Lloyd Shelley ready to take fight to bigger bikes

The Staffordshire star upset the odds last time out on the Derbyshire circuit, taking victory in the Peak Cup on his 600cc machine while racing against bikes with up to 1000cc engines.

The iconic club racing circuit looks set to bathed in sunshine once more this weekend, although the marshals, riders and fans will be hoping for far less crashes this time out after round two was brought an abrupt end.

Burntwood ace Shelley, however, remained in top form, winning both the Peak Cup and Formula 600 races.

Darley spokesman Brian George said: “The Peak Cup class is certainly going to be an interesting class this year with Shelley upsetting the regular runners and taking victory on his Formula 600 machine last time out.

“Another new name currently heads the championship standings, Harry Jackson, who was beginning to close in on Shelley at the last round but he ran out of laps.

“His second place, however, did keep him on the top of the standings, with a slim five point lead over Shelley.”

Shelley will also be in Formula 600 action and will be favourite to claim all the race victories as he tops the class table, but several Midland riders will be hoping to stay in the hunt for championship honours, including Matt Zschiesche, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, who claimed third place on the final lap last time out.

Stone’s Richard Stubbs will be hoping for better luck this time round in the Mini Sound of Thunder after he failed to finish the only race of the meeting, losing his championship lead to Eliot Williams in the process.

The modern Formula 125 class will also be hotly contested with the top three separated by just one point.

Jeremy Knight and Calum Beach are level at the head of the table, while Willenhall’s McAuley Longmore, victor last time out, is just one point behind.

Stone’s Andrew Lowe won the Pre-Injection 600 class last time ahead of Andrew Scanlon and Tim Walsh.

But despite finishing sixth in class during round two, Joe Walton still leads the championship by eight points, with Lowe in second.

Fans of three-wheeled motorsport are sure to be entertained with the top three of the Open Sidecar championship split by just three points.

Gary Knight and Dan Evanson lead the way, ahead of Anthony Eades and his Wolverhampton passenger Keith Box by two points, while Roy Tansley and Chris Judge are a further point adrift.

Dudley’s Mark Cockerton leads Simon Collins in the Classic 350 class.

Wolverhampton’s Darren Spruce, who sits third in the Steel Framed 600, is still recovering from the serious injuries he suffered following a crash during round two.

Practice is set to start at 10am on Sunday, with the first race scheduled for 11.30am.

The cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £12 per day, £8 for senior citizens and children under 16 are free.

For the Stars at Darley event on October 9 the adult admission price is £16 and senior citizens £10. Advance tickets at discount prices are also available online from the Darley Race Shop or from the website, darleymoorstore.co.uk