Iddon and Winstanley reign supreme in Sunderland

Supermoto
By Stuart Williams
May 31 2005

Iddon and Winstanley were simply unstoppable in the SM1 and SM2 classes at round two of the Vivaldi British Supermoto Championship at the Karting North East circuit in Sunderland. Lee Cunliffe had a clean sweep in the Clubman’s Trophy and Gennaro Dichello took both wins in the SM4 Junior Challenge.

Belgian rider Fred Fiorentino on the DCR Husaberg won the Naturally Best, Rider of the Day award.

SM1 Qualifying
Christian Iddon was on fine form all weekend which included a pole position in SM1 qualifying. Matt Winstanley pushed him all the way with a time just a tenth slower. Fred Fiorentino was third quickest and Sam Warren fourth.
Qualifying: 1 Christian Iddon; 2 Matt Winstanley; 3 Fred Fiorentino

SM2 Qualifying
Matt Winstanley may have missed just missed pole in SM1 but made no mistake in SM2 setting a time that kept him well clear of emerging talent Sam Warren. Fred Fiorentino bagged another third quickest time and Mathew Pope was up there once again rounding out the front row.
Qualifying: 1 Matt Winstanley; 2 Sam Warren; 3 Fred Fiorentino

(SM2 Race 1) Matt Winstanley takes convincing win
The first race of the day saw two pile-ups before the first lap was completed. The very first corner saw a number of riders crash heavily on the tarmac. Only a few hundred yards further on all the riders converged on the up-hill dirt transition which saw many lose a considerable amount of time.

Winstanley however made a clean break and it was left to Warren and Fiorentino to fight over second place with the two Husaberg riders running nose-to-tail for much of the race. Warren made a number of small breaks on Fiorentino in traffic but could never shake him completely. In the final corner Fiorentino nudged Warren but wasn’t able to unsettle him and he crossed the line in a well deserved second place.

Warren said that running in the World Championship was having a positive impact on his racing.
“Taking on the last couple of world championship rounds has definitely made a difference to my racing. Back-markers were a bit of a headache in this race but both Fred and I had the same problem so I’m pleased I managed to keep him out for the full distance.”

Results: 1 Matt Winstanley; 2 Sam Warren; 3 Fred Fiorentino

(SM1 Race 1) Untouchable Iddon wins first SM1 race
Christian Iddon was untouchable in the SM1 class taking a convincing win in the first outing. Winstanley did his best to stay with him in the early part of the race but crashed in the dirt section mid-race which allowed Fiorentino who had closed the gap on the leading pair to snatch second.

Ady Smith threatened to steal the final podium position early in the race but had to settle for fourth at the finish with Warren and Andy Mitchell the final two riders to finish on the lead lap.

Irish Supermoto Champion Greg Kinsella had a DNF on the first lap which proved to be the one disappointing result in an excellent day’s racing in the SM2 class where he recorded two fourth place finishes.
“I didn’t have the best round at Lydd with a few niggling problems including a couple of falls. Other than my DNF in this race I’ve had a really good day in SM2. The aim is to latch on to the top three in each class and hopefully crack a few podiums. The only downside to doing the British Championship is the all night trip back home and the 8am start at work tomorrow!”

Results: 1 Christian Iddon; 2 Fred Fiorentino; 3 Matt Winstanley

(SM2 Race 2) Winstanley stamps authority on SM2
Winstanley couldn’t have done any better than his pole and two race wins in SM2 with a convincing start to finish win in the second race of the day. Fred Fiorentino took another second place and Sam Warren rounded out the podium.

Rob Cross had another good result in fifth place and is now almost fully fit after breaking his leg at the Cadwell Park round of the championship last season.
“I had front-end patter in the first race but made a tyre change for the second which cured the problem. I was looking at a fourth in the second race but managed to fall of in the dirt which cost a place. I am now almost fully fit after my accident at Cadwell Park last season and I’ll be looking to break into the top three over the next few rounds.”

Results: 1 Matt Winstanley; 2 Fred Fiorentino; 3 Sam Warren

(SM1 Race 2) Iddon rules as Mitchell takes first podium
Christian Iddon dominated the final SM1 race of the day with a hard-charging Andy Mitchell on a Husaberg grabbing his first podium of the season. Fred Fiorentino came home in second with Winstanley fourth. Ady Smith on the KTM had another trying weekend with a DNF early on in the race.

Results: 1 Christian Iddon; 2 Fred Fiorentino; 3 Andy Mitchell

(SM4 Junior Challenge) Dichello takes Junior honours
The SM4 class for Junior’s made a welcome return to the British Championship with a small group of riders putting on a great show in front of the Sunderland crowd. Championship organisers have recognised that the future of the sport lies with the youngsters and will be working to increase the number of entrants through the remainder of the season.

Gennaro Dichello on the Pope Racing KTM was the best on the day with two wins and a pole position. Oliver Pope did well for second as did a (very) young Lewis Cornish on his Honda who finished third overall.

Overall Results: 1 Gennaro Dichello; 2 Oliver Pope; 3 Lewis Cornish

(Clubman’s Trophy) Cunliffe best of the privateers
Lee Cunliffe was the best of the privateers in the Clubman’s Trophy taking two wins. Scott Woodacre was second overall with Andy Conroy the first of the SM1 riders with third.

Overall Results: 1 Lee Cunliffe; 2 Scott Woodacre; 3 Andy Conroy

Fred Fiorentino, “Naturally Best Rider of the Day”
A very pleased Fred Fiorentino was the winner of the Naturally Best, Rider of the Day award. The Belgian rider threatened throughout the day and was desperately unlucky to not take at least one win, finishing with three seconds and a third in the SM1 and SM2 classes.