A packed programme of top quality dirt track racing on two wheels and four braved distinctly unseasonal conditions at the South Tees Motor Park on Sunday (6 July) as the Short Track UK series returned to the north-east.

Local favourite Rusty Hodgson jetted in from sunnier climes - the one-time Redcar Bear is spending this year building outdoor pursuit courses as far afield as Mexico - and the Northallerton-based racer carried on as if he'd never been away with a no nonsense performance in his opening ride to finish in third place.  That was just short of seeing Hodgson through to the all-important semi final - but in heat eight he put that right sweeping to a popular victory and avoiding the lottery of the Last Chance. The other big name on display in the main Short Track event was GB Superbikes hero, Guy Martin fresh from some sensational displays in this year's Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races.  Martin failed just where Hodgson had succeeded and was indeed pitched into the repercharge race as a last chance of reaching the final stages of a hugely keenly contested championship.

Cue the heavens opening and Martin was an unlucky casualty of the sudden and dramatic downturn in the weather: tumbling out on the very final bend of the last lap when in a qualifying position.

The semi-finals saw success for the two most experienced Speedway men on show: Adie Collins (nephew of one-time World Speedway champion, Peter) and Adam Allott.  Both Collins and Allott had thrilled the crowd by getting right out into the deeper dirt on the banking of the spectacularly -appointed South Tees Motor Park circuit - and Allott's comprehensive beating of reigning champion the Italian master, Marco Belli in the semi promised much for the Final.

The downpour, though, was by now taking a real hold onto the track and was to cause mayhem in the denouncement to proceedings.  And Belli was to prove not just reigning champ but raining champion too: dominating the Grand Final with the unlucky Allott only able in the end to finish fourth.

Filling the rostrum positions behind the Italian were Yorkshireman, Steven Hall and the fast-improving Ben Wells from Hull.  Wells received the Helmets4u Rider of the Meeting award.

In the CCM-backed Junior championship event, Ben Baker from Skegness finally ended reigning GB Youth champ Tom Woolley's incredible year-and-a-half long unbeaten run.

Meanwhile in the competition for larger, multi-cylindered machines, the awesome Thunderbikes division, there was no mistake by the 2007 champion and current series leader, Peter Boast - the one-time Ice Racing World number three steering his 650cc Suzuki to victory from Steve Coles and Mark Selby.

There was Quad action too to warm the hearts of enthusiasts for this four-wheeled brand of racing growing ever-popular in the north-east with Alan Hooker on his 350cc Banshee screaming to victory in the Welbourns of Wisbech ST Quads event.

The Silkolene-sponsored Short Track series moves on next to Buxton in August with hopes that the event will be back at the STMP next year.
 
Silkolene Shorttrack Grand Final Result Round 3
1st 1 Marco Belli...................510 CCM
2nd 77 Steve Hall.................570 MRS KTM
3rd 11r Ben Wells................450 Revs Suzuki
4th 14r Adam Allott..............450 Joe Booth Racing
5th 54 Pete Boast.................450 Team Suzuki
6th 10 Tim Greig....................450 ASR Honda
7th 90r Aidan Collins............450 Buckingham Vans Honda
8th 9r Richard May................450 CCM
9th 15 Victor Bull...................450 No Bull Yamaha
10th 84 Justin Hargate.........450 Helmets4u Honda
11th 49 Rusty Hodgson.......450 Dynomax CCM
12th 71 Glyn Pocklington....450 Helmets4u Honda

Thunderbikes
1st 54 Pete Boast..........650 Team Suzuki
2nd 28 Steve Coles.......600 Honda
3rd 73r Mark Selby........600 Suzuki
 
CCM Junior Championship
1st 7 Ben Baker...............250 Kawasaki
2nd 1 Tom Wolley...........230 CCM
3rd 4 Tom Welbourn......230 CCM

Welbourns ST Quads Championship
1st Alan Hooker...............350 Banshee
2nd Charlie Webourn ....525 Polaris
3rd Mark Hooker..............350 Banshee