CLARK’S MASTER CLASS COME OUT ON TOP AGAIN AT SMALLBROOK

Ian Clark retained the GT140 Island Masters at the Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday night. On a night of hard and fast racing, Clark went through the evening unbeaten after a dominant and forceful display of motorcycle handling. On a track that had a lot of recent rain, it was particularly dry and at times dusty, but as it settled in the riders adjusted to the conditions and put on a great evening’s entertainment, with plenty of passing and close racing. 8 qualifying heats for a place in the final was the target for the 15 competitors with 7-man races. Clark showed his intentions from the off when, starting off the back grid, he set a new track record for this class of racing completing 4 laps in just 83.7 seconds, this after shaking off the challenge of Steve Newsham and Adam Hawker. Across the 8 heats there was plenty of action, with the final qualifying heat seeing Clark book his place in the final, although he was all but through beforehand. He once again stormed through smashing his previously set track record in 83.6 seconds, Max Broadhurst and Vinny Smith’s 2nd and 3rd also put them in the grand final. Before the main final there was a B final won by Lester Denham from Mark Evens. The main event saw Clark choosing the inside grid on the front row, next to him his main threat Wayne Broadhurst, with Max Broadhurst on 3 and Newsham on 4. Knight, Hawker, Tuck and Smith resigned to the back row. As the tapes rose, Clark shot away for a comfortable win with the father and son riders behind with Newsham breathing right up their exhaust pipes. Max was to suffer from machine problems, with Newsham coming through to pass him and Wayne as well, Hawker taking 4th. It was a sad ending for Max who was looking good after returning from injury, but, there were no issues for Clark who was cheered on by his vast following. There is more track action on Thursday 29th August when team speedway returns with the Wightlink Warriors taking on the Cradley Heathens in the second leg of the Vince Mapley Trophy.