The Brit pack of Iddon, Winstanley and Warren fresh from the World
Championships will be making a welcome return to UK action alongside Belgian
ace Fred Fiorentino and French hotshot Sylvain Bidart for the third round of
the Vivaldi British Supermoto Championship at the Rockingham Motor Speedway
on July 31st as part of a 100 plus field.
A growing number of local riders are now stepping up to international
competition in the Supermoto World Championship, European and other major
national championships. Leading the British contingent is Christian Iddon
who is currently fourth in the World S1 class with Sam Warren 12th and Matt
Winstanley eighth in the ultra-competitive S2 class.
Add to the mix for this weekend French Supermoto star Sylvain Bidart who is
taking on local riders courtesy of MW Racing of St Helens with help from
Triple A Racing on a specially prepared MWR CRF525 in the SM1 class. The 20
year old Bidart who lives in Pau in the South West of France is the
revelation of this year's Maxxis French National Supermoto Championship.
In only his second full year of Supermoto racing, Bidart is already a
regular podium visitor taking on some impressive names such as Van Den
Bosch, Chambon and Blot. Gaining a place in the French top three is no easy
matter and the youngster will no doubt be keen to achieve the same level of
success on his first ever visit to the UK.
The format for the weekend at the Corby, Northants circuit will be the same
as other championship rounds this year with the Saturday being a practice
day for all-comers. Sunday is race-day for SM1, SM2, SM4 and Clubman's
Trophy with the action commencing at 10.00am and continuing throughout the
day.
The start/finish line of the specially designed circuit will be in the
shadow of the Turn 4 seating area and main grandstand making an impressive
backdrop to the championships first visit to the motor speedway. The course
will be an interesting 60/40 combination of tarmac and gravel. It is
expected that the higher percentage of gravel will prove to be a real test
for riders, making tyre choice and set-up a challenge.
To further spice things up Naturally Best, the company behind Vivaldi
potatoes and the title sponsors of the British Championship are offering a
£1,000 to the Naturally Best, Rider of the Day. The winner of the award is
selected by a panel of experts with Sam Warren and Fred Fiorentino the
recipients at the first two rounds. The bonus scheme represents a
substantial purse for the sport so expect every rider to be going all-out to
impress the judges.
The spectators haven't been forgotten either with the organisers putting a
numbered ticketing system in place for a competition on the day with several
fantastic prizes up for grabs including a free day's tuition at the Yamaha
Supermoto School, VIP Hospitality at a British Superbike round courtesy of
Vivaldi Racing and a gift voucher from Dave Clarke Racing.
For information on the Rockingham Motor Speedway including directions to the
circuit please logon to www.rockingham.co.uk
