We were treated to great weather, fantastic racing and the best turn out of the year for the 2018 MPBA Endurance Nationals. Results from this event also count towards the 2018 National Drivers Championship, so there was a double-incentive for the racers to do well, with most of the top UK racers making an appearance.

3.5cc
The 3.5cc class had the numbers to run 2 qualifying heats on Saturday and a final on Sunday.

2018 iMBRA 3.5cc World Champion Zack Humphries dominated the qualifying with an unassailable 62 laps, giving him pole position for Sundays final. The final proved the adage ‘To finish first, first you must finish’. Zack cruised to victory 10 laps clear of 2nd place, with all the quick boats having reliability problems or stopping through driver errors. Zack also set all 10 of the fastest laps.
None of the National Drivers Championship contenders scored significant points and it now looks like the title is going to Dave Hole barring a disaster at the final race at Brentwood on the 30th.

7.5cc
The tightest racing of the weekend saw the top 3 all on the same lap and only separated by seconds. Ross Waumsley reversed the 2017 Masters result by pipping Dad Julian by 2 seconds! (Juian beat Ross by 4 seconds in the Masters). Andrew Aykroyd was a bit disappointed to take 3rd after a missed buoy meant a lost lap and a certain win with 91. Still, a 27 point NDC haul keeps him hot on the heels of Dave Pillman, who managed a creditable 4th despite having mechanical issues with his Pegasus Evo all weekend after an engine rebuild. This was damage limitation for the NDC and Dave goes into the final race at Brentwood with a slender 7 point lead over 2nd placed Andrew who has been consistent all year with his ex-Waumsley Pegasus 2.
Martin Fields is beginning to extract performance from his self-designed ‘Jekyll’ boat and set the fastest lap in round 1

15cc
A lot of attrition in the 15cc class, but Zack Humphries once again dominated with a winning margin of 11 laps. Mark Wraight claimed 2nd place with his round 1 score of 82 despite a disqualification in round 2. Dave Williams took 3rd with a solid 79 laps from his Gamma.
James Taylor put in the top 6 fastest laps in round 2 including a phenomenal 15.6 second lap for the fastest of the weekend, but could not make the podium having had 2 stops. James’ 22 points confirm him as the 2018 MPBA 15cc Drivers Champion with a race to spare.

27cc
The most laps of the weekend score of 101 propelled James Taylor to a 4th win of the season in the 27cc class. A broken front bearing in his Alpha Evo 2 scuppered Ian Folkson‘s chances of a podium and perhaps a win after James stopped in round 2. James is also confirmed as the 2018 MPBA 27cc Drivers Champion and now has an incredible 10 titles to his name.

Junior 3.5cc
3 wins in row for Thomas but with 15 points between them the title is still up for grabs at the last race at Brentwood.

A trip up North for the return of the Bridlington event was rewarding for several of the multi boys today in terms of the National Drivers Championship. With many of the usual suspects absent, it was a good chance to steal a march on their rivals. Only the best 8 out of 9 races count in the Championship, so a good haul of points could prove invaluable in the final reckoning!

Thanks to Robert Daniel and BMBS for putting on this event and for the Podium photos.

Bridlington lake can be described as ‘compact’ in Multi Racing terms. One of the Southern lads said “One mistake and you’re up the bank” and indeed we did see a few unfortunate incidents of boats high and dry!

3.5cc – Dave Marles takes the win by 2 seconds after Andrew Aykroyd blew a plug whilst leading with a single minute to go. This was the first outing of Andrews new lightweight Ikarus 2.3 and he was more than pleased with its performance. Andrew said “It’s awesome. A lot quicker, just needs a bit of trimming as it’s to far out of the water but even in the first race with the less powerful engine in, I was on full down tab and it was still pushing really good speed”. Dave Clay takes 3rd place and this puts him 17 points clear at the top of the Drivers Championship from Dave Hole.

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7.5cc – A maiden win for Andrew Aykroyd with his Pegasus 2. The win lifts him to within 4 points of Championship leader Dave Pillman who could only manage 4th today. Dave Clay took 2nd place, just 1 lap behind Andrew which puts him in joint 4th in the Championship albeit nearly a whole race win behind the leader. Host Robert Daniel takes 3rd lifting him to 3rd in the table.

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15cc – An untouchable performance from James Taylor with his new T7 seals the win with a 25 lap margin over surprise 15cc entrant Gary Wraight, who in turn, had a 23 lap margin over 3rd place Robert Daniel. Gary tiptoed his 90 round the course in more of an oval than M! This was a good banker for James in the Championship after a disappointing first round at Peterborough. James now tops the 15cc Championship, with an advantage of 20 points over 2017 Champion Terry Holmes who did not race today.

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27cc – James Taylor completes a 15cc/27cc double and puts himself into 2nd place in the Championship, 8 points behind leader Mick Pain who took 2nd today. Mike Lawson takes 3rd and 27 points, putting him 4th in the table..

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