Landrake - Race report
Round 5 of the Wulfsport AMCA Masters championship travelled to Landrake 1.8km long and just a few kilometres from bustling Plymouth. With Paul Smith in the lead after the previous round, qualifying was eagerly anticipated – and didn’t disappoint.
The “usual suspects” were on form and top of the sheet was the familiar name of Paul Neele. Third too was not a great surprise as James Shaw rattled off at least two laps in the 2min 12 second bracket on the complex but well prepared track.
Behind him Paul Smith and Bradley Lofthouse rounded out the top five leaving a cat among the pigeons in the guise of Zac Stealey in a well deserved second place. With Stealey – who was in 12th position in the points stands after round four – upsetting the established apple cart the four Kawasaki Masters races at Landrake would be epic.
As the flag dropped of the first moto Neale got the holeshot followed by Smith, Anthony and Williamson. While Williamson drifted away from the leading pack to finish in a creditable eighth after dropping as low as 11th on lap six, the top two held station for lap after lap and finished in the same order, Neil first and Smith a strong second. James Shaw pushed up to third pace on lap two and was never ceded to join the others on the podium.
And Stealey? Well, not on the podium, but the hard charging qualifier did acquit himself well with sixth place.
Race two turned into a fight for forth, fifth and sixth as the top three ended in the same positions as they left the gate with Neale once more on the top step, followed by Smith and Williamson. A measured ride by Loftfhouse saw him gain a position in each of the early laps until he ended in forth place ahead of David Anthony and, that man again, Zak Stealey.
In race three it was perennial fast starter Paul Neale who blasted away with the holeshot closely followed by some familiar faces. Bradley Lofthouse hung on to Paul’s rear wheel for the first lap but eventually succumbed to the pace to drop to forth and then back up to third by the penultimate lap. It was not to be though and Lofthouse was pushed further back to finish sixth with David Anthony ahead of him then Zak Stealey, Mark Dyer and Paul Smith as runner up to Neale.
The final race of the day presented one last chance for honours – and with so many “nearly men” showing good form it was an eagerly awaited clash.
Paul Smith it was that dominated this encounter being pushed throughout by a gaggle of fast riders. Smith took the win from a gritty ride by James Shaw with Paul Neale relegated to third spot.
Behind them the order changed once again and a strong showing by Lofthouse had him in forth with yet another new name, Edward Briscoe in fifth.
A great days racing, and one that saw the points table flattened at the top with all to play for in round six.
