Star-studded entry for NEMCRC meeting to kick off Croft's season
Croft Circuit’s 2025 racing season gets underway next weekend (March 22 and 23 2025) when the North East Motor Cycle Racing Club (NEMCRC) returns with its annual race meeting which has once again attracted a top-quality entry.
Fans can expect an epic two-days of action at the North Yorkshire track featuring some top names on a wide range of solo and sidecar machines from the past and present. Competitors will battle it out for the honours with several accolades up for grabs including the prestigious Mac Hobson Sidecar Trophy, the Ian Bell Memorial Trophy, the Michael Anderson Trophy and John Webb Prize whilst the coveted Laird of Croft title will be fought for in a jam-packed programme.
Amongst the capacity entry list are several established stars who will be in action to kick-start their season at Croft including Isle of Man TT podium finisher last year and former Classic Manx Grand Prix winner Dominic Herbertson from Hexham who will contest the Post Classic Senior and Super Twin classes whilst former British Talent Cup champion, National Superstock race winner and BSB rider Franco Bourne from Crook will race in the Super Twin class also as well as the 600cc class in readiness for his British Supersport Championship bid this year.
Other leading lights sees a trio of Manx Grand Prix winners in action including Harley Rushton and Rob Hodson, both from Lancashire, as well as Ripon’s Matt Richardson. Ex-European Championship rider Loris Hunt from York, veteran Darlington rider Steve Degnan and leading roads rider Shaun Anderson from Northern Ireland will be ones to watch, so too Kendal rider Stephen Parsons.
The sidecar field once again oozes class, headed by Scottish World Championship competitor Stephen Kershaw and passenger Rhys Gibbons whilst they can expect stiff competition from the likes of Sean Hegarty/Jack Knapton, former TT winner Pat Farrance/Connor Parkin and TT podium finishers Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley. George Holden/Jake Roberts will be a threat, as will Catterick’s Greg Lambert/Robin King, but the pair they will all have to beat is local County Durham team Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie who have enjoyed much success over the years at Croft.
The meeting is a round of the FSRA F2 British Sidecar including the FSRA Cup, F1, Super and W/C classes as well as the British Scooter Championships as over 170 competitors compete for glory over the 2.1-mile circuit. Other classes in action will be for GP125, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and Open Classics, Post Classic Juniors, 500cc, Stock and Super Twins, Pre-injection 600 and Open, Thunderbikes, Formula 400, 400 Twins/Singles, Production as well as the usual popular categories for Open Sidecars, 600cc, and Unlimited Open class bikes.
The action gets underway with practice for all classes at 9am on Saturday before racing starts at 11.45am. Sunday’s schedule begins at 12pm.
Click here to learn more about this event and book your tickets.
Other dates for the diary coming up at Croft Circuit include the Croft Classic to Modern Motor Show which takes place on Saturday May 10th whilst on 1st and 2nd April, Croft is hosting two days of testing for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship with admission free to spectators but they need to register in advance.
Image courtesy of Tony Todd.