The Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival headed to Donington Park for its annual meeting hosted by the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club (CRMC) at the weekend. An event dedicated not just to the history of motorcycle racing, but a celebration of all things two and three-wheels.
Through Saturday and Sunday the paddock was packed full of legendary classic machinery, of which the majority would take to the track over the weekend whether it be during racing or the various parades taking place over the weekend. The bike displays were extremely busy spanning across the Melbourne hairpin and the Foggy Esses. Featuring some incredible motorcycles from racing history, including the 1961 500cc Norton Manx, 1974 MV Agusta Four, Superbike legends and more.
Bike displays | Images by Kaelan SG (@ksg_racing_photography)
The Racing would also prove to be a great spectacle, showcasing races from the Classic and Camathias Cup sidecars, the Lansdowne Classic Series as well as the ACU Post and National Classic Trophy and more. The race of the weekend was voted in Classic Sidecar Race one on Sunday where recent Southern 100 stars Wil & Andy Smith rose to the challenge to fend off rivals Kieran Clarke and Rob Coppock in an incredible six lap affair around the Donington National circuit, taking the lap record with them. The Lansdowne Classic series, a championship designed and built in the modern era as tribute to the 1960’s classics of the Norton’s, BSA’s and Triumph’s also provided thrilling action over the weekend. With riders Max Symonds, Mark Taylor and Jake Dettloff among others fighting for top honours.
Classic Sidecars and The Lansdowne Classic Series | Images by Kaelan SG (@ksg_racing_photography)
In the ACU National Championship there was some standout action over the weekend, in the feature race Jack Long produced another dominant display, pulling clear of the chasing pack to secure victory by more than eight seconds.
Behind him, an intense battle for the remaining podium positions unfolded between Bjorn Gunnarsson, Joe Woodward and Ant Hart. Gunnarsson held second for much of the race, but Woodward made a decisive move on the final lap to snatch the runner-up spot, leaving Gunnarsson to complete the podium after a thrilling contest. The festival once again showcased an impressive mix of classic and post-classic machinery, with the ACU championships forming a major highlight of a packed weekend of racing at Donington Park.
CRMC reunites at the end of the month at Anglesey where they’ll be joined by the British Sidecar Championship. On what should be another incredible weekend of classic racing.
Images by Kaelan SG (@ksg_racing_photography)
