Parker shows more improvement at the Heights!

Saturday, 15 May 2010 00:00

Canada Heights, Kent was the venue for the for the 3rd round of the Silkolene 2-stroke and the Red Bull Pro National Series. With the organisers putting on their customary razzmatazz and the weather staying fine all weekend the only other thing required was a great weekend’s racing and we weren’t disappointed.

Silkolene 2 stroke – Saturday

With Gordon Crockard and Scott Elderfield added to the line-up on their 250 2-strokes it was always going to be difficult for Noble & Parker to compete on their big 500’s on such a knarly rutted track. But they gave it their all and Parker in particular had a fine day and moved into 2nd place in the championship 3 points ahead of his teammate who had a disastrous day, losing the leaders red plate in the process.

Race 1

All the main protagonists were together throughout the race with the exception of Noble who suffered amazing bad luck as a flying rock broke his fuel tap, resulting in him losing all his fuel half way round the first lap, leaving him with a long push back to the truck. Parker passed Arnold for third and was battling with Barr until the Irishman pulled out with a bike problem. Elderfield was out front with Eastwood on his tail and it was just a case of whether Parker could hold onto 3rd place but it wasn’t to be as mid-race Crockard passed the youngster to leave him to bring it home in 4th.

Race 2

Noble, hoping to make amends for his 1st race DNF gated in 5th with Parker down in 9th. Parker was hungry to repeat his first race success and was pushing really hard, soon making his way up behind his teammate. Noble was struggling to find his rhythm and had to give way to Parker who was now up to 5th which he held to the end of the race, finishing behind Elderfield, Crockard, Barr & Eastwood. Noble lost one more place and had to settle for a disappointing 7th.

Race 3

It was a case of third time unlucky for Noble as he tried to improve on the previous two races. After making his way into the top four places with just two laps to go he suffered a rear wheel puncture and another DNF. Parker had made a poor start and had to fight hard to make it through to 6th before he came under fierce pressure from Martin Barr. Parker was determined not to let the PAR rider past and in the end he came out trumps as they came together and Barr hit the deck. As Noble pulled out Parker inherited 5th for 4th overall on the day which was good enough to move him up to 2nd in the championship behind Eastwood.

Red Bull Pro Nationals – Sunday

Race 1

Both guys got buried in the pack on the first corner and were down in the mid twenties. Noble was determined to have a good day and forced his way through the field and by mid race was up into the top ten. Parker made it difficult for himself by stalling his bike whilst trying to take 12th position and dropped back to 18th. But he was riding really well and by three quarter distance had progressed to 11th before passing Snow and Elderfield to finish in 9th. After improving into the top eight Noble found himself behind Krestinov and Nunn but soon found away past to finish in a well earned 6th.

Race 2

Parker made a great start to the second race as he rounded the first corner in 3rd with Noble in 10th but as happened at the last round of the Maxxis Parker found himself demoted very quickly down to 6th by the likes of Sword, Anderson, Krestinov and Dougan and then had to contend with his teammate who had moved through to 7th. Parker looked comfortable as he settled into a quick pace and after Sword pulled out he set about catching and then passing Krestinov for 4th bringing Noble through behind him. Noble looked slightly faster and proved so as he demoted Parker back to 5th and it looked like this would be their final placing until the charging Crockard blitzed past both of them on his way to 3rd. As Noble relaxed with two laps to go content with 5th place he got an almighty shock as Parker upped his pace, caught Noble, squared him off at the bottom of the penultimate corner and attempted an audacious pass as they both flew over the two uphill step-ups and around the final corner, finishing just three hundredths of a second behind as they crossed the line in 5th & 6th which coincidentally was also to be their overall positions on the day