MOTORCYCLING: Sleaford sidecar man's day ends in disaster

Sleaford's Gary Horspole and Jimmy Connell contested a round of the British F1 Sidecar championship at Mallory Park on Sunday, which began well but ended in disaster after a crash put the pair out of the second race.
Gary Horspole and Jimmy Connell on track at Mallory Park before disaster struck. Photo: Wally WaltersGary Horspole and Jimmy Connell on track at Mallory Park before disaster struck. Photo: Wally Walters
Gary Horspole and Jimmy Connell on track at Mallory Park before disaster struck. Photo: Wally Walters

Luckily neither rider Gary or his passenger Jimmy were injured in the incident and their outfit suffered just fairing damage.

Starting the first of two races from the third row, Gary powered the LCR Suzuki through to a sixth place finish after 12 gruelling laps of the short but technical Leicestershire circuit, but were elevated to fifth as one of the outfits that finished ahead of them was in the 600 class and ineligible to score points in the F1 category.

In the second race, Gary and Jimmy once again began their campaign from the third row. This time they got away to a better start and settled into fifth place, and fourth in class. As the race unfolded, they began to reel in Walker and Hawes who were holding third place in the F1 class.

But it all ended for Gary and Jimmy on lap 12 when they had a coming together with Bryan/Wynn on the run to the bus stop, which caused the red flag to bring the race to an untimely end and a non-finish for both outfits.

Gary said: “Everything was going really well for us. We could see Chris Walker was having a few problems with his outfit and we were reeling him in. I was thinking if I could get past I would be on for a podium finish, but I didn’t reckon with Gary Bryan trying to make a pass on me and we clashed and ended up against the wall, unable to continue.

“We got away unscathed but Gary and his passenger were taken to the medical centre for a check-up; luckily they were both OK. We have a break now for a few weeks and by the time we head out again for the next round at Donington Park, the outfit will be back up and running.”

Gary and Jimmy retained their ninth place in the overall rider standings on 87 points and now have a seven week break until the next round at Donington Park on September 18 when they will continue their battle for championship points to move them further up the rider standings.

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