Winstanley does supermoto double

Blindingly fast, unpredictable and exciting racing greeted the crowds at Llandow circuit near Cardiff for round three of the MCN backed Sideways Promotions ACU British Supermoto Championship.

The Welsh circuit’s combination of well surfaced, grippy and abrasive tarmac, long fast straights and bus-stop chicanes coupled with a demandingly technical off road section that incorporated washboards, berms and a table top, produced an abundance of overtaking moves and rare mistakes by some of the series’ top riders.

Without a shadow of doubt the man of the meeting was Lancastrian Supermoto rookie Matt Winstanley. The eighteen year old sensation took both wins in the 450 class and looked set to do the double in the open class on his brand-new Bracken KTM before he crashed out of the lead of the final leg with just a handful of laps to go

Winstanley was in a class of his own on the tricky dirt section but equally, on the fast tarmac corners, he was backing it in and powersliding it out as if he’d been competing in the sport for years. His perfect tally of fastest laps – four from all four of his races – speaks volumes of Winstanley’s natural talent.

Conversely, current double National Champion, Christian Iddon, suffered a torrid weekend. The Team Zupin Husqvarna rider bruised his testicles after landing badly on the washboard jumps during the Dragon Optical Superpole sessions. ‘I’ve ridden like an old woman all weekend,’ said Iddon – perhaps overly harsh – bearing in mind both his very personal discomfort and the raised level of ability throughout the field with a host of new riders to the sport capable of running the established names to the wire.

Irishman David Tougher, on his immaculate and rapid TM, strengthened his lead in the Open Class over Iddon with a fighting second place and a gifted win in the second leg when both Winstanley then – amazingly – Ady Smith crashed out of the lead.

Putoline DCR Husaberg rider Andy Mitchell showed a welcome return to championship contending form. The burly Yorkshireman was clearly enjoying the dirt section and challenging the front pack for podium positions in both legs with a fine display of aggressive but controlled riding to net a pair of fourth places.

In the KTM Junior Cup it was again Daniel Griffiths who took maximum points with a fine pair of wins. However, Griffiths didn’t have things all his own way as Cumbrian Chris Hodgson ran at the front for the majority of the race despite a broken scaphoid. Both Griffiths and Hodgson were putting in astonishing lap times of 1m15secs – good enough for a top fifteen place in either of the 450cc finals! Talented Cornish youngster Sam Chapman also found a new lease of confidence to bag a fine second place in leg one.

As the series gear itself for round four at Three Sisters in Wigan, there will be more than just one Lancastrian keen to make their mark on home turf– Matt Winstanley, Johno White and Danny Tollet will all be going for it at the Ashton-in-Makerfield circuit. Expect fireworks…

Three Sisters is on Sunday May 16th. Action starts at 10am.