Home racers set the pace at the Grange

Riders from all over region, racing across several categories, were cheered on at the Grange as they hurtled across the dirt providing some breathless action.

Crowds exceeding 150 enjoyed the wheel-to-wheel racing on a circuit built by the club just last year.

It was the club's fourth home event on the track and secretary Sam Warren announced her pride at the interest generated by the club, who are in just their fifth year.

She said: "It's a massive achievement that we've been able to fill most of the classes. We had 220 entrants out of a maximum field of 252.

"At times in the North Shropshire and South Shropshire groups they struggle on numbers in the MX2 experts, but we were able to fill the field.

"We've been chuffed to bits and the support from everyone has been amazing. We're over the moon. The lads (riders) have been fantastic.

"They work till dark and came here to prepare the track for the meet with the weeds six foot high – people couldn't believe how good the track looked."

The Grange circuit, measuring at 1.4km, saw 36 runs throughout the event across juniors, intermediate juniors, seniors and expert categories.

Within the junior, senior and expert categories, races catered for MX1 and MX2 classes. MX1 bikes, known as the big bikes, generally range between 250cc 2strokes and 450cc 4strokes size engines.

MX2 engines are used within smaller adult bikes, varying from 125cc 2strokes or 144cc 2strokes.

Shropshire riders dominated the MX1 seniors unlimited category, finishing in four of the top five placed racers.

Kurt Owen-Talbot, of Newport won all three of his races. He clocked up a total time of 14 minutes and 55.718 seconds in his first seven-mile race, before coming home in 15.39.987 in the second heat.

He took the flag in 11.29.864 in the final five-mile heat. Three wins had Owen-Talbot sit top of the tree with a maximum 150 points.

There was multiple Shropshire presence on the podium, as Cressage's Liam Pearce landed second place with 137 points.

Newport's Wayne Martin rounded off the top three on 131 points with Cressage's Alex Edwards following on 117, with Wrekin and District's Stephen Birt creeping inside the top 10 with 51.

In the unlimited seniors MX2 class, Newport's Liam Palmer took second place with 137 race points, with Olly Hathaway, of Worfield, close behind on 125.

Joseph Perrin, from the hosts Telford, made sixth on 107 with Shrewsbury and District's Ethan Stephens finishing 10th.

Clee Hill Victors' Robin Davies starred in the seniors' MX1 class, he managed second place overall following two third places, with a total of 129 points.

Telford's Darren Warrender, Fareth Williams, of Teme Valley, Cressage's Dan Edwards and Christopher Jukes, from Wrekin and District, all made the top 10.

Davies finished behind Michael Allport, as the Wellington-based rider claimed all three wins. Allport now turns out for Kinver Auto Club.

The experts MX1 class was greeted with a Shropshire one-two, as Bradley Tranter pipped Jamie Dobson to the top with two wins and a second-placed finish.

Tranter, from Wrekin and District, completed four laps in 08.07.752 to come second before claiming first in a marathon nine lap race, totalling 17.25.737.

Worfield's Dobson took two third places and a second.

Luke Phillips, Matthew Jones, Stephen Baddeley and Darren Bennett – representing Teme Valley, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Wrexham and Wrekin and District respectively – all secured top 10 finishes.

Oswestry and Wrexham rider Martin Jones stole the show in the expert MX2 class. He took two seconds and a first – including a top speed of 47.104mph.

Wrekin and District had a top 10 representative in Rory Jones, while Jamie Ashbrook (Newport) and Rob Keightley (Teme Valley) finished ninth and 10th.

The juniors MX2 category saw Market Drayton's Daniel Hadlington complete a clean sweep across his three races (two six-laps and one five-lap race).

Hadlington's top spot came courtesy of 150 points, he managed to complete a quickest lap of the 1,400m circuit in a rapid time of 02.3.121.

Other Shropshire interest inside the top 10 came from Wrekin's Dominic Arnold, in fourth, club-mate Joseph Rowley (fifth), the hosts' Liam Williams in seventh with Wrekin's Keelan Pitchford landing ninth.

The juniors MX1 saw Jason Fudge just fall short of top spot, despite picking up two second places.

Fudge (Newport) could only take eighth place in his six-lapped second race, with his overall total standing at 129 points.

Wrekin's Daniel Stone, who was victorious in race two, finished fifth overall with 119.

Christopher Pugh (Shrewsbury and District), Jordan Lane (Cressage), Samuel Waite (Telford) and Chris Worrall (Newport) all finished in the top 10.

In the intermediate juniors, there was joy for Oswestry and Wrexham's Finlay James who impressed by collating 147 points.

James' top spot included two race wins and a second place. He clocked up a race one top speed of 40.326mph.

Worfield's Conor Russell took sixth, with club-mate Oliver Wedgbury finishing ninth and Telford's Kieran Shaw securing a top 10 finish.

As ever, the element of risk remains in the sport, where 36 riders hurtle towards a first corner – over large bumps – at average speeds of 30 and 40mph.

Warren added: "We have a technical track and you have to be thinking all of the way, there are no let ups."

The Grange tastes more action on August 14 as Wolverhampton host their meet at the Telford club's base, before action returns on September 4 for Wrekin's meet.