British Talent Cup: Brown and Belford share wins at Brands Hatch

The City Lifting by RS Racing riders Carter Brown and Evan Belford shared the spoils at Brands Hatch. Brown narrowly pipped his teammate to the line in Race 1 while Belford just prevailed over James Cook (Wilson Racing) in Race 2.

Cook had completed the podium already in third on Saturday and went one better on Sunday. Johnny Garness (City Lifting by RS Racing) bagged a rostrum spot in Race 1, only marginally ahead of Brown. Ryan Hitchcock (Wilson Racing) completed a solid weekend with two top 5 finishes.

Belford extended his championship lead to a 40 points advantage over Garness with Brown another six points adrift in third. Casey O’Gorman (Microlise Creswell Racing) was forced to sit out the weekend due to concussion symptoms following his Knockhill accident and sits fifth, 81 points off top.

RACE 1

Belford had a great start from pole and went into Paddock Hill Bend unchallenged for the holeshot. Brown was the only rider able to keep up and shadowed his teammate over the opening laps.

The duo ran far superior pace and swapped paintwork only between themselves. A fierce battle raved behind them though between Garness, Cook, Sullivan Mounsey (iForce Lloyd & Jones) and Hitchcock.

Cook prevailed and gained some breathing space to run comfortably in third at halfway distance. Garness and Hitchcock were left contesting for fourth, two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Belford and Brown did not give each other an inch, but as the teammates exchanged punches, Cook gradually closed in. By the time they reached Lap 12 of 14, the #34 had closed the leaders down.

Brown claimed the top on Lap 13 through Westfield and Dingle Dell while Belford’s race almost came to a premature end with his bike shaking heavily through Sheene Curve.

Belford stayed composed and overtook first Cook then Brown through Paddock Hill Bend and Druids on the final lap. Brown responded immediately, reclaimed the position and kept his opponent behind him by seven hundredths at the chequered flag.

Hitchcock beat Garness to fourth while Cormac Buchanan (Microlise Creswell Racing) had prevailed in and cleared a fiercely contested group to claim P6.

RACE 2

Belford had a flying start from fourth and stole the holeshot into Paddcok Hill Bend. The early stages were a tale of two duels as Belford and Cook gapped Garness and Brown who had Hitchcock in pursuit.

Cook claimed P1 on Lap 3 when Belford ran wide at Druids and the pair kept swapping positions between them. Halfway through the race, they were more than four seconds clear of their chasers. Garness had gained some breathing space in third while there was nothing to separate Hitchcock and Brown.

Brown looked determined to take at least a podium and swiftly claimed Hitchcock to stop Garness escaping. On Lap 9, the Race 1 winner was back in a rostrum spot, but late pace brought Walker into the mix for a fierce four-horse-race for third.

Belford and Cook constantly exchanged punches and entered the final lap closely together. Cook fired the first shot and claimed the lead at Paddock Hill Bend, but Belford retaliated. Defensive riding meant the race came down to a drag to the line where Belford just had the edge. Garness narrowly beat Brown to the final podium spot ahead of Hitchcock and Walker.