We have developed a good working relationship with both the Goole Times and The Hull Daily Mail who continue to provide excellent support to Charlie Atkins. In this week’s Hull Daily Mail and the Goole Times, both papers also left in a mention for his sponsors.
Charlie Atkins appearing in the Hull Daily Mail after his British Motostar race at Brands Hatch Indy.
In poor conditions Goole’s Charlie Atkins secured an outstanding fifth place in the first race of the British Talent Cup series at Donington Park. The conditions deteriorated on the Bank holiday Monday which meant the second race was cancelled.
The British Talent Cup was set up by Dorna Sports the promoters of MotoGP to give the cream of young British motorcycle racing the chance to reach their full potential and may be race one day in MotoGP or World Superbikes.
The first free practice session saw the 23 riders circulating on a track with a significant amount of water on it and in almost freezing conditions. Charlie Atkins managed to complete 15 laps before he succumbed to the difficult conditions running off into the grass which had become a quagmire.
In the second free practice session the rain had stopped. It was still too cold for the track to have improved much but there was a thin dry line emerging. Atkins reduced his lap time significantly to 1:51.068 which placed him 16th.
Qualifying took place on Sunday morning. It was dry but still very cold. The improved conditions certainly favoured Atkins. On his final lap he managed to knock nine tenths of his previous best time to qualify on the third row in ninth position.
He said, “I told myself ‘come on, come on’. I dropped back about 5 seconds to get some space. Then when I came over the line and just thought ‘go! I just went for it’”
The first race was on the same afternoon and although the track was more or less dry the organizers put all riders on wets just in case there was a downpour. Charlie Atkins made a great start moving up to fifth by the end of the first lap.
Atkins was at the top of his game and needed to be in a field of 23 riders thought to be the best youngsters in the British Isles. He was involved in a race long battle with Scott Swann that saw them swap positions several times on some laps.
At times there were seven riders battling for fifth position including riders with experience at FIM CEV Repsol level and Red Bull Rookies pushing Atkins hard throughout the 15 laps.
By the end of the race Atkins was fifth had opened a gap of over a second between him and the rider in sixth to collect 11 valuable championship points.
Atkins told us,” The race was good. I was in P9 or P10 battling with Swann, Stacey and Skinner. I started making my way through and then towards the end I just checked out. I was well happy. I made a gap of a few seconds so on the last lap I relaxed to make sure I came home ok.”
Goole racer Charlie Atkins received a GBP1,000 from Craig Fenton of Fenton Heating and Plumbing, to help him with his 2018 season. The article below appeared in the Goole Times.
Hull Daily Mail under-16 Sporting Champion Charlie Atkins has been selected to ride in the Moto3 British Talent Cup in 2018.
Having only finished racing at Cadwell Park a few days before Atkins made his way to Silverstone for the British Talent Cup selection event. Invitations were sent to ninety riders from more than 200 hundred applicants to try out at Silverstone.
The series has been set-up by the organisers of World Superbikes and MotoGP as a way to find and bring on young motorcycle talent. It form part of their Road to MotoGP program, and there are already similar championship in Asia and in Europe.
The riders were held in a large room, waiting for their names to be called. Groups of eight went out on track to be assessed. Charlie Atkins was one of the eight riders selected in the first group to go on track. Once called they received a briefing from Alberto Puig, a former GP rider himself and big influence on the careers of Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, before making their way out on circuit.
Once all the riders had been out the numbers were cut. Starting at ninety they dropped to seventy, then fifty and finally down to 33 for the last session of the day.
Atkins made it to the final session from which twenty two lucky riders were be invited to compete in the first ever British Talent Cup Championship. Finally the waiting was over. Atkins was one of the first names read out of those twenty two riders and he clenched his fists with delight.
The following day the riders got to meet the current British MotoGP riders including, Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding. They also spent some time in the GP paddock area before being invited onto a huge stage for the Day of Champions event hosted by Julian Ryder. Jeremy McWilliams the British Talent Cup scout also explained some of how the selection process had worked.
Although the calendar has to be finalised the British Talent Cup will see the twenty two riders racing at Dorna events such as, World Superbike and MotoGP in the UK and Spain. It is a great opportunity to put yourself in the shop window of teams looking to bring on talent for the higher echelons of motorcycle racing.
Charlie Atkins said, “It was an amazing experience. None of us knew what they were looking for so I just tried to do my best. To get chosen was brilliant. Last year I won my first Moto3 race at Assen, then early in 2017 the Hull Daily Mail gave me the under-16 Sporting Champions Award and now this! I’m going to race in a championship run by the organisers of MotoGP and I got to meet the British MotoGP riders too! I have got to say, that without my parents support, my Uncle Lee, Gary Wilson and Nikita Cartwright who run Wilson Racing, and my sponsors I wouldn’t have made it this far. They’ve been a big part of this, in one way or another, so thanks to all of them.”
Photo: Dorna Sports
Round eight of the Hel Performance Motostar British Championship standard class meant a trip to Lincolnshire’s Cadwell Park for Goole’s Charlie Atkins. The 2.25 mile circuit is narrow and twisty and has the famous ‘Mountain’ section where riders rise off the tarmac.
Free Practice
Friday was a difficult day for Atkins. He had been sick all night and between the two free practice sessions he took to his bed to rest. Despite that he managed to improve his lap times. In FP1 his time was 1:39.121 which he then went on to reduce to 1:38.413 in the afternoon. He finished seventh quickest in his category at the end of day one.
Qualifying
Despite not being at full strength Charlie Atkins took to the track for the Saturday qualifying session, early in the morning. In the first few laps he was running around sixth but as fatigue got to him he dropped to eighth by the end of the session. He still reduced his lap time further finishing with a 1:38.107
Race One
Atkins made a solid start to the 12 lap race on the Saturday afternoon. He immediately made up one place on the first lap. He then settled down into his rhythm. He was soon on the tail of a GP class rider, but whilst Atkins was able to catch them at the corners the straight line speed of the GP bike meant it then pulled-away. In addition to not being able to pass the GP rider, Atkins had to be mindful of another standard class rider on his back wheel. He spent almost the entire race managing the situation fantastically and came across the finish line in fourth spot. He also beat his qualifying lap time by registering a lap of 1:37.975.
Race Two
Atkins made a good start to race two moving up from sixth to fifth in the standard class on the first lap. He was running with the leading group initially. However, as in race one, a GP class rider then dropped their pace and he lost touch with the group. Unfortunately for Atkins, whilst he caught the rider through the corners they just pulled-away from him down the straights. Unable to find a way through Atkins finished the race in fifth position, although set his fastest lap of the weekend a 1:37.857.
Charlie Atkins said,” I made two good starts this weekend which was really pleasing. But both races could have been better if I hadn’t got stuck behind a GP class rider. It meant I had two frustrating races on a circuit where I was on the podium last year. I couldn’t overtake and just had to watch the others ride away.
Hopefully, we can have more luck at Silverstone in three weeks’ time. I’d like to thank Martin Meecham for buying my tyres for this round. Also my sponsors, Harman Carpets and Flooring, Repair and Restore Body Shop, The Bell and Crown pub Snaith, RR Automotive Glazing and MustHaveMediaServices.com and of course Gary and Nikita of Wilson Racing for giving me a great bike.”
Charlie Atkins remains fifth in the championship on 156 points with nine races left this season.
Gary Wilson and his Moto3 team from Barnsley had another successful weekend at Cadwell Park, in round eight of the Hel Performance Motostar British standard class Championship. Max Cook took a victory and a second place, Charlie Atkins a fourth and fifth and rookie Jake Clark an 11th and 13th place finish.
Free Practice
The British Moto3 series started on the Friday with two free practice sessions. Cook was struggling for feeling with his bike and ended the day third quickest almost 1.5 seconds behind the fastest standard class rider. Charlie Atkins had been unwell overnight and in the morning. He was confined to his bed between the two sessions. Despite that he managed to clock the seventh best time. Jake Clark took seven tenths off his lap time to end the day 12th.
Qualifying
Saturday morning the riders went out for one 25 minute qualifying session. Early on Cook was in fourth but with the chequered flag waving to indicate the end of the session, Cook set the fastest lap of qualifying and ended with a lap time of 1:35.950, more than two tenths ahead of his nearest rival. Charlie Atkins was recovery from his illness but posted his best time of the weekend to date and qualified sixth. Rookie Jake Clark had his first spill on a Moto3 in qualifying. He was unhurt and despite only completing eight laps he had done enough for a top ten start for the race.
Race One
Although, on pole position one of Cook’s rivals made a better start and took the lead in the standard category. By the middle of the race Cook was around 1.5 seconds behind the race leader but clawed back the time over the remaining laps. On the penultimate lap he overtook the race leader. The final lap saw the lead change three times but Cook managed to secure his twelfth victory of the season. Charlie Atkins wasn’t at full strength but immediately made up one place as the race started. Despite not being fully fit he went on to finish a fantastic fourth. Jake Clark made a superb start to the race and was running as high as seventh. With the riders bunching up later on plenty of elbows and paint swapping ensued. Clark crossed the line in a group of four riders separated by nine tenths of a second in eleventh place.
Race Two
Cook made a good start but was overtaken on lap five. Trying hard to chase down the race leader he ran off onto the grass at Hall Bends and into the chicane. In the end he finished 0.053 seconds behind the race winner. Charlie Atkins was feeling much stronger for race two and starting sixth in his class immediately made up a position. However, he was held up by a rider in the GP class who was slower round the corners but had faster straight line. He was unable to make it to the group ahead. Instead he spent the race making sure he kept his standard class rivals behind him and crossed the line in fifth. Jake Clark managed to score more championship points as he finished 13th.
Cook now has 346 points and is 105 ahead of his nearest rival with seven races remaining. Atkins is fifth and has scored over 40 points more than he had done this time last year. Clark is now 12th overall having missed the first seven races.
Gary Wilson said, “The lads have been great all weekend. This is a very narrow and tight circuit so to have all three finish both races was a good result. Max had another two podiums and Atkins did really well too considering he’s been ill. I’m also really pleased with Jake. He struggled a bit in race two but stuck at it and showed great attitude.”
Photo used was from Hairy Beast Pix
