

T.

Cubs Finishing Order        1st: Katie Gordon

                                            2nd: Samuel Hall

Brandon Gutteridge really got his bike dialled in here, scoring his first max in the Juniors, probably the lads best meeting to date. Jack Budd scored well in all races giving him second on the day.

Juniors Finishing Order   1st: Liam Ashcroft

                                           2nd: Brandon Gutteridge

                                           3rd: Jack Budd

The Senior class this year is more competitive than ever but once again its the current champion Phil Thomas who is just that cut above the rest at the moment. Consistent starts and tight lines really are the key for No 22. Another maximimum 6 out of 6 with this quality of field, the lad is certainly on form…Well done Phily T

Following a stewards enquiry at the end of the meeting plus after taking guidance from the ACU track committee regarding a five lap race in heat 27 the results are now declared as follows 2nd Richard Guest 3rd Graham Thomas 4th Elvis Jones Joint Fifth Wayne Broadhurst, Ross Wharton, Ryan Ashcroft.

Seniors Finishing Order   1st: Phil Thomas

                                           2nd: Ryan Ashcroft

                                           3rd: Ross Wharton

                                          4th: Tommy Crewe

                                           5th: Elvis Jones

                                           6th: Rob Cuffin

Great to see some former big grass riders returning to their FGA roots here plus The Liverpool Express David Radley having a blast again. Brilliant !!

Others here that must get a mention..The hard charging Jon Higham who always gives 100% Mike Flynn who still can be the fastest out of the gate said he really enjoyed his “little ride round” Katie Gordon who once again showed the lads how to get out of the tapes. Liam Ashcroft and Jack Walton who in only their 2nd Senior event mixed it all day and Rob Cuffin who again continued to impress. Shame that Rocco Casale was a non starter due to van trouble and broke down on route from Buckinghamshire, he got back home at the same time had he been racing !

Finally thanks to all the marshals, Peak Medicare and everyone else who assisted in the running of this event which was such a great advert for the FGA.

Last but not least a big round of applause to farmer Jones for the track preparation !!
Elvis finally got to drive a tractor !!

Roll on to round 5 and the now famous 2 dayer !!!!!

WEATHER

Sunny, Partially Cloudy and Warm

TRACK CONDITIONS

Dry 

The FGA ran round 7 of the annual championship on Saturday at Alveley with a strong entry in all classes and a full day with a total of 45 races watched by a good crowd,

In the AutoCadets now have a good mix of Boys and Girls competing, the current rider to beat is young Ted Wilkinson with a maximum 6 out of 6 closely followed by Liam Cox and Billy Budd, with newcomers Lilly Cox and Charlotte Arthur enjoying their own battle. !

Autocadets Finishing Order        1st: Ted Wilkinson

                                                       2nd: Liam Cox

                                                       3rd: Billy Budd

                                                       4th: Lilly Cox

                                                       5th: Charlotte Arthur

In the Cubs Eli Meadows delivered a 6 win maximum with newcomer Aidan Arthur 2nd and Katie Gordon in 3rd. Last year’s Cub champion Thierry Atkinson was plagued by bike problems.

Cubs Finishing Order        1st: Eli Meadows

                                            2nd: Aidan Arthur

                                            3rd: Katie Gordon

Juniors saw Brandon Gutteridge deliver a 6 win maximum with Jack Budd 2nd and another newcomer Nathan Alder in 3rd.

Juniors Finishing Order   1st: Brandon Gutteridge

                                           2nd: Jack Budd

                                           3rd: Nathan Alder

Current championship leader Phil Thomas managed to secure a 6 win maximum but being pushed all the way to the line in several races, finishing out the top 6 were Graham Thomas 2nd, Ryan Ashcroft 3rd, Ross Wharton 4th, Elvis Jones 5th and Richard Guest in 6th.

Seniors Finishing Order   1st: Phil Thomas

                                           2nd: Graham Thomas

                                           3rd: Ryan Ashcroft

                                           4th: Ross Wharton

                                           5th: Elvis Jones

                                           6th: Richard Guest

The FGA is growing from strength to strength, the future is bright the future is FGA!!