CHAMPION OF BRANDS TITLE
AFTER EVENTFUL WEEKEND!
Following an eventful weekend,
it finally all came together for Neil Faulkner
and the Team Emco Yamaha R1. Attracting some
of the countries best British and National
riders, the final was always going to be
a tough challenge. The sought after AMC Matchless
trophy has been won in the past by the likes
of Barry Sheene, John Surtees, Phil Read
and Geoff Duke.
The grid for the feature event was set by a
series of Open 1300 races over the weekends
BMCRC/MRO final weekend. Having crashed in
the first qualifying race whilst challenging
for the lead, Neil was forced to sit out the
rest of the day with a suspected broken right
hand. Following some treatment overnight, Neil
managed to get out for the first of the two
qualifying races on Sunday all but with a badly
swollen hand only just fitting in his glove.
Faulkner got away with the leaders and having
forced his way to the front, began pulling
away from MRO Stocksport champion Steve Mercer
in second. Unfortunately it was not to be and
entering the downhill section of Graham Hill
bend, Faulkner lost the front of the Emco Yamaha
and slid out of the race. Some consolation
was taken from the fact that Faulkner was given
the fastest lap of the weekend so far which
put him on pole position for the main race.
However, with Faulkner sitting out of the last
qualifying race to give his battered body a
rest, Mercer took the win from British championship
rider James Webb, both going a hundredth of
a second quicker than Faulkner’s previous best
lap.
So for the Champion of Brands, the front row
consisted of Steve Mercer, James Webb,
Neil Faulkner and Rob Elsmere. When the lights
went out Mercer got the hole shot followed
by Webb and Faulkner. Webb, slipped past Mercer
at Druids, followed by Faulkner a lap later.
The two began pulling away over the next couple
of laps with Mercer clearly struggling to keep
up the pace. Faulkner then passed Webb for
the lead and looked comfortable considering
his physical state. As if to underline how
hard Mercer was having to try, seven laps in,
out came the red flags after he had a spectacular
get off at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend. read
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