By blue2bikes
November 17 2004

The Moto1 event is sure to go from strength to strength as the years go by. Although some of the big name riders - such as Glen Richards, John Reynolds and Steve Plater - did not attend due to other commitments or injuries, it was nevertheless a great weekend and one not to be missed next year.

Moto1 2004 winners - photo by Raceline photography

Although the real big names were not in attendance it was an event that was exciting, and covered everything a bike fan could wish for, with some riders not having ridden some of the machines in their spare time, never mind competitively.

It had its down side though, with “Flyin’ Ryan” failing in his quest to gain the new World Record long jump and injuring himself quite badly, although it was not life threatening. Falling just short of the mark for a good landing on his first attempt, his bike hit the rounded part of the banking, throwing him skywards to 40 feet high and forcing him to him land badly, knocking himself unconscious. Injuries were to his jaw and his ankle, where a plate from a former accident came adrift. He is now recovering, and no doubt he will be back for another attempt.

Moto1 2004 - photo by Raceline photography

Gary Taylor - often copied but never quite matched - was in attendance, showing everyone how to really fly high, and completing tricks others have only attempted to perfect on a BMX bike. Thrilling the crowds at 30 feet above the ground, he surely is one of the great freestyle motocross riders of our times.

The final round of the World Stunt championships was also taking place over the weekend, along with the world famous Purple Helmets doing what comes very natural to them and very difficult for others. Other events were to include the Classic Road Races, with machinery we have seen hit the headlines in the old days when the Nortons, Triumphs, MV Agustas, BSAs and many more were the front runners of the racing world. Not forgetting those who rode them, who were here to show that you are never too old to race bikes. People like,Tommy Robb, John Cooper, Sammy Miller, Chris Vincent,and Stanley Woods, to name just a few - truly great riders from an era the likes of which we shall never see again.

The day started overcast and somewhat damp, but the spirits of the riders were high, and anticipation filled the air with the hustle and bustle in the pits as riders got their machines ready for the first event of the day. The Trials proved a somewhat more difficult task than first thought, with a great circuit in the wooded area on the infield, including some great obstacles to test even the most experienced riders, to say the least. Tight turns and a command of good balance were required throughout.

Proving too much for the road racers, they vetoed some of the obstacles because of the difficulty involved in getting over them. But some, including BSB rider Craig Jones, did attempt some of the difficult obstacles. Leaders after day one were to be: 1 Sam Connor, 2 Graham Jarvis, 3 Wayne Braybrook.

The Motocross being the event to watch, as most riders have at one time or another ridden a Motocross bike, the track was muddy and very adventurous for those who were not used to competing in such an event - with the top three at the end of day one: 1 David Knight, 2 Danny Smyth, 3 Ady Smith.

The Supermoto was a spectacle to behold - fast and furious on the mudded road surface and very wet and muddy on the off-road, with those behind the leader finding it difficult to see where they were headed, and with Karl Harris desperate to show he could hack it with the top guys. Leaders after day one were: 1 Leighton Haigh, 2 Knight, 3 Smith.

Onto the road racing, and it was a fight from the off with unexpected results for the BSB riders. Karl Harris not even finding himself in the top three come the end of the race, it was to be: 1 Tom Sykes, 2 Craig Jones, 3 Michael Laverty.

With the Sunday promising better weather, it wasn’t to disappoint with the sun coming out and the riders readying themselves for the day ahead. With Karl Harris pulling out after the road race on Saturday, it was still an event that will be talked about until the next time as everyone vied to better their scores from the previous day. With £6000 to the outright winner being the main prize, it was an all-out attack by all competitors.

So onto the Trials of the second day, with much of the same as the previous day but with more gusto, and the top three finishers after the first event of the day: 1 Jarvis, 2 Connor, 3 David Knight.

Crossing the infield to the Motocross event, and it was proving to be an event worth walking for as the top three finishers were to be: 1 David Campbell, 2 Knight, 3 Smith.

The Supermoto event was watched by almost all of the crowd, who had gathered around the whole of the circuit, and was without doubt 2003 Supermoto Champion Leighton Haigh’s event yet again, with the top three being,1 Haigh, 2 Knight, 3 Smith.

The final Road Race of the day, and the final race of the event, was as exciting as any I have seen in the British Superbike series. With everyone now familiar with the circuit and the way their bikes handled, it was an event not to be missed, with Tom Sykes, Dean Ellison and Craig Jones (BSB rider) vying for the first position. Dean Ellison, putting in a fantastic show having scored a lowly thirteen points, and Tom Sykes taking a win on Saturday, with Craig Jones in second, it was to prove that Tom Sykes was not taking any prisoners and, once again, came out the victor. Finishing order was to be: 1 Sykes, 2 Dean Ellison, 3 Jones.

Only three riders out of the whole field did in fact score in every round of the event, with the outright victory going to that man David Knight with 121 points. Ady Smith was second with 96 points and Wayne Braybrooke came in third with 77 points. The top road racers were to be Tom Sykes, 63 points; Michael Laverty, 45 points; and Kieran Clarke, 44 points, who I feel sure will be back next year to better their points totals and try to win the coveted Moto1 event.

It was a well deserved overall win by David Knight, who was a great competitor and the winner of the first 2004 Moto1 event. See you there next year when I suspect there will be an even bigger field of riders taking part, and David Knight tries to hold on to the coveted trophy.

Moto1 2004 - photo by Raceline photography

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To buy the photographs shown above, visit Raceline Photography
A gallery from this event follows here soon