SUNDAY 2nd MAY 2010 KNOCKHILL RACING CIRCUIT
THE STORY SO FAR . . .
Sunday 2nd May sees rounds 5 & 6 of the 16 round SACU Scottish Championship at Knockhill Racing Circuit. In addition, Kirkcaldy & District Motor Club will also run Rounds 3 & 4 its own race series.
The Superstock 600 Championship supported by Nevis Marketing is for four cylinder machines of up to 600cc and three cylinder bikes up to 675cc. Strict regulations mean that very few modifications for racing are permitted, so these are pretty much races for the sorts of bike that you can buy and ride on the road. Last year’s runner-up – Danderhall’s Michael Robertson – has won three of the opening four rounds on his John Lind Racing Yamaha R6, the only man to beat him being Paul Wishart, who took the win in Round 3 at East Fortune Raceway on 17th April. Wishart will not be appearing at the Knockhill meeting. Defending Champion Bruce Birnie from Montrose, riding the Perth Motorcycles Kawasaki ZX6R currently languishes third in the series with two third places, one second and a DNF. Third equal is Hawick’s John Dean, riding the FBM Motorsport Yamaha R6. Having overcome the suspension problems that dogged him in the early rounds, and having got used to the new machine, John is confident that he can catch and pass series leader Robertson. Add to the mix Dalkeith’s Cameron Wilson aboard the YPE/Saltire Suzuki GSXR in second place – but with a 40-point deficit to overcome – and this race series is set to provide maximum excitement.
The Premier Class, sponsored by Motorrad Central BMW, features highly modified pure racing machines of 600cc capacity (Supersport 600), pitted against stock 1000cc bikes. This too is fast becoming Michael Robertson territory. Once again he has achieved three wins and a second place. This time it is Scone’s Torquil Paterson, who is the only man to beat Robertson to the chequered flag. Normally to be found aboard his YPE Power/Saltire Suzuki GSXR 1000, this weekend Torquil will be at Oulton Park riding an Edinburgh Harley Davidson-entered bike in the XR1200 series that supports the British Super Bike Championship. Inverness-based Adrian Clark will be looking to ride his Honda Fireblade into at least second place in the Scottish series. David Paton, from Loanhead, will be riding the all-new Paramed UK/Motorrad Central BMW S1000RR. David’s British Championship experience added to a bike that – on paper at least – should be capable of winning at world-championship level means that his current sixth place in the championship is a little disappointing. However, the whole point of racing at this level is to develop both machine and rider, so be prepared from fireworks on Sunday! There are only two Supersport 600s entered, ridden by the very talented Roy Houston from Kirkcaldy (Double M Racing Yamaha R6) and Loch Lomond’s Mark Buckley on the OTSS Racing Kawasaki ZX6R. These two will be attempting to use their more nimble machines to show the big boys the way round, and Buckley’s Isle of Man TT and British Championship racing pedigree will surely stand him in good stead.
The SACU (the sport’s governing body in Scotland) also runs an under-18 series for 125cc machines. In this series, the runaway winner has been 12-year-old Callum Bey, from Huntly in Aberdeenshire. However, Callum is also competing in the British Aprilia Superteens Challenge, in which he is second – by eleven points – from his JDF Racing team mate Chrissy Rouse. Consequently, he will be at Snetterton this weekend to try to make good that deficit. This will leave the way clear for the defending Under-18 Champion, Sammi Tasker, to try to take the lead from Callum in the 2010 series.
With World Championship Sidecars coming to Knockhill for the British round on 14th/15th August, entries were disappointing for the opening rounds, as the three-wheel brigade seemed to be taking their time getting ready for the 2010 Season. A more encouraging entry list for 2nd May means that frenetic racing can be expected. Defending champion Bill Davie with Grant Hunter in the chair will be out to reduce Scott Lawrie (Team LCR) and James Neave’s 42 point lead over Colin Riddell and John McCartney from Tranent. Even with Haddington’s David Wrinn and Stuart Clark’s Reywood Suzuki mechanically out of contention, there will be stiff competition for the victor’s laurels.
Kirkcaldy & District Motor Club also run several race series including the Cupar Motorcycles-sponsored Formula 400 Class, the Perth Motorcycles Minitwins, Pre-Injection 600s, Classic, Forgotten Era, 80’s Road & Race, and GP125s.
Qualifying starts at 9 am with racing scheduled to begin at 12.30