3/9/07

2007 Manx Grand Prix

There were five Greeves entered over the three classic classes for this years 'Manx'. Ian Rycroft with his Greeves-Seeley in the Senior and Oulton in the Junior, Rob Price had George Ridgeon's 're-vamped' Oultons for both the Junior and Senior, and Mervyn Stratford with his Silverstone in the Lightweight.

Practice week was a struggle for just about everyone, due to cancelled and shortened sessions because of problems with the weather. Saturday nights first session was cancelled completely because of the rain and bad visibility just about everywhere, however if conditions had been good, it would have probably not gone ahead anyway due to a lack of marshals. By the end of the disrupted practice week two of the Greeves men, Rob and Merv had both qualified for their respective races. Unfortunately Ian failed to qualify due to lack of laps on the Greeves-Seeley, and not meeting the time on the Oulton.

Monday's Senior Classic race saw Rob in action on George Ridgeon's 380. Rob's race did not get off to a good start, as the bike oiled up off the line. Rob pulled in at the bottom of Bray Hill to change the plug and continued, after a confrontation with a marshal as to weather he was retiring or not. However his race was short lived as he retired later in the race with a broken primary belt. The Race was won at record speed by Ryan Farquhar (Paton), Chris Palmer (Matchless) 2nd, and Steve Linsdell (Paton) 3rd.

Wednesday's combined Junior and Lightweight classic race saw both Rob (Junior) and Merv (Lightweight) in action. The Race got underway in excellent conditions, with Rob being the first of the Greeves away. At the halfway stage both riders pitted to take on fuel, and then continued on to the finish. Rob brought the Oulton home in 23rd place in the Junior at a speed of 84.067mph, although with some of the bike hanging off including the fairing and brake pedal!. Merv took 6th Place in the Lightweight at a speed of 85.971mph and collecting a replica. Roy Richardson took the win in the Junior, from Farquhar and Chris McGahan, all on Hondas. Ewan Hamilton (Suzuki) took the win in the Lightweight ahead of Peter Richardson (Suzuki) and Dave Smith (Yamaha).

RS

16/6/07

Pre TT Classic 2007

Greeves win in Pre TT 250cc singles for fourth year in a row!

Mervyn Stratford took the win on his Silverstone for the 3rd time. Jamie O'brien also Greeves mounted led the first lap but retired on lap 2.
It was also a CRMC 1-2-3 with Tim Oliver 2nd and Allan Smallbones 3rd (both Ducati mounted). Allan unfortunately missed the podium as the officials did not realise he was third, after Roger Birkenhead retired from 2nd on the last lap!

Similar bad luck struck o'brien in the lightweight 250cc race (Twins and singles) as he again retired on the 2nd lap. Merv took his Greeves to 8th.
Ian Rycroft had entered his 350 in the singles race but was a non starter.

Roy.