There will be US-style dirt track racing excitement aplenty at the South Tees Motor Park on Sunday July 6th. when the Silkolene Short Track UK national championship series returns to the Redcar Bears' Speedway circuit.
Following a hugely successful and much acclaimed event held there last August, the STMP stages Round Three of this prestigious championship. Short Track derives from the USA's most popular form of motor cycle racing, Flattrrack; and as a discipline across the States, Europe and down-under it's been the breeding ground over the years for motor sports legends like Kenny Roberts, Nicky Hayden and last week's British motorcycling Grand Prix winner and reigning world champ, Australia's Casey Stoner.
And bikers who are fans of the high-performance road racing scene will doubtless be descending on the STMP on Sunday to see one of their heroes: with GB Superbikes racer Guy Martin, three times winner of the Cock o’ the North, 2007 Ulster GP winner and the fastest man this year at the legendary Isle of Man TT, the star guest attraction.
With Short Track (officially Europe's fastest growing motor sport) having such a pedigree in breeding champs for other forms of motorcycling too, it's little wonder that the region's most versatile racer, Northallerton's Rusty Hodgson is planning to make a highly-anticipated appearance too.
The 2007 Bear is incredibly popular at the South Tees Motor Park having starred for both the Cleveland Bays and then stepping up with the Bears in the past two seasons. Yet with work commitments taking him abroad for much of the Speedway season, this Short Track event is very likely to be Rusty's only appearance racing on the Redcar track this year. The one-time roadracer, who starred in the R6 Cup before shattering his foot in an accident in 2005, is in fact a third generation Bear (both his father and grandfather rode for Middlesbrough Speedway) and news of his appearance is sure to mean a bumper crowd for Sunday's event.
Other names to look out for are the twice, STUK champion and European master at the sport, Italian Marco Belli: mounted this year on a CCM; along with his hugely exciting fellow countryman, Harley-rider Jacopo Monti; reigning Thunderbikes champ (the Thunderbikes division seeing truly monstrously-sized bikes up to multi-cylindered 1200ccs, thrown into the steeply banked bends of the Redcar circuit in a spectacle not to be missed), Peter Boast; plus Aidan Collins: son of former Belle Vue rider and once World Speedway Championship runner-up, Les Collins. Yet to be confirmed - but it is possible that an Australian international will be in action too...: none other than Glyn Taylor, the local Speedway club's Team Manager, who is being tempted to don his leathers again!
The Welbourns Short Track Quads proved one of the biggest attractions back in August. This brand of four-wheeled action is not only the opportunity to see such machines racing on the Speedway circuit (adjacent, of course, as it is to the home of Quad Bike events here in the north-east); but is a truly unique form of Quad dirttrtack seeing six riders a race, face-off in a grid-style start which provides a huge amount of passing and breathtaking excitement. All the country's top Quads stars will be in action including reigning national champion, Alan Hooker from Lincolnshire.
The admission is £10.00 for adults, £7.00 for pensioners and other concessions; with children aged 12 to 15 years of age, £3 and younger than 12 (provided accompanied by an adult) having free admission. The gates open at 11.30am and early-comers will be entertained by the with the qualifying races for the Quads, the main STUK event, the Thunderbikes and also the CCM Junior Shorttrack Cup - for racers aged between 12 and 15 years of age. All the finals and the superbly exciting 18 heat knock-out style format for the Short Track UK championship will start at 2pm. In all, over four-and-a-half hours of motor sport action is guaranteed - making this a must-see event for the whole family.
