Stars wow the crowds at Castle Combe

Celebrity motorcycle racers were the stars of the show at last weekend’s ‘Grand National’ race meeting, alongside some of the most iconic and mesmerising race bikes from the last 50 years at the Castle Combe circuit.

Guy Martin made an emotional union with one of the many bikes being demonstrated as part of the ‘Mike’s Bikes’ parade, a very special tribute to the late Mike Hailwood, arguably the greatest motor cycle racer of all time.

Alongside Martin in the pit lane and on track for much of the time was the equally legendary Freddie Spencer, a three time world champion, who rode the later Honda NSR500 3 cylinder 2 stroke, playing to the crowds with ‘wheelies’ and performing an evocative ‘overtaking manoeuvre’ over Martin on the main straight, of which he commented, “These two Hondas were ground breaking bikes. The NS500 as much as the Honda 6. Just like the 6 moved everything on at the time, the NSR did the same in 1984. So I thought it would be nice for everyone to see them together. I hope the photographers caught it!” Spencer added, “I can’t believe the crowds here, a fantastic turn out and they are so enthusiastic.”

Martin’s Honda team mate, John McGuinness, a 23 time TT winner, Bruce Anstey, a multiple Superbike and TT winner and Steve Plater, another multiple TT winner, all delighted the crowds.

Sunday’s ‘King of Combe’ 10 lapper was the race every rider aspired to win, with Josh Day from Cirencester on his Kawasaki ZX10R, reiterating his dominance by taking his 6th victory of the weekend.

Three time ‘K of C’ winner Dan Cooper from Stroud had to be content with another runner up place on his 600cc Honda, some 8 seconds behind Day.

Neil Sutton from Odd Down, Bath, took a class race win in the second ‘Pre Injection 1300’ race, having finished second in race one on his Yamaha R1.

Chippenham’s Nick Brown took 5th and 4th places in the pair of EDP Open 500 & Moto Mini races on his Kawasaki ZXR400 and also notched up a 3rd and 4th overall in the combined Formula 400 races.

Melksham’s Russell Hynes took his Triumph 675 to a 4th and a 3rd place in the Pre Injection 700cc races.