FAB-Racing returned to Ellough Park for a blistering quick weekend

It was a sunny weekend in Suffolk for round four of the FAB-Racing Minibike British Championship at Ellough Park. There were thrills and spills throughout the weekend with lap records broken in another weekend of FAB-Racing which will go down in the history books.

MiniGP50

Luke Fitchett led the way into turn one from his rival this season, Marco Holt onboard the #58 machine. Wilson Dilks and Archie O’Brien were behind, and the top four riders began to try and make a breakaway. Byron Johnson was in fifth position at the end of the first lap, ahead of Frankie Watson and Finley Polhill. Austin Johnson was in eighth ahead of Sam Gardner and Travis Shaw to round out the top 10.

Marco Holt began to try and make his overtake at turn seven, putting pressure on his championship rival. Holt made the move stick at turn one in a perfect overtake, allowing no way through for Fitchett. Marco Holt’s bike cut out, dropping him down to eighth position and promoting Fitchett into the race lead.

At the line, it was Luke Fitchett who took the race win by two seconds from Wilson Dilks in second. Archie O’Brien was delighted with a podium in third position, finishing ahead of Byron Johnson and Frankie Watson.

In the second race, it was Frankie Watson who led the way into turn one, with poleman Holt making a terrible start. Watson led the way for only two corners before he would crash out of the race. Wilson Dilks was the rider who was able to capitalise on Watson’s mistake and allowed him to take the race lead. Luke Fitchett was in second place, defending from O’Brien and the catching Marco Holt.

Luke Fitchett would soon take the race lead from Dilks and try to create a gap in the race lead. Fitchett was unable to create a lead and eventually, Holt caught the font group, and would soon pass O’Brien and Dilks. This led to an incredible battle for the race lead which would go down to the final couple of laps.

At the line, it was Marco Holt who took the race win by two seconds from Luke Fitchett in second. Wilson Dilks came home in third place, finishing ahead of Archie O’Brien, Byron Johnson, and his older brother Austin Johnson.

In the final race of the weekend for the MiniGP50s, Marco Holt made a great start allowing him to take the race lead. Luke Fitchett slotted in behind in second place, however, a red flag would come out after a crash from Annabelle McCarthy. She would get onto her feet and the race would be restarted for a reduced race.

Frankie Watson led the 24-bike field through the first corner and the opening lap and led the way ahead of Holt and Fitchett. Holt and Fitchett eventually found a way through Watson with the top three riders beginning to break away. Holt created a comfortable gap of over a second and would stay that way as the chequered flag waved. Frankie Watson managed to finish in an incredible second place after a spectacular battle with Fitchett in third.

LS2 Helmets MiniGP70 British Championship

Marco Holt and Wilson Dilks were on the front row of the grid, with Henry McCartney and Archie O’Brien behind. Marco Holt led the field into turn one but would be swiftly taken by Henry McCartney. Luke Fitchett was behind in third, ahead of Wilson Dilks, Blake Wilson, and Archie O’Brien. Holt and McCartney would have a great battle, but it would end in disaster at turn three after McCartney lost the front and would take Holt with him.

Dilks now led the way from Fitchett and O’Brien who were having their own battle for second place. Archie O’Brien had a crash two laps later, crashing out of third position. McCartney would have further issues and be forced to end his race at the side of the track.

Wilson Dilks had a dominant final couple of laps, taking the race win by almost three seconds from Luke Fitchett. Blake Wilson ended the race in third place after trying his best to find a way through on Fitchett. Bill Harris had a great ride, finishing the race in fourth and ahead of Austin Johnson.

In race two it was Marco Holt who led the competitive field through the first lap, ahead of Wilson Dilks. Archie O’Brien and Luke Fitchett were in third and fourth with Blake Wilson behind in fifth. Henry McCartney was sent to the back of the grid due to the incident in race one, but he would retire at the end of the first lap, due to mechanical issues.

It was a thrilling race two with Holt and Dilks duking it out until the final corner, where Marco Holt would take the race win. Dilks finished just 0.254 behind, showing the competitiveness of the LS2 Helmets MiniGP70 class. Archie O’Brien ended race two on the podium in third, finishing ahead of Fitchett and Blake Wilson in fourth and fifth.

It was time for the final race of the weekend, and it was Marco Holt who led the field in a near-identical race start. Luke Fitchett was behind in second place, with a gap starting to form between himself and the race leader. Archie O’Brien was in third place in the early stages with race one winner, Dilks down in fourth.

Drama struck for Luke Fitchett who had a brake failure on his motorcycle but would luckily walk away from the incident. The race continued at the front of the field with Holt unable to break away from Dilks and O’Brien. At the line, it was March Holt who managed to hold onto the race win and close in the gap to Fitchett in the championship. Wilson Dilks finished ahead of O’Brien at the line, with Blake Wilson and Finley Polhill off the podium.

AC40 Rookies

Caelan Ratcliffe had an incredible weekend in the AC40 Rookies class, winning all three races in the sunshine in Suffolk. Championship leader, Jenson Ansell finished in second place in all three races throughout the weekend as he starts to get out under pressure. Max Johnson and Kai Hawken shared the third-place slot throughout the weekend.

Jenson Ansell’s championship lead is now an incredible 84 points, ahead of Kai Hawken with Ratcliffe closing in third. The lap record was also shattered in the AC40 Rookies class with Ansell setting a 58.002 in race two.

AC40 Pro

Preston Baker was the overall race winner in the AC40 Pro class, winning two races throughout the weekend. Taylor Tomlinson crashed in races one and two but would bounce back in race three to win. Sebastian Gaslawski shared the podium throughout the weekend with Rex Austin and Logan Couzens in a dramatic three races.

Preston Baker also left the weekend as the new lap record holder in the AC40 Pro class after setting a time of 52.894 in race two. The championship is also starting to heat up with Rex Austin closing his gap to Tomlinson for the championship lead.

LC40 Elite

Harrison Day had a magical weekend in the LC40 Elite class, taking the triple throughout the weekend after winning all three races. Bryon Johnson had no response at Ellough Park and finished in second place. Matthew Thomas continued the consistent run in the LC40 class after finishing third place all in three races after Lewis Hull had a mixed weekend behind. No lap records were broken this weekend; however, it is the first time this year that Byron Johnson has lost a race. As the season is progressing the championship is beginning to get intense with Johnson’s gap reducing by 15 points.

Tune into the next round of the Road to MotoGP series, FAB-Racing right here on Motorsport Radio, we have full live coverage of every race on Sat & Sun July 15th & 16th from Llandow.