No Limits Racing - GB Racing UK Armed Forces Inter-Services Championship

Cadwell Park

22 - 23 April 2023

No Limits Racing, the now rather large racing club, took over Cadwell Park last weekend. When I mean took over I most certainty do. The paddock was the fullest I have seen at the Lincolnshire track for some time, and it was also the muddiest I seen it for some time!

The weather hasn’t been the greatest in the UK for a while, but on the Saturday that No Limits were running their feature endurance race it was perfect for motorcycle racing. There were loads of recognisable faces out on track mixing it with the regular club racers to add a bit of glamour.

To be fair they are all club racers, No Limits is one of the bigger clubs, but even they get trumped by the domestic championships which a few of the riders had abandoned for the weekend to get some practice in ahead of next weekend’s British Superbikes at Oulton park.

Aaron Silvester and Kier Armstrong who race in the Pirelli National Junior Superstock were first in the 600 class and fourth overall after the three hour endurance race that saw them do nearly 250 miles.

First overall across the line was Pirelli National Superstock racer Billy McConnell and IoM TT racer Davo Johnson, who will be carrying the number one plate in the Isle of Man TT Supersport race this year.

IoM TT regular Phill Crowe, who will be racing the #14 Nigel Appleyard / Agri Wash BMW on the island, was also competing in the Pirelli Super Series 1000, winning race one and setting the fastest lap in the process. Already a TT Silver replica holder, he looks good for a result at the TT. 

Another IoM TT racer and favourite of the PistonClick road racing team is Matt Stevenson. We featured him in a report last year and will be following up that report at this year’s IoM TT.

Matt has a shiny new bike, the Dafabet Racing ZX10RR, which he was launching in fine fashion over the mountain. I can’t wait to see what he can do with this weapon on the Island.

GB Racing UK Armed Forces Inter-Services Championship

Now all of these stars out mixing it with the club racers is all well and good but I had come to see one race on the Sunday, the Inter-Services (I-S) Race. This series is only open to Service personal and can be a bit of a hit or miss race depending on who turns up.

The problem is that all of the military riders can be pulled away at any time to protect the nation’s interest in foreign lands, drive ambulances and fire engines, fill sandbags so your granny's house doesn't get flooded, stick needles in you so you don’t get the Chinese flu and a hundred and one other jobs the government doesn’t pay a decent wage for, but expects the military who haven’t had a real pay rise in the last 10 years step in and sort it out!!

I have seen larger grids for the I-S. There were 18 starters out for this round, but I knew it would be a race with no quarter given as the inter-service rivalry is fearsome, and I was not wrong. The I-S grid is made up of all the military riders taking part in the weekend’s NLR races, so you can have different classes from 1000cc bikes racing alongside 600cc bikes out for the I-S race. 

When the lights went out and the pack roared away it was the RAF’s Dave Langley #60, who had started from pole, and the Army’s Gavin Watts #33 battling it out for the lead. Over the seven laps there was not much between them, with Langley just keeping his nose in front.

Langley crossed the line just 0.092 seconds ahead of Watts in a very close race. For most of the race the Army’s Richard Spencer-Fleet on a Triumph 765 had held third, being unable to match the power down the straights of the two 1000cc machines in front of him.

The performance of the race must go to the RAF’s Paul Cunvin #89 who had started from last place on the grid.

Making his way through the pack, Cunvin timed his move to perfection, sneaking up and passing Spencer-Fleet on the last lap, to take the last podium place.

Highest placed from the Royal Navy/Royal Marines team was Alan Curtis #57 in 5th on his 600cc Yamaha. 

After two rounds the RAF (143) lead the Inter-Service Championship by 17 points from the Army (126) with the RNRM team on 83. Round 3 will be at Donington Park on the 7th May 2023.

You can share this report with your friends on Social Media using these links.