Thirsk hotshot Paul Teasdale proved to
be the irresistable force at Thirsk
DMC`s Long Plain Farm M/X on Sunday11
October, racing to a hat trick of wins
to finish top expert.
This famous old circuit high above
Hambleton, graced by many top riders in
the heady days of the sixties and
seventies, proved it can
still produce top quality racing with
Teasdale, Rich Collins, Martyn Bean and
Ben Thompson starring.
After heavy rain, conditions were
treacherous early on, but Teasdale was
oblivious to it, finding grip and
sticking rigidly to line around this
twisting hillside course. First race -
incorporating the East Yorks Centre
Championship - Teasdale was away,
leaving the chasing pack a lot to
do. Pickering rider Thompson forced his
way to a fine second, with Collins
third. Bean and Sean Robinson battled
for fourth, Bean finally getting the
verdict. Teasdale again gated well in
the second, along with Collins and
pulled out a big lead. Collins was
now finding some bite, but never got
close enough to pressure the Thirsk
flyer. Bean moved to third as Thompson
slipped back to a disappointing eighth
place. Ian Ashby came to life here,
storming through to fourth,
pushing Robinson into fifth. Now on a
roll, Ashby led the charge away in the
third, but just a bit eager, he wound it
on and slid to earth, letting Teasdale,
Bean, Thompson and Collins slip through.
Collins kept on the pace for
second. Thompson, needing a good
place to make up for his poor second
leg, failed to take the tiring Bean and
had to settle for fourth.
Collins - fit as a butchers pup -
contested the Twin Shocks as well,
winning all three legs.Martin Speak rode
a good first leg, but could not keep the
consistency up, allowing Carl Hodgson on
the Maico to force his way through to
take runner up in the last two legs. The
only time these two ate dirt was in the
final leg as Howard Watson - enjoying a
return to the scene after more than
twenty years away - aboard the pretty
rapid 480 Honda powered off the line to
take the holeshot, but finally the big
beast wore him down and settled for
fourth overall behind Speak.
Furious racing in B class as Chris
Rogerson, Steven Almack and Richard
Tindale from Whitby fought for honours,
with Rogerson the master taking all race
wins. It was not easy as first Almack
pushed him hard, urged on to greater
effort by father Dave at trackside, then
the rapidly improving Tindale took up
the challenge, until a mistake at the
top of the steep drop off saw him finish
down the order. Then Graham Charlton got
in on the act in the last leg. Improving
all day, Charlton finally grabbed a well
deserved second place in front of a
tiring Almack.
Durham rider Paul Bridon was
outstanding in C class with three
straight wins and Tony Thompson had to
settle for runner up berth just in front
of Steven Todd. In Class C2 another
Thirsk rider enjoyed success. Matt
Readman took two seconds and a win to
secure top spot from Andy Lamb with club
stalwart Mark Reynolds grabbing fourth
overall behind Speak.
Thirsk
DMC and Mark Reynolds would like to
thank sponsors Martin Holden, Mark
Horner and Neil Ashton for their
support. Also everyone involved in the
running of this event to make it a
success. Thank You.
RESULTS.
Expert 1st Pual Teasdale Honda 250.
2nd Rich Collins KTM 250. 3rd Martyn
Bean KTM 450. 4th Ben Thompson Suzuki
250. 5th Sean Robinson Kawasaki 450F
Class B 1st. Chris Rogerson Suzuki
450F 2nd Steven Almack KTM 250. 3rd
Graham Charlton ? 4th Paul Bethel Honda
250F. 5th Richard Tindale Kawasaki 250
Class C1 1st Paul Bridon Suzuki 450F.
2nd Tony Thompson Yamaha 125.
3rd Steven Todd KX 450F. 4th Dan
Kitchen KX 250. 5th Lee Hodgson Honda
450F
Class C2 1st Mathew Readman KX 250F
2nd Andy Lamb Honda 125. 3rd Martin
Speak ? 4th Mark Reynolds KTM 144.
5th Ollie Clark KX 250F
Twin Shock 1st Richard Collins ?
2nd Carl Hodgson 440 Maico. 3rd Martin
Speak 465 YZ. 4th Howard Watson 480
Honda.
THANK YOU TO JOHN FOR HIS REVIEW OF THE
MEETING