British Superkart Racing from Silverstone

British Superkart Association F125 Open Championship 

Silverstone International Circuit – Rounds 1,2 & 3

CATTERMOLE OFF TO A PERFECT START  

Reigning English Champion Kirk Cattermole made a big stride towards adding the number one plate to his collection by winning all three races at Silverstone. But it wasn’t easy and he was pushed all the way by former champion Danny Butler. 

It was Lee Harpham from the second row of the grid in Race 1 that led into Abbey for the first time and kept the position at the end of the opening lap. Right behind was a swarming mass led by Butler from Cattermole, Sam Moss, Liam Morley on the new 125cc DEA, Noel Brennan, Phil Garrett and Matt Robinson. Harpham’s gearbox locked and spat him off at Village, dropping him to the back of the field. Cattermole took the lead on lap and gradually pulled away from the squabbling pack behind to win by 4.520s. The race for second place was anybody's. After Harpham’s demise Butler looked as if he had made second place his own but the pack caught him. Garrett held the spot for a couple of laps and traded paint with Butler. Then former Senior Rotax driver Matt Robinson took over. Butler regained second place on the last lap and held it to the flag.  Robinson made a mistake at Club Corner on the last lap and ran wide allowing Liam Morley to sneak past to secure third place on the DEA. He also set the fastest lap to claim pole position for the next race. HRK drivers Garrett and Edwards sandwiched Moss to claim 5^th to 7^th with Jake Coward coming through from the back of the grid to claim 8^th spot. Brennan pitted at the end of lap 9 with carburation issues and Harpham followed him in shortly after. The gearbox had locked again sending him off the circuit and rather than risk further damage he retired.

Race One (11 laps)

1 Kirk Cattermole (Raider SGM) 13m 03.577s (93.53mph)

2 Danny Butler (Anderson TM) 13m 08.097s

3 Liam Morley (Anderson DEA) 13m 08.528s

4 Matt Robinson (Anderson Redspeed TM)

5 Phil Garrett (HRK TM)

6 Sam Moss (Anderson TM)

Fastest Lap Morley 1m 10.040s (95.13mph)  

After fighting my way through the hordes of JapFest fans I joined Jake Sanson and Dave Goddard in the commentary box. We were all looking forward to another cracking race and weren't let down. At the end of the opening lap in Race 2 Butler led Cattermole, Matt Robinson, Ian Larder, Coward, Morley, Moss, Garrett, Edwards and Harpham. Only 1.8s covering the first 10 drivers. Butler held off Cattermole for 3 laps before the English champion took over on lap 4. Behind them it all got a bit messy with contact made between Matt Robinson and Jake Coward at the chicane. This allowed the leaders to open up a gap of 2.5s. Their advantage grew as they traded the lead position with Kirk just getting the win by 0.128s. Behind them, the race for third place was intense and positions changed at every corner. Garrett spun out and dropped back on lap 7 and two laps later Morley received a whack which necessitated a visit to the pits and retirement. Edwards also spun dropping to the back of the field. Trevor Roberts found himself in 3rd place as they started the last lap but was squeezed at Stowe and spun. Moss also spun and went across the infield before joining the tarmac dropping back to 11^th place in the process. All these changes allowed the Redspeed team to have a formation finish with Harpham just holding off Matt Robinson and Neil Robinson for third place with Kevin Gray getting 6th spot.

Race Two (11 laps)

1 Kirk Cattermole (Raider SGM) 13m 02.894s (93.62mph)

2 Danny Butler (Anderson TM) 13m 03.022s

3 Lee Harpham (Anderson Redspeed TM) 13m 13.966s

4 Matt Robinson (Anderson Redspeed TM)

5 Neil Robinson (Anderson Redspeed TM)

6 Kevin Gray (Anderson Redspeed TM)

Fastest Lap Cattermole 1m 10.125s (95.01mph)  

After the excitement of the previous race, could we all survive another 12 minutes in Race 3. Spots of rain hampered the early stages and kept all the drivers on their toes but at the end of the opening lap Kirk Cattermole had already built up a lead of nearly 2 seconds over Danny Butler with Morley another 1.2s back just ahead of Moss and Harpham. Kirk appeared to be enjoying the conditions and increased his lead but when the track started to change he made a mistake and Danny was on his rear bumper at the end of lap 6. They proceeded to run nose to tail for the remaining 4 laps with Kirk getting his third win of the day by 0.111s, the closest margin all day. Once again third place was hotly contested with Jake Coward getting the verdict from Lee Harpham after some side by side racing. They were just ahead of Moss, Morley and Matt Robinson. Chris Needham had come through the pack from a back of the grid start position to hold 4th place at the end of lap 6, but the big end let go and he retired for the third time.

Race Three (10 laps)

1 Kirk Cattermole (aider SGM) 12m 14.382s (90.73mph)

2 Danny Butler (Anderson TM) 12m 14.493s

3 Jake Coward (Anderson Vortex) 12m 19.993s

4 Lee Harpham (Anderson Redspeed TM)

5 Sam Moss (Anderson TM)

6 Liam Morley (Anderson DEA)

Fastest Lap Chris Needham 1m 10.305s (94.77mph)   

Championship Points (after 3 rounds)

1 Kirk Cattermole 90pts

2 Danny Butler     75

3 Matt Robinson    54

4 Jake Coward      46

5 Lee Harpham     42

6 Sam Moss          40

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