2021 leaps off to a great start 

GP Originals finally returned last weekend after last year’s Covid-cancellations and it felt like our racing fix was long overdue.

Friday morning testing was paused by the tragic passing of Jack Scrivenor, a rider familiar to many throughout classic racing. We wish to pass on our condolences to his friends and family. 

Race to the Pole

41 riders entered the meeting hosted by Wirral 100 and qualifying was a busy affair. As expected the Chris Rose MOT Centre Yamaha piloted by Phil Atkinson took pole, posting an impressive 1:50.097 lap. Ant Hart’s 350 grabbed second spot and the 250cc of GP Original’s latest recruit, Phil Stead, rounded out the front row. Just 0.276 off Stead was Gary Vines with Nigel Palmer qualifying 3rd 250. Another GPO newbie, Nick Williamson took 3rd of the 350 runners and first of the Masters.

The new Motocarb ‘Motopole’ award provides £50 to fight over for each 250 and 350 pole position – going the way of Stead and Atkinson respectively.

With the test sessions and qualifying completed, 35 post-classic, two-stroke 250s and 350s were mapped out across 13 rows.

Racing gets going

Race one took off in great haste, a fragrant plume of blue smoke filling the air. The horde launched down into Cascades, elbows out, dicing for position. Ant Hart and Phil Stead clashed and Hart was demoted to the back of the field, Steady took the scenic route out of the race, spitting a few feathers along the way. The altercation handed Atkinson a large and comfortable early lead.

Glen English was on form on his wire-wheeled TZ350G, he enjoyed a battle with 250-mounted Vines who’s machine, unfortunately, didn’t make the end of the race despite posting the fastest 250 lap at 1:54.6. Another 250/350 exchange ensued between Nigel Palmer and Chris Moore — with the help of Steve Carthy Racing, Moore has built his BSR-framed TZ in double quick time, this being its very first test!

Old Hall claimed three riders who all emerged from the fencing bruised but without injury. Mark Edge, Nick Bedford and Derek Cripps were now out of the running, the race overall produced 11 DNFs from incidents or mechanicals! Perhaps a sign of the long lay-off we have all endured.

The Masters this season has a very strong field. QRG Motorcycles’ rider Nigel Palmer on his 250L took the honours from the 350s of Nick Williamson and Roy Chapman.

Hart regrouped to make his way back through to finish 3rd behind Atkinson and English. Palmer took first 250 and 5th on-the-road from the EMC Rotax of Jamie O’Brien and TZ250L of Colin Sleigh who both rounded out the top 10 overall.

Race two

Despite the heavy casualties of race one, the grid for race two still produced 30 riders. This time Phil Stead and Gary Vines took flight side-by-side on their TZ250s, taking the flag with just 0.646 from Stead to Vines. Phil Stead pushed the Redline Motorcycles 250 fastest lap award down to 1:53.472. Nigel Palmer claimed 3rd 250cc and just pipped Williamson by a mere 0.057 to the Master’s victory with Roy Chapman 3rd of the over-55s challengers.

In a display of close racing Jamie Edwards relished his maiden outing on the Teppanyaki 350 Spondon, he arrived at the flag in 7th spot (5th 350). In his wheel tracks was GTR rider George Thomas who showed great form throughout the meeting. Thomas fended off the dueling Masters of Palmer and Williamson with Jamie O’Brien and Dan Jackson equally close. The group were covered by just 1.3 seconds from 7th to 12th.

Atkinson pushed on hard to post a fastest 350 lap of 1:49.436 and scored a comfortable win over Hart. Chris Moore impressed again on his newborn TZ to take 3rd 350 and 5th overall behind the 250s of Stead and Vines.

Cash prizes and further rewards

Our excellent prize fund package for our main championships has been genorously provided by: AD Modular • Maxton Suspension • CBG Contractors • Xclusiv Group • RM Cycles

Each top three finisher across 250cc, 350cc and Masters receives a bottle of Crankshaft Brewery GP Originals Premix beer.

AD Modular 250cc results

• £50 Motocarb Motopole 250cc: Phil Stead
• £50 Redline Motorcycles 250cc fastest lap (1:53.472): Phil Stead
• £200 1st 250cc: Nigel Palmer
• £150 2nd 250cc: Jamie O’Brien
• £100 3rd 250cc: Colin Sleigh
• £75 4th 250cc: Phil Stead
• £50 5th 250cc: Mark Linton
• NGK Spark Plugs voucher 5th 250cc: Gary Vines
• Ragged Edge voucher 6th 250cc: Dave Grigson

Maxton Suspension 350cc results

• £50 Motocarb Motopole 350cc: Phil Atkinson
• £50 Redline Motorcycles 350cc fastest lap (1:49.436): Phil Atkinson
• £200 1st 350cc: Phil Atkinson
• £150 2nd 350cc: Ant Hart
• £100 3rd 350cc: Glen English
• £75 4th 350cc: Chris Moore
• £50 5th 350cc: George Thomas
• NGK Spark Plugs voucher 5th 350cc: Nick Williamson
• Ragged Edge voucher 6th 350cc: Dan Jackson

CBG Contractors Masters (over-55s) results

• £75 1st placed Master: Nigel Palmer
• £50 2nd placed Master: Nick Williamson
• £30 3rd placed Master: Roy Chapman

Awards throughout the field

• Tony Green Racing special achievement: Chris Moore
• Avon Tyre draw: Andy Glasgow, Stuart Tonge
• Steve Carthy Racing with Larsson draw: George Thomas, Grant Goodings
• Dennis Trollope Regina Race chain draw: Roger Marsh
• T-Rex Tape early entry rewards: x20 riders
• Gasket Guru Just missed it voucher: Grant Goodings

Thank you…

Wirral 100 put on a very efficiently run meeting, thank you to the race office team, marshalls and medics who made it all go so well. A heartfelt thank you to Michelle and Steve, Lorna, Carol, Abi, Tony and Louise who all did a sterling job looking after the tea-urn, awning and fantastic display of prizes and raffle ticket sales. Thank you to Jemma for working out all the points and results.

We really appreciate anyone pitching in to help put the awning up and take it down at our weekends away. With all of us chipping in, the Series just keeps on getting better and better. Please jump in whenever you can.

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