Stars at Darley Moor

11th - 12th October 2021

Photographing the Stars of Darley Moor motorcycle race meeting in the Derbyshire county side is seen by me as the grim reaper of motorcycle racing for this year. When this event and the Race of the year at Mallory are held it heralds the beginning of the end of the season for two wheels. 

Both events are stand alone races where competitors from different classes like Superbikes, Supersport and Superstock come together in one last hurrah to entertain two wheel race fans before the weather puts a hold on proceedings.

The last races of the Darley Moor club championships were also running over the weekend and were well supported, and not only by the riders as there was a good sized crowd out as well who, like me, appreciated all the hard work that has gone into the improvements at the track since our last visit.

The raised spectator banking that gives you a great view of the action is something a few other venues should consider doing. 

In this report we are going to look mainly at the Stars race.

The Stars hasn’t been held for a while due to the pandemic so I was looking forward to visiting Darley, and when the list of riders racing in the headline event was announced I was pleasantly surprised.

Richard Cooper, the two times Superstock 1000cc champion, caught my eye when I scrolled through the list. Coops was injured back in 2020 at Donington and was due to race the stunningly painted Bathams Racing BMW S1000RR in the British Superbike support race series.

Due to his injuries he was unable to do so. I was looking forward to seeing if he had recovered to the level required in this physically demanding sport.

I last saw Coops at this year's Goodwood Revival on a classic, but there was no real indication from that race that he was back to top form as he was riding a motorcycle that was older than he is.

My first view of Coops was at the hairpin, my favourite location for taking photos at Darley. When the riders come round on a green lap and sometimes the first few laps I like to watch the lines they take so I can position myself for the best shot.

Coops came round that corner on the Hawkracing Suzuki like liquid glass, so smooth and precise that the speed he exited the corner and headed off down the straight was stunning and reflected in his timed practice, P1 for the race.

He wasn’t the only smooth rider. Kyle Ryde was another and so was Zack Corderoy who had come to take part in this one off stand alone race. 

The practice session on the Saturday morning was held in wet conditions and the previous Darley club racers had probably coloured my opinion as they tiptoed round the slippery bend.

The rides from the British Superbike circus were on another level, finding grip where others couldn’t. Admittedly, riding a pristine Superbike bike helps.

Road race ledgend John McGuinness was also on a Hawkracing Suzuki #4. His riding style is more upright than the young guns but don’t let that relaxed look deceive you. P3 in the damp cold timed practice will do nicely.

In P2 it was #55 Leon Jeacock on yet another Hawkracing Suzuki. Little did we know at the time that this was a probably a trial ride for Laycock on the Hawkracing Suzuki.

He got on with the bike well, coming in second behind Cooper and ahead of McGuinness on the Saturday race.

Sunday's weather was much better for racing, but not for Coops as a technical issue took him out of the race while leading. This let Leon Jeacock take the win with Josh Daley, who didn’t race on Saturday, in second and McPint again in third.

All was not lost for Coops on Sunday, the Derby Alloys Challenge saw him and 16 others out on the Honda CB500. It doesn’t matter what he rides, he rides it well - first place. 

Late breaking news! The last round of the British Super Bikes is being held this weekend and Leon Jeacock will be riding the a GSX-R1000R Buildbase Suzuki superbike at Brands Hatch. He will be alongside Geno Rea who took two wins at the previous BSB round at Donington Park. 

Sometimes its pays off to be racing at a cold wet club track in a one off event that has no championship. I think Mr Jaycock will agree with that statement as he lines up in the first race in Britain's premier two wheel race series at Brands this weekend.   

Thanks to David Harbey for the images from the Sunday racing, you can see more of his work over on Flickr.