A May Day weekend meeting literally packed with as big an array of races and racers as ever seen at Saddlebow thrilled the holiday crowd at the Norfolk Arena as the Pozzani Silkolene Short Track UK Championship got away from the tapes for another year.
Taking pole position in the chase for the prestigious Short Track national crown for 2009 (the UK’s equivalent of the American-style dirt track motorcycling discipline known Stateside as Flat Track) was the popular Cheshire-based speedster, Aidan Collins. Mounted on a Buckingham Van Sales Honda, the nephew of Speedway legend and former World Champion, Peter Collins dominated from the early stages – winning his heat and then the semi to set up a battle royale with reigning champion and perennial victor when the series visits King’s Lynn, the Italian, Marco Belli.
Collins made a flying start in the Final and was undeterred when proceedings in the 12 lap, 12 rider denouncement to the afternoon’s racing was brought to a premature halt when Geoff Baldock and Justin Hargate ended up in an untidy heap after a lap six coming together. From the line-out restart Collins reasserted his dominance with Belli holding off the attentions of former King’s Lynn Speedway captain Peter Boast and fellow Market Rasen-racer, Tim Greig.
Meanwhile in a first-ever 'Dash for Cash' event -qualification courtesy of fastest heat winning times – victory went to former British Grasstrack champ, Lincoln’s Andy Moore. Also making a first appearance as a championship class were the Mini-bikes, with the appropriately-named Darren Trapmore, indeed getting away from the traps more consistently than his opponents to grab success on his X Trail FT 150cc machine. At the exactly opposite end of the spectrum, the monster machine class, the RedMax Thunderbikes saw a first-ever round win for STUK regular Jon Lee: the self-styled Captain Highside holding off the challenge of defending champion, Boast.
The Juniors event saw the debut of Sam Woolley, younger brother of the previously undefeated Burton-based, Tom who has now moved up to the seniors. Woolley junior took second behind title favourite, Wisbech's Tom Welbourn. On four-wheels the Welbourns of Wisbech ST Quads again provided the public with some of the best action of the day. Proving a good small ‘un can beat a big ‘un was twice-national champ Alan Hooker on his trusty 350cc Banshee, screaming to success in the narrowest of finishes over the sponsors’ own Charlie Welbourn on a monster four-stroke 520ccOutlaw.
Next up for the STUK series will be the annual championship round in front of the huge crowds at the British Motorcyclist Federation’s event at the East of England Showground in Peterborough on May 16th. and 17th. As far as the Norfolk Arena’s concerned, fans can look forward to a series of free to spectate at Friday evening meetings starting next month: Flattrack Fridays debut on June 12th. at 7pm
