REACTION: SUPER STARKES SEES EXPERIENCE PAY

4/06/25

Paul Starke proved that there is no substitute for experience as he lifted the inaugural Harbour Masters Championship with a fifteen point maximum at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.

A late addition to the line-up, following the enforced withdrawal of William Cairns due to a hand injury, Starke put all his experience to good effect with a masterclass in gating. He missed only one start, that in his final ride, heat eighteen, but he was quick to pick off Ben Morley on the opening lap to secure the title.

Starke's key ride came in heat fourteen when he and fellow Pirates' reserve Darryl Ritchings went to tapes with 2024 Poole hero Vinnie Foord. All three riders were unbeaten after their respective first three rides. Starke prevailed; his answer to Foord's interests was to just pull further clear.

Starke admitted afterwards "There sure is some good young talent and it is good to see, knowing that there are riders coming through. Its good to win tonight as I was a bit of a target I guess, but it is exciting to see the youngsters coming on. I could hear them behind me and I thought christ, their not hanging around."

He was joined on the rostrum by those two opponents from heat fourteen, with Vinnie Foord delighted to be back at Wimborne Road. "It was good you know, I was making some good starts and was trying to keep it as consistent as possible, so yeah, this was definitely one to remember. I was a bit gutted in heat fourteen to let Paul get away but he rode well all night and it is just one of those things."

Third placed Ritchings admitted that he had "changed the set-up" for heat fourteen and felt that might have proved costly.

Finishing in fourth place was Copper Rushen who demonstrated just why he is on the wanted list by so many clubs when he eventually turns sixteen. The world number five in the FIM GP3 rode throughout with a levelled head, finishing with twelve points, just one shy of a rostrum challenge.

Scorers
15:Paul Starke
14:Vinnie Foord
13:Darryl Ritchings
12:Cooper Rushen, 10:Ben Morley, 8:Ben Trigger,Mickie Simpson, 7:Max James
6:Arran Butcher, 5:Ashton Vale,Jacob Clouting, 4:Jamie Etherington,Eli Meadows,Charlie Southwick, 3:Sonny Springer, 1:Nathan Hargrave

Full heat details and report available here

Photo credit: Liam Cockwell