Aberdare Park Road Races 2010

The annual Aberdare Park road races took place last weekend at the unique Welsh parkland circuit.

In past years the likes of Mike Hailwood and Phil Read and more recently Carl Fogarty and John McGuinness have entered the races, 350cc lap record holder and Honda team boss Neil Tuxworth even showed up to watch.

The organising Aberaman Motorcycle Club have spent the last few years improving the 0.9 mile park circuit and have added a new track surface after the harsh winter.

With over 50 races held over the 2 days and classes ranging from 50cc to classics, supermoto to 600cc supersport the racing is vastly varied and draws a good crowd for Wales’s only road race meeting.

Last years champion, TT star Mark Buckley, was back to defend his title having changed to Kawasaki ZX6 machinery for the 2010 season and would face a strong challenge from William Dunlop (Honda RS250), another former winner Yamaha R6 mounted Mick Goodings and local man Jay Bellers-Smith.

The 15 lap Welsh Open took place in superb weather conditions but with lap times of under 40 seconds the race is still a relative sprint.

Buckley got a flying start and was shadowed by Mick Goodings for the first few laps with William Dunlop having to fight through the pack from 5th position.

A confident William Dunlop soon moved into the final podium place and set about chasing down the leading duo.

With the race almost over William caught and passed Goodings for 2nd but Mark Buckley had extended his lead and held on to take victory, followed closely over the line by William Dunlop who had been unstoppable in all the 2 stroke classes over the weekend.

The event will return in 2011 and looks to grow and attract more road race stars please check out http://www.aberdarepark.co.uk/index.html for more information and come down to South Wales for a unique racing experience.