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Noel Curr has forwarded this article featuring the young Kiwi, Scott Columb.
Richard Fitch (20) clinched two second places on his ARW Team Suzuki and Hooper BTC Suzuki riders Lewis Gregory (18) and John May (19) claimed a third and fourth in the second moto at the opening British Under-21 Championship at Whiteway Barton, Devon on Sunday.
The fourth podium went to the 20 year old New Zealand newcomer Scott Columb (taken under the ARW umbrella this season by team owner Bob Inglis) who finished third in the opening race.
In the first moto, Fitch clawed back from a fifth place start to challenge for second when the race was red-flagged because of a heavy crash involving Gregory, who was unable to get up. And in the second, he charged from 10th.
Gregory was lying second in the first race, but crashed on the penultimate lap, severely winding himself just as he was challenging for the lead. He recovered in time for moto two and rounded the opening lap in third position, but crashed and dropped to 15th before mounting an amazing comeback to second place.
Team mate May, the fastest rider in timed qualifying, stalled his machine in the opening race when he was sixth, rejoined the race last, then stormed through to 17th place. And in the second, he worked through the field from sixth to third, but dropped a place when his rear brake started to fade in the closing stages.
ARW’s Columb, racing in his first UK event, screamed his 125 round against the four-stroke-dominated opposition, gating seventh in race one and moving to fourth, gaining a rostrum on Gregory’s disqualification. And in race two, he fought back from a first turn crash to claim eighth.
He said: “I really enjoyed the meeting. There are a lot of riders out there and the field as a whole seems a bit faster than at home, so I’m pleased with the way I rode.”
ARW Team Manager Rob Wainwright said: “Both riders rode well and I am pleased with the performance of the RM-125K4. We are looking forward to next weekend’s second round at Landrake where I think we can be even stronger.”
Results:
Overall: 1 Graeme Gowland (Yamaha), 2 Richard Fitch (ARW Team Suzuki), 3 Dan Johnson (Yamaha), 4 Scott Columb (ARW Team Suzuki), 5 Lewis Gregory (Hooper BTC Suzuki), 6 Scott Probert (Honda), 7 Sydney Bales (Honda), 8 John May (Hooper BTC Suzuki), 9 Jamie Lewis (Yamaha), 10 Shaun Simpson (KTM).
