The following companies are pleased to sponsor Robbie...

The Real Cycle People
44 George Street, Perth

ROBBIE RAMPANT

RED hot Scottish prospect Robbie Stewart scorched to a new lap record on his way to a faultless victory in the tenth round of the British 125GP Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire.

The talented teenager totally dominated the 15 lap race at the former airfield circuit, breaking the field from the start and then again after the intervention of the pace car on lap six. Stewart led from start to finish and comprehensively smashed Ashley Beech's lap record by 0.7 secs.

"It was an awesome display," said KRP team boss Mark Keen. "He picked up where he left off at Mallory Park and did everything right. I just told him he was the best rider out there and to get the holeshot and go for it from the start."

The 15-year-old did just that and his third new lap record of the season brings the team's tally to 12 UK circuits. "Strictly speaking KRP riders now hold the lap records at 11 BSB tracks, which is all of them except Brands Hatch Indy," explained Keen. "But Bradley Smith holds the record at Mallory Park pre Gerrards Chicane which makes 12!"

Keen gave Ulsterman Nikki Coates the same pre race advice and the Irishman made a strong start and followed his team mate off the line. But on lap five Coates was passed by Kev Coghlan and then hit the back of his rival's machine and crashed out in a bizarre and spectacular accident. "We're really not sure what happened," said Keen. "But Nikki felt he didn't do anything wrong and watching live on the monitor it looked as though Kev's machine might have hesitated slightly on a gear change. Nikki was just moving over into Kev's slipstream and they touched. The data shows he was travelling at 112.5mph at the moment of impact."

A dream start from the third row of the grid was indeed too good to be true for Tom Hayward and the Lincolnshire rider was awarded a jump start penalty. Trying to minimise the effect of the punishment, Hayward came in to the pit lane while the pace car was on the circuit but he was held by race officials until the entire field had crossed the line and his race, in any meaningful sense, was over as a result.

"Creeping a foot at the start cost Tom 43 secs but rules are rules," said Keen. "He had to come in within a certain number of laps and we didn't know if we could wait until the pace car had gone back in."

Anthony Rogers' up and down season continued, quite literally, with an enormous highside at the hairpin in second qualifying and the Norfolk teenager was badly beaten about in the fall. Told to build into the race and bring the bike home safely, Rogers followed the team's advice and rode well, passing a number of good riders to come through to finish fifth.

Bristol youngster Martin Glossop impressed Keen on his BSB debut by finishing 14th and recording the fourth fastest lap of the race. "Martin was on our fifth bike and as such it was not a fully sorted package to start with but we got it together for him," said Keen.

"I think he was a little overawed at first but he really enjoyed himself in the second half of the race and had some good scraps, getting up to 11th at one stage," Keen continued. "He was battling with Beech and Guiver and other big names and was only two secs from seventh at the finish."

Glossop is currently leading the ACU MotoStar Cup and hopes to run in BSB in KRP colours next season, subject to finance.

The next round of the British 125GP Championship is at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on August 27.

Reports from other rounds.

• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
•