One-off return for former champ Middleton (From Wiltshire Times)

One-off return for former champ Middleton

9:03am Friday 10th October 2008 in Sport News By Roger Barker

THRUXTON race circuit hosted the final round of the North Gloucester road racing season at the weekend, when Barrie Middleton, the 15-times club champion from Trowbridge, was once more donning his leathers to compete in two races.

The weather had not looked favourable when the seasoned rider took to the track for qualifying. The early morning start found the track cold with a biting wind that kept track and tyre temperatures uncomfortably low.

Riding the CSC Branson Racing Ducati 998s, which had not raced in anger for over a year, Middleton took to the track for his qualifying session.

Not wanting to push too hard for the first few laps he managed to get himself onto a very respectable 17th place on the sixth row.

Before his race started during final checks to his bike, he found that one of the rear shockers was loosing pressure so had to make a last minute change and also reset the front dampers to stop the bike bottoming out on the fast corners.

Race one saw Middleton take his place on the grid. The track was dry and temperatures had risen slightly. As the lights went out he made a good start but found his main competition was the Yamaha R1s, most of which were in front of him.

With only a few laps to get into the groove he made his move and managed to get into 12th position where he stayed until he crossed the finish line.

In race two, The Sound of Thunder, Middleton started in fifth. The rain had now set in with a vengeance and with a strong biting wind all the riders had to fit full wet tyres.

As the lights went out once more Middleton, who enjoys wet conditions, made a fabulous start and pushed his way through to third. Pushing hard for second place and riding through the debris of fallen riders and smashed fibreglass he picked up a rear puncture which ended his race only two laps from the end.

Afterwards Middelton said he was gutted to have had to retire as he felt he could have won the race.

“The weather conditions were horrendous and at one point I was nearly pushed off the track by sudden high gusts of wind.”

Asked if this was a return to racing full-time Middleton said: “Definitely no. This was a one-off weekend and although I have had a great time, it’s now a young man’s sport and costs to keep going through a season are very high.”

Also at Thruxton was Stuart Holloway, from Trowbridge, who sponsors the Protint UK Honda CBR 1000 RR Bide No 34 ridden by Dan Kift in the Metzeler /DTR 700 and 1300 Streetstock race.

Kift knew the up to 1300cc championship was up for grabs and after a challenging race in atrocious conditions managed to secure the championship title and take the cup.

Kift was obviously over the moon to win the championship and afterwards Stuart Holloway said: “It has been a fantastic year and a great weekend for Dan, even my races in the Phoenix Open and the George White 600cc were tough with the track conditions making it very hairy.”

Another local rider in the Sound of Thunder was Trowbridge’s up and coming Darren Crisp.

Crisp, on the Cyclops Environmental Services Triumph 675 qualified in a magnificent third and in a rain soaked race crossed the line in fifth.

Crisp said that he had just wanted to keep the bike on the track and not push too hard and risk falling off as the track conditions were very bad.

He was also very pleased to have secured fifth place in his first full season in racing.

Andy Hayes, from Hullavington, riding the Yamaha R6, won the Metzeler DTR 700 championship.