The SM1 rivalry between Iddon and Winstanley is proving to be one of the
highlights of this year's Vivaldi British Supermoto Championship and
following on from some heated moments at Rockingham the two were at it again
in the second SM1 race of the day which proved to be an absolute thriller.
The pair were embroiled in a tense battle for much of the race after Warren
was overtaken early on by Winstanley. The KTM rider was then relegated to
second after a clash with Iddon on the final turn followed by a near miss on
the start/finish straight. Iddon went on to take the win despite broken
bones in his wrist and hand sustained after a fall in the first SM1 race.
It didn't go all their way though, with Warren stealing Winstanley's thunder
in the opening SM2 race picking up his first win of the season following on
from a pole in SM1. Fiorentino kept them honest virtually claiming the
third podium step as his own with up and comers James Addy and Matt Gordon
forcing their way into the top five in the SM2 class.
SM1 Qualifying;
Sam Warren was on it for SM1 qualifying posting his first pole of the season
by just a few hundredths of a second over Matt Winstanley with Christian
Iddon almost half a second further back.
- 1. Sam Warren
- 2. Matt Winstanley
- 3. Christian Iddon
SM2 Qualifying;
Matt Winstanley was the only rider in the SM2 class to record a time in the
1 minute 10's with Sam Warren continuing his strong form to place second.
Fred Fiorentino was third with a welcome return to the front row for Rob
Cross in fourth.
- 1. Matt Winstanley
- 2. Sam Warren
- 3. Fred Fiorentino
(SM2 Race 1) Maiden win for Warren;
Matt Winstanley took the holeshot in the first race of the day but wasn't
able to hold the lead for long after a low speed fall dropped him to eighth.
This allowed Sam Warren to snatch the lead on the first lap and promoted Rob
Cross to second which he held for most of the race before a fall in the dirt
section denied him of his first podium.
Warren was able to maintain the lead for the entire race despite some very
close attention from Cross then newcomer James Addy who following a tough
round at Rockingham found some form and finished the race in a commendable
fourth place. Fiorentino as always was lurking in the lead bunch and a hard
charging Winstanley fought his way back through the pack to finish second.
Warren though wasn't going to be denied and he took the chequered flag for a
well deserved first win of the season.
- 1. Sam Warren
- 2. Matt Winstanley
- 3. Fred Fiorentino
(SM1 Race 1) Winstanley wins battle with Warren;
Warren was in the thick of it once again in the SM1 race taking the holeshot
and holding the lead position for half the race over Winstanley and Iddon.
Iddon got past Matt on the first lap to take second before he went down in
the dirt section on lap four breaking bones in his wrist and hand which
allowed Winstanley and Fiorentino through.
Winstanley eventually got past Warren who was then caught by Fiorentino who
had a bad start and finally Iddon on the second last lap. Speaking after the
race Winstanley said the first SM1 race was a reasonably straight forward
affair.
"I messed up in the first SM2 race and went a little hot into the corner.
The track was still a bit cold and I lost the front-end letting Sam through.
In the SM1 race Christian got past me at the start but then he fell and I
got around Sam by the middle of the race. The only job then was to avoid the
back-markers."
- 1. Matt Winstanley
- 2. Fred Fiorentino
- 3. Christian Iddon
(SM2 Race 2) Winstanley back to the fore;
After something of an upset in the first SM2 race Winstanley returned to his
winning ways in the second outing of the day taking a relatively easy win.
Warren though was out to keep him honest and pushed him as hard as he could
finishing seven seconds in arrears. He was though a little lucky to get to
the grid after trouble starting his bike in pit lane. Fred Fiorentino once
again rounded out the podium with another fine third place finish.
Rob Cross' bad luck continued following a storming start which saw him hold
down fourth place in the early part of the race before another DNF
prematurely ended his day. This elevated Matt Gordon to fourth at the finish
which capped off his fifth in the first SM2 race. Warren said that it had
been a really good day.
"It's been a good day out. Picking up my first win of the season is great
plus a pole position in SM1 was a real bonus. I pushed Matt as hard as I
could in that race and kept him honest."
- 1. Matt Winstanley
- 2. Sam Warren
- 3. Fred Fiorentino
(SM1 Race 2) Iddon wins a cracker;
The two great protagonists put on a fantastic show for the final race of the
day with Warren and Fiorentino in the mix to make a freight train of four
riders making many a back-marker rather nervous. It was Warren who drew
first blood taking the holeshot and held the lead for the first couple of
laps. Winstanley eventually got past him and then a coming together on the
final turn allowed Iddon to take the lead. This was followed by the two
nearly clashing again on the start/finish straight.
With everyone holding their breath the Husaberg and KTM riders fought tooth
and nail for the remainder of the race. Completely oblivious to the goings
on behind them Fiorentino and Warren closed in with third place also
changing hands a number of times over the last few laps. It was Iddon though
in the end who won out taking the narrowest of wins from Winstanley with
Fiorentino third.
- 1. Christian Iddon
- 2. Matt Winstanley
- 3. Fred Fiorentino
(SM4) Dichello all class;
Gennaro Dichello continues to lead by example in the SM4 class for Junior's
picking up another clean sweep of a pole position and two wins. In fact, his
qualifying time on the little 80cc machine would put him on the back row of
the grid in both the SM1 and SM2 main events such is the young riders class.
Keeping him honest are the two Oliver's of Pope and Harrison with Lewis
Cornish coming home third overall on the day.
SM4 Overall:
- 1. Gennaro Dichello
- 2. Oliver Pope
- 3. Lewis Cornish
Naturally Best, Rider of the Day;
The cheque for the Naturally Best, Rider of the Day has already done some
travelling this year heading over to Belgium in the hands of Fred Fiorentino
at the last Sunderland outing. This time its gone West to Ireland courtesy
of Irish Supermoto champion Greg Kinsella. Having very nearly won the award
last time out at the Warden Law Motorsport Centre Greg qualified well in SM1
and had some bad luck in the second SM2 race. He then fought back from 25th
to eighth in the final SM1 race.
