ROUND one of the popular North East Motor Cycle Racing Club championship series gets the 2019 circuit racing season underway at Croft Circuit near Darlington this weekend (March 23/24) with another capacity field set to battle out the various classes.

Following a successful 2018 season, the action will again be fast and furious as riders aim to blow off the winter cobwebs in style around the full international 2.127-mile circuit and as usual there is a healthy Scottish contingent entered who will be taking on the best of English riders.

The opening round of the three-round NEMCRC series will also incorporate three major trophies with the prestigious Ken Redfern Trophy, last year won for a third time by Tyneside’s Barry Teasdale, being awarded to the overall winner of the Open class whilst the victory in the F600 class will lift the historic Laird of Croft Trophy, which James Cowton won in 2018, but who was to tragically lose his life later in the season. On three wheels, Durham’s Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie lifted the Mac Hobson Trophy for a second year in succession meaning the sidecars will be hotly contested throughout the weekend once again.

There are classes for GP125, Classics, Post Classics, Lightweight Twins, Pre-injection 600 and Open, Thunderbikes, Formula Junior, Scooters as well as the usual popular categories for FSRA F2 and Open Sidecars, 600cc, 400cc and Unlimited Open class bikes.

Practice gets underway at 9.00 on Saturday and 12.05 on Sunday with two races per class each day. Adult admission is £12.00 on both days in advance or £15.00 on the day with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free on both days. A weekend ticket costs £20 in advance or £27 on the gate and there is also free car parking and free paddock access.

REIGNING MSA Junior Rallycross champion Tom Constantine heads to Silverstone this forthcoming weekend (March 24th) for the opening round of the Toyo Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship aiming to get the season off to a good start.

After pipping brother Luke to the title at the final round last year, the 17-year-old from Richmond, North Yorkshire will be contesting the prestigious Swift Sport Championship within the BRX series which will once again see packed grids and close racing throughout the season.

Tom has worked hard over winter and secured the backing of Advanced Vehicle Leasing, Teesside Karting, MP Groundworks and Plant Hire of Northallerton, Sig Leeds, Intermezzo Drive, Wray Joinery Limited, DJR Smith, Victoria Garage Richmond Ltd, Royal Purple Lubricants and Constantine Building Services for his bid which will see identical 1600cc Suzuki Swifts battle it out over nine rounds.

Indeed, local support could well come in handy as the final two rounds of the series are at Tom’s local circuit of Croft whereby, he has enjoyed plenty of success in the past, most recently as co-driver to dad Mark in last month’s Jack Frost Stages Rally in their Vauxhall Corsa.

Tom Constantine: “I’ve got a busy season ahead including the full Swift Sport Championship and selected BTRDA rounds as well. My ambition for this season will be to build on the success I had last year in the Juniors and carry it on into 2019 Ultimately I’d like to win the Swift Sport Championship this year but I know there’s some stiff opposition and I have lot of learning to do still so I will go on to it with a clear mind and a view of the task ahead. Thanks to my dad, the team and all our sponsors for the opportunity.”