Jock Taylor Memorial Sidecar Racing – Knockhill, Sunday 30th

Jock Taylor in action.

Packed grids of riders will be the order of the day at Knockhill Racing Circuit on Sunday 30th September when the popular venue stages the finals of the SACU Scottish Championship Motorcycle Racing year.

Organised by Kirkcaldy & District Motor Club, the traditional end of season Jock Taylor Memorial race meeting will mark the 25th Anniversary of the death of Scotland’s revered sidecar racing world champion who died in a racing accident whilst defending his World crown at the Imatra road circuit in Finland on August 15th 1982. Jock was 28.

Jock, who hailed from Pencaitland in East Lothian was a truly great ambassador for Scotland and his sport and his exploits in British, TT and World Championship racing are simply legendary and his contribution to sidecar racing helped create awareness and enthusiasm seldom seen for the fantastic spectacle that the ‘charioteers’ provide.

Lifting aloft the prestigious ‘Jock Taylor Memorial Trophy’ will be the main aim of all the drivers entered in the sidecars on Sunday and none more so than Bill and Graeme Davie from Markinch who have already clinched the 2007 Championship but would love to see their names on the magnificent trophy. Two top teams from south of the border however are just as determined to claim the spoils.

2006 Champion Phil Bell with James Neave from Bedlington and Mansfield maestro’s Ben and Tom Birchall have their sights set on the biggest trophy in sidecar racing.

Elsewhere, some classes are over subscribed with entries which will ensure interesting qualifying sessions as riders go flat out to gain a place on the race grids.

Motorcycle dealer Bob Grant from Pitscottie is favourite to pick up his fourth Supersport 600 class championship in succession aboard his Honda CBR 600 RR but Loanhead’s David Paton riding his double M racing Yamaha R6 can still mathematically pinch it if Bob has a bad day at the office.

The big 1000cc Sports Production boys will battle it out to the last lap with Montrose flyer Bruce Birnie on his Suzuki GS XR 1000 ready to stave off an expected strong challenge from current 2nd placed Scone sensation Torquil Paterson riding a similar machine.

The new for 2007 Shark / Metzeler 600 Production series has proved to be a massive success with both riders and fans and the final promises to be nothing short of sensational with Cardenden star Craig McLelland, despite suffering three broken toes and numerous broken bones in his left foot after a big accident in August and missing four races as a result is hanging on to a narrow 6 point lead on his Kawasaki ZX6R 07 over David Paton and who is in a strong position to challenge Craig. Third placed Lewis Farrow from Perth on his very fast Honda CBR 600 is guaranteed to make a late charge.

The action packed finale to the season includes a whopping 32 entries in the 400cc Production class plus F400 races, F125 & GP 125’s and incredibly loud older machines in the classic category and aptly named ‘Forgotten Era’ class.

The 15 race programme will see action on track from 0900hrs