SIDECAR racing duo Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley have achieved a record.
They have been crowned FSRA British Sidecar Championship winners for a seventh time.
The pair have clinched this year’s title with one round still to come at Knockhill on the weekend of September 21-22.
Founds, the rider from Northwich, and Walmsley, his passenger, confirmed their crowning glory in the latest round at Donington, where they picked up second and first-place finishes in the two races.
This took the gap in the championship to 50 points in Founds’ favour, and with only 50 points available at Knockhill and the FHO Racing pair edging the count back and number of wins, they cannot be caught.
In Saturday’s qualifying at Donington, Founds’ final lap time of 1:12.700 was only good enough for second place on the grid as the No17 Kawasaki of Crawford and Hardie took pole with a 1:12.300.
Crawford and Hardie hold their lead into the first corner of the race, but through the craner curves the No 72 FHO Racing Honda of Founds and Walmsley had the run on them and took the lead by the time they had reached the right hander at Macleans.
This turned out to be the story for the whole race, with the front two swapping positions, but on lap eight Crawford pulled a small gap.
Founds was not deterred and by the last lap had him in his sights.
As the pair headed towards coppice corner, a back marker was just in front of the leaders, and with Crawford ahead, he squeezed past as the back marker took the line into the apex which blocked Founds and Walmsley who might of had a run into the chicane.
Nevertheless, still a good 20 points earned for the championship.
Sunday’s race was another 10 lapper and with usual suspects at the front it was going to be epic.
As the lights went out it was a carbon copy of race one with Crawford and Hardie keeping their lead into the first corner but yet again Founds and Walmsley were past by the end of lap one.
As the race unfolded, Crawford and Hardie once again took the lead, but then on lap three, disaster for them as they had a mechanical problem which put them out of the race.
Founds and Walmsley pulled away to a comfortable victory and the title.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here