2025 – Scotland post 4
James Johnson at the weigh-in and Adam Raga
Well, the final results of the Pre 65 turned out as predicted with James Noble and Gary Macdonald both finishing on cleans and Dan Clarke losing just one.
Though the results were announced at the Saturday night presentation , the final list for public consumption didn’t appear until Sunday afternoon and as far as Northern Centre riders are concerned, make for interesting reading.
Best of the local riders was Will Brockbank in 23rd place with 14 lost with Lewis Johnson 29th on 16 then incredibly, riding numbers 8 and 9 Michael Irving and Nick Shield finished in that number order, both on 18 marks lost for 34th and 35th place.
Other locals were Erik Buckley 52 nd, Oliver Hart 62nd, Peter Huddleston 69th, Dave Taylor 92nd, Nathan Britton 95th, Angus Jenkinson 98th, Brett Willis 115th, Peter Blowers 123rd, Michael Batty 134th, Craig Asbridge 169th and last of the finishers which included Phil Haygarth with a broken kickstart ratchet.
The results have thrown up an anomaly which you could never guess, former winner Rob Bowyer, riding with his son Harry finished 12th and 13th both on 7 marks lost.
Onto Sunday now and it was a chill wind blowing across the West End car park for the scrutineering and park ferme procedures, with much of the attention around the appearance of Adam Raga, riding for the first time since his last 9th place finish 25 years ago.
All the usual shenanigans were taking place but to be fair, just about everybody of the planned 288 starters had fully prepared machines ready for the off from 7.30am on Monday morning, again scheduled for a fine, dry and sunny day if a bit chilly to start off with.
The Vox Pop of just 40 totally varied individuals, all asked the same question “who do think will win” (not want to win -there is a difference!) showed that it will likely be a battle between Raga and Jack Price with Jack Peace a close run candidate.
Perhaps surprisingly George Hemingway received more suggestions than brother Harry. We will see