By Stuart Williams
April 18 2005

The sun shone on the first round of the Vivaldi British Supermoto Championship at Lydd, with closely fought racing in both the SM1 and SM2 classes throughout, and spoils shared between Husaberg mounted Fiorentino and Winstanley on the KTM.

Iddon took a thrilling win in the final race, with Warren and Pope also figuring in the results. By popular choice the Naturally Best Rider of the Day award went to Warren.

SM1 Qualifying
It was an all Husaberg front row, with DCR backed riders Christian Iddon taking pole with Fred Fiorentino, Sam Warren and Leighton Haigh filling the remaining slots. Next best was Matt Winstanley on the KTM.
Qualifying: 1 Christian Iddon; 2 Fred Fiorentino; 3 Sam Warren

SM2 Qualifying
Fred Fiorentino went one better in the SM2 qualifying, taking pole position over Matt Winstanley on the KTM. Sam Warren repeated his SM1 efforts by once again recording the third quickest time, with Mathew Pope on a Honda rounding out the front row.
Qualifying: 1 Fred Fiorentino; 2 Matt Winstanley; 3 Sam Warren

(SM2 Race 1) Matt Winstanley open his ’05 Championship account
Fred Fiorentino on the DCR Husaberg took the hole shot on the first race of the day, from Matt Winstanley and Sam Warren. On the third lap Fiorentino crashed, dropping him to sixth and elevating Winstanley to the lead, which he held to the finish. Fiorentino didn’t give up though, and fought his way steadily back through the field to snatch second place from Warren with two laps to go.

Winstanley said that Fiorentino made a better start but once he went down it was a case of getting his head down and avoiding the backmarkers in the latter part of the race.
“Fred got the jump on me at the start, but once I got past him I had a clear track for a while, so I got me head down and made a break. The only problem was backmarkers towards the end of the race, but I knew everyone else had the same problem so I wasn’t too concerned. It’s a great way to start the season and I’ll be looking to try and repeat that in SM1, but it will be a little tougher from the second row.”

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

(SM1 Race 1) Fiorentino wins three way dog-fight
An intense three way dog-fight between Fiorentino, Winstanley and Iddon was the highlight of the first SM1 race of the day, with Iddon being the first to flinch in the later part of the race with a fall. Such was the intensity of the battle that the three opened up a substantial break on the rest of the field, allowing Iddon to re-mount and still come home in third place.

The second corner transition from tarmac to dirt proved to be focus of many of the biggest crashes of the weekend, with a pile up in the first SM1 race taking many riders out of contention. The best comeback was Sam Warren, who fell in the mêlée and then made a great recovery to come from virtually last to sixth.
“Everyone jammed into the first corner and I went down. By the time the dust had cleared I think I was pretty much in last place. I took it steady for the first few laps and then started moving back through the field to finish sixth. Running in four races today it takes a lot out of you. The aim is to be consistent throughout, and hope I’ve got the fitness to see me through to the end.”

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

(SM2 Race 2) Winstanley takes second win after start crash
The second SM2 race was red-flagged after Winstanley stalled on the start line and was a hit by an unsighted rider. The KTM rider had the leathers torn from his back and suffered some cuts and bruising, but was otherwise OK.

With a new set of leathers Winstanley bounced back on the re-start and headed the race from start to finish, with Fiorentino applying immense pressure throughout. Belgian ace, Fiorentino said that it was the one race he was a little disappointed with.
“Today was a good day with good weather. I am very happy with my team, there is a very good atmosphere, with the mechanics and Dave Clarke. In this race I am a little disappointed. I can overtake Matt but the opportunity was not there.”

Results: 1 Matt Winstanley; 2 Fred Fiorentino; 3 Mathew Pope

(SM1 Race 2) Last race thriller sees Iddon snatch victory
The last race of the day proved to be an absolute thriller, with Iddon, Fiorentino and Winstanley running nose to tail all race. Crossing the line three abreast it was Iddon who snatched victory with the narrowest of margins.

Leighton Haigh made a good start, moving into second place behind Iddon at the start, but faded as the race progressed eventually finishing in sixth. Meanwhile it was Iddon who led the race before dropping to third and coming back to win at the end.
“I made a good start in the last race, with Leighton behind me, but didn’t take advantage of it. It was a case of saving my energy to the end and I managed to pull it off. The Dave Clarke Racing team have done a great job. I now need to continue working, improve my fitness and get some more time on the bike.”

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

Sam Warren, “Naturally Best Rider of the Day”
After much deliberation by the panel of judges, it was Sam Warren who was presented with the “Naturally Best Rider of the Day” award and cheque for £1,000. The popular winner had qualified third in both classes, and made an excellent recovery in the first SM1 race coming from virtually last to finish sixth. Always in the mix for a podium finish he was an obvious choice.

Warren said the award was a fantastic boost and would enable him to have a crack at a World Championship round later in the year.
“This is just fantastic. We were looking to try and get the funding together to enter a World round later in the year. I’ve been talking to Fred (Fiorentino) and he reckons I’m up to the necessary standard, so this clinches it. I can’t thank Vivaldi and Naturally Best enough.”