Castle Combe Motorcycle MeetingMotor cycle racing fans get their only local fix of the year at the Castle Combe Circuit’s sole ‘bike’ race meeting over the weekend of June 27 and 28. Billed as the ‘biggest and best meeting outside of British Superbikes’ it’s a meeting where there is something for everyone. The many modern solo races are contrasted effectively with races for the popular ‘Formula 2 British Sidecar Championship’ featuring the three TT podium crews of Birchall, Harrison and Holden. A special ‘Classic Parade’ marks an important anniversary in the circuit’s history. 50 years ago saw the longest race in Castle Combe’s 65 year history - appropriately, for motor cycles! The Grand Prix D’Endurance was apparently regarded as an epic meeting and is also the only race at ‘Combe’ ever given the ‘Grand Prix’ moniker. The parade features examples of the three winning bikes from the meeting – the outright winning Triumph Bonneville, the Velocette 500cc Thruxton model and the Gloucester made 250cc Cotton Conquest. This will be the first time in 50 years the bikes will have been seen on the circuit together. The full race programme from the NG Road Racing club features a plethora of races and classes, from 125s upwards, with the famous Mr Blast ‘King of Combe’ race attracting the fastest riders. The 250GP ACU National Championship brings pure race bikes such as the TZ250 Yamaha of Melksham’s Darryl Higgins, a multiple winner at Castle Combe. Most of the local interest comes in the Open and 600 races. Dan Cooper from Stroud competes in both on his Honda Fireblade and CBR 600RR respectively. He is a former British 125 GP champion and 2015 Isle of Man TT Privateer Cup winner and is also an instructor at Castle Combe. Another local rider in those two races is Josh Day from Cirencester on his Ruby Racing Triumph Daytona 675. He is a former British National 600 Superstock Champion and currently runs in the British Superbike 600 Evo series. Also doubling up is Max Symonds from Salisbury, the former National ‘Superteen’ champion who is also a multiple NG champion in Formula 125 and 600. He rides a ZX6R Kawasaki In the ‘Sound of Thunder’ is Nigel Manning-Morton from Chippenham on his Dataline Express VTR SP1 Honda. Nigel was a multiple NG champion in the 1990's on a ZXR750 Kawasaki. Many of those riders will also be competing for the big prize in the King of Castle Combe Trophy Race whilst nostalgia is rife in the Lansdowne Historic series races, backed by Bonhams. The event gets under way at 9:00 am with practice, qualifying races start at 10:00am and the feature races of the day from 14:00 pm. Admission prices on Saturday are £10 for Adults, £7.50 for OAPs. Sunday prices are £15 and £10, whilst weekend tickets are £20 and £15. Weekend camping passes are £10. Accompanied children under 17 are admitted free on both days. For further information, visit the Castle Combe Circuit online at www.castlecombemotorcycling.co.uk, Facebook or Twitter.
Click here for the Castle Combe Circuit web site - designed and built by Racecar
