Last weekend marked the start of the 2022 race season and what a start it was. Neuadd farm MX was the venue and as a long-term driver favourite track the event was setting up nicely. The weather in the build-up was unpredictable to say the least and the track team seen all four seasons in one day on more than one occasion. Severe frost and snow on the Friday did see some concern but the sunshine soon dealt with that. The track was ready the entries were strong, and it was time to go racing.
Open Class
Qualifying
The Open class is growing nicely, and the addition of some new faces has mixed things up nicely. Current Champion Mark McCann started strong using his experience of the machine to take pole position in the first session of the year. Second spot went to Sean Haran in the first outing of his Polaris Pro Xp. The gap between first and second was set at only five tenths of a second so we looked set for a great battle at the front. Paul Severn was the next car home after a crazy week of last-minute prep produced one of the best-looking cars of the year for sure. Next up in fourth was the first of the rookies Martin Hales beating home expert Shaun Jenkinson and Adrian Loveridge in the process. Nick Barker claimed seventh ahead of David Watson then youth graduate Jess Barker as dad Nick took the honours of session one. Tenth place went to a familiar car in the form of the Welbourn Pro Xp except this time its driven by Charlie’s son Tom which is great to see. Another addition to the class was over the line in eleventh in the form of Olly McGuffog beating brother Louis home and grabbing bragging rights for the Saturday night. Closing off the field was the second of our very own Kardashians Rianna Harris in her first run out in the RZR 1000.
Race One
This race seen the first shuffle of a pack and what a shuffle it was. Mark McCann started strong and looked solid for the first win of the day until a mechanical issue seen him parked up scoring a DNF. Sean Haran and Paul Severn took up the front of the field and battled for the whole 15mins. A great race between the two experienced drivers seen Paul Severn taking the win and Sean Haran settling for a strong second. Martin Hales again lead the way for the rookies taking third spot ahead of Shaun Jenkinson in fourth. Jess barker pushed through the field including her dad to take fifty place in her first senior race followed home by dad Nick in sixth “Awkward”. Olly McGuffog was the next of Team Norfolk across the line in a great first race for the novice followed in by friend Wayne Harris. David Watson landed ninth ahead of the second of the McGuffog cars as brother Louis took tenth. Next car home was Adrian Loveridge followed in by the remainder of team Norfolk Joe Chilvers, Tom Welbourn and Rianna Harris. This was a great start to the senior race season as we now have great racing for every place in the field. Keep a close eye on the three big names at the front but also the father vs daughter in the Barker team looks like it will deliver some great racing all year.
Race Two
Race two was more of the same at the front. Paul Severn took the win with some great Joker Lane timing beating Sean Haran to the top spot. Mark McCann pushed hard from last on the grid finishing up in third place ahead of the lead rookie Martin Hales. Shaun Jenkinson was fifth place followed home by Louis McGuffog in sixth after a great scrap with seventh place Jess Barker. David Watson remained consistent in eighth followed by Nick Barker in ninth. Adrian Loveridge was the tenth spot car beating the second of the McGuffog cars Ollie in eleventh. The rear of the field was led by Wayne Harris beating home Rianna Harris in twelfth spot. Newcomer Tom Welbourn closed off the field with another good run in his first SXS Event. Great racing at he front of the field and throughout.
Race Three
The battle at the front was on, and with all three of the fastest cars now involved it was a cracker. Mark McCann looking to salvage his day took the race win after some wise passes and a well-timed Joker Lane. Sean Haran was the second car home beating rival for the day Paul Severn in third spot. This was great to see as now every week these three similar cars will battle for every inch. Looking forward to watching these three again for sure. Shaun Jenkinson after a consistent day took fourth place beating the first of the Rookies Martin Hales in fifth. A great day for Martin Hales topping his class in his new for 2022 colour scheme. Louis McGuffog won the battle of the brothers taking sixth place ahead of Adrian Loveridge seventh. Solid racing from David Watson seen him bag enough points for a podium place with Olly McGuffog chasing him home in ninth place a great day for the first event rookie. A Challenging finish for the rest of Team Norfolk as they closed of the back of the field, Wayne Harris tenth, Joe Chilvers eleventh with Tom Welbourn and Jess Barker closing of the pack.
What a great start to the year for the Open Class with battles and rivalries born up and down the field. This is really becoming a class to watch as the big guns clash in both the rookie and expert groups. What a start to the season well done to everyone.
Overall Results
Rookies
1st – Martin Hales #119
2nd – Louis McGuffog #24
3rd – David Watson / Graham Knight #120
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Jess Barker #20
Clerks Driver of The Day – Martin Hales #119
Expert Class
1st – Paul Severn #7
2nd – Sean Haran #51
3rd – Mark McCann #64
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Paul Severn #7
Clerks Driver of the day – Paul Severn #7
1000 Expert Class
Qualifying
This class has always been fiercely competitive, and this year is no different. The addition of some new faces and the return of the some Europe’s fastest drivers mean this will be one to watch for sure. Qualifying was a bit of an unknown at this event as its never clear who will hit the ground running. This year fastest out the block was the youngster Mack Priestwood taking pole in his first ever expert session beating all the big names. What a great start for the young man but could he convert this to race results. Second home mixing the pack even further was the Rs1 of Kevin Haran beating current Champion Mark McCann in third. William Buller was the fourth car home meaning the top four cars where split by only five tenths. This is F1 close which is great for the sport for sure. Tom Fletcher who is notorious for average qualifying took fifth spot ahead of Sean Haran in sixth but if history is anything to go by Tom is exactly where he wants to be. Keiron Weaver had a solid start the season taking seventh ahead of the other young gun Lewis Scotney with Greg Rooney closing off the pack.
Race One
Races in this class never disappoint and this one was no different. Mack Priestwood broke clean off the line and really didn’t look back, it was only late in the session when the early Joker lanes started to take effect that he found Tom Fletcher on his bumper. A wise move seen experience take the edge as Tom Fletcher passed the youngster to take the race win. What a performance from young Mack Priestwood competing at the very front of an insanely fast class. Keiron Weaver landed third spot meaning a podium lock out in race one for the Pink Panther cars of Team 4 Dirt. Kevin Haran slipped to fourth with Lewis Scotney up to fifth again proving that the young fast rookies can compete at the very top. Robert Lloyd missed Qualifying but pushed up to sixth followed in by Greg Rooney. Mark McCann seen more bad luck tumble him down the field as he settled for eighth ahead of the DNF of William Buller.
Race Two
This session seen Tom Fletcher taking hold and not letting go. A solid drive seen him dominate the session taking the top spot for the second time. Teammate Mack Priestwood again put in a solid drive taking second spot in what was turning out to be a great day for the pair. Kevin Haran was the third car home breaking the clean sweep of the pink cars from race one much to their disgust. Keiron Weaver crossed the line a good fourth beating William Buller who finished fifth. Mark McCanns challenging day continued with more mechanical problems keeping him down in sixth. Robert Lloyd dropped to seventh with Lewis Scotney closing off the pack in what was a great race.
Race Three
Race three was more of the same from Tom Fletcher another dominant win giving him all three race wins on the day. Keven Haran won the battle for second place beating Mack Priestwood into third after a great day for all the top three cars. Mark McCann recovered up to fourth place after what can only be described as a challenging day. William Buller came good in fifth place chased hard by young Lewis Scotney in what was another solid drive from the youngster. Greg Rooney a newcomer to the class managed to beat the experienced Robert Lloyd to seventh place closing off the pack.
Once again, this class sets the bar as the most competitive class in UK SXS, an absolute pleasure to watch and we can’t wait to see it unfold. Well done everyone.
Overall Results
1st – Tom Fletcher #59
2nd – Mack Priestwood #73
3rd – Kevin Haran #53
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Kevin Haran #53
Clerks Driver of The Day – Tom Fletcher #59
1000 Rookie Class
Qualifying
This again will the biggest class in the Championship as the sport continues to move forward. Some of the familiar names showed the way as Henry Proctor took the first spot on the grid. Richard Scott another class veteran took second with newcomer and Youth Champion George Hales close of the top spots in third. Rio Longdon continued where he left off last with a solid fourth beating Dad Darren in fifth. Joe Chilvers stepped up grabbing sixth with newcomer Lee Small close behind in seventh. Jacob Wilson led a group of four cars on the one minute fifty-three second proving that this class is also getting super competitive. Sam Lloyd beat Charlie Snooks into eleventh with Anthony Green thirteenth. The rear of the field was a mix and match of youth and experience including newcomers Tom Butterfield, Jeremy Levick and Corban Ross. Welcome to SXS and well done to you all.
Race One
Race one was very much a tough lesson but one that will make Henry Proctor a much wiser racer. Leading the race for the whole session he got snagged up on a back marker which seen Jacob Wilson through to take the race win. A deserved win for Jacob but a bitter pill for young Proctor. Third place went to Darren Longdon in a solid drive beating newcomer Charlie Snooks in fourth a great result having qualified twelfth . Simon Medleycott beat Richard Scott to fifth as Bradley Price pushed through the field to seventh. George Hales bagged eighth spot in a positive start but everyone knew he had more to give. Next up was Sam Lloyd beating Anthony Green to ninth place in a good battle for minor places. Alan Curnick and Jason Medleycott were the last of the drivers on the lead lap marking a great start to the season for the thousand rookies.
Race Two
This one seen another shuffle of the deck except for the race winner Jacob Wilson. A solid win from the front seen the Poppin Candy car keep the top spot. Newcomer Charlie Snooks pushed up the table yet again bagging second place ahead of youngster Rio Longdon. George Hales again stepped forward into fourth spot chased in by a great drive Anthony Green. Simon Medleycott had another solid race in what so far, a consistent day. Darren Longdon dropped down the field to seventh ahead of Bradley Price in eighth. Sam Lloyd again proved solid in ninth followed home by newcomers Tom Butterfield and Corban Ross in tenth and eleventh. The rear of the pack again was a mix headed by Jason Medleycott followed in by Jeremy Levick, Lee Small with Alan Curnick closing off the pack.
Race Three
This was another great session which seen Jacob Wilson take the clean sweep in another solid performance. Three wins on the day so well-done Jacob. Next up was Rio Longdon after another great day’s racing showing that on his day, he is for sure a championship contender. Another great drive from George Hales seen him back up to third place making him another one to watch this year for sure. Charlie Snooks slipped to fourth with Henry Proctor having an amazing session putting him back up to fifth in what was a great if unlucky day. Simon Medleycott held that midfield sixth place capping of his day ahead of Sam Lloyd in seventh. Brad Price was next home in eight beating newcomer Corban Ross across the line in a great weekend for both cars. Jason Medleycott was next home in tenth spot followed in by Alan / Joe Curnick with Mark Scotney the last of the finishers.
This truly was a great weekend for the thousand rookies with some new faces joining in and mixing the pack. Can’t wait to see this Championship unfold as it really is anyone’s at this stage. Well done everyone.
Overall Results
1st – Jacob Wilson #7
2nd – Charlie Snooks #2
3rd – George Hales #19
Clerks Driver of The Day – Henry Proctor
Fastest Lap Bonus Point – Jacob Wilson #7
Massive thank you to everyone who made the event a huge success. These events could not happen without the sponsors and the event volunteers. This season looks like it could be an absolute blinder so watch this space. Next stop Cusses Gorse.
Lets Do This!!