I was sitting on the sofa watching the British Super Bikes on TV. As the bikes were sliding around Brands Hatch in the torrential rain when the phone rings. “Are you watching the BSB?” I am. “Did you hear Coops and Bradley Ray are doing the Race of the Year at Mallory?” I did. “Fancy photographing it? ” I do.

A quick check of the weather forecast, a few clicks on the laptop and tickets are booked. To be honest I had forgotten about the Race of the Year. It’s been held on and off for years; the first race was in 1958 won by non other than John Surtees.

For the last few years it’s been intermittently held and its easy to miss on the race calendar. This is a one off, open to all race that puts riders from different classes on the grid for 20 laps of Mallory. Supplementing the race were the 250cc and 650 twins and the super stock in the Mallory Cup.

A few more clicks and the PistonClick Facebook page is updated. Four photographers are keen to cover the race meeting. As a bonus, global warming has kicked in this year in the UK and the weather looks like it’s going to be good.

Mallory

This was to be my third visit to Mallory this year and I was looking forward to it. Mallory is one of the nicest tracks to spectate from in the UK. It’s very open with great views and the owners have been working hard to improve the spectator areas. Putting in raised banking areas and removing some of the trees, which has improved the circuit a lot.

We made good time to the track as the traffic was light on a misty October Sunday morning. Parking up in the car park just outside the entrance we waited for the gates to open and the mist to burn off.

Usually I would drive in and park next to the track. However, I had a feeling there was going to be a large crowd. So wanting to be in pole position for a speedy exit at the end of the day I stayed put.

My intuition was correct as the car park filled up quickly with cars and a lot of bikes. The two wheel fans were making the most of the excellent weather. One last ride in before the winter sets in, why not.

If you are an international superstar rider wanting to make an entrance there is no better way than by helicopter. Ian Hutchinson, the excellent and experienced road rider arrived in style. A Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, landing in the field next to us.

Locations Mallory Park

The PistonClick plan was to meet at Shaw’s hairpin to chat about the day’s activity. Shaw’s is just to the right of the main entrance. After a quick chat we spent way too long there; this time of year the light is amazing and we didn’t want to move.

At Shaw’s hairpin you are only about 20 feet from corner apex so you get a great view of the riders as they come around the bend. A fast shutter speed, pre focus on the apex, bish, bosh job’s a good-un. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

The BSB and SuperSport riders were easy to spot with their exquisitely turned out bikes and extreme riding styles. But it was the sound of a full-on race bike a few feet away exiting the bend on full throttle that made it for me.

There are loads of great photographs you can capture at Shaw’s. The riders getting everything on the deck leaning the bike at extreme angles is a favourite. However, it’s the riders brushing the wall with their shoulder which is the picture to have.

You could spend all day at Shaw’s but that would make for a very repetitive set of photographs. Moving down towards the start finish straight to your left you will find the Bus Stop chicane. This is where the riders will flop left, right and left again.

Bus Stop Mallory Park

You can get some interesting shots at the Bus Stop. Nothing spectacular as it not fast nor demanding. The sidecars do lift a wheel going over the first corner stones. Standing up on the banking and looking down on the riders does works for a different type of panning shot.

Gerrard’s Mallory Park

Right at the end of the start finish Kirby straight is Gerrard’s a long sweeping right hand corner. This is a great place to watch the start and see the first bend madness. The sun is still to your back here and with the lake in the background this is a good panning area. However, the riders do start to lean away from you mid-corner. 

Continue round to the outside apex of the corner and shoot back towards the start. You can then capture the riders as they start to tip in. You can walk the circuit to the hair pin, but the shots you are going to get are the same as Gerard’s.

Edwina’s Inside Mallory Park

The better option is to head back to the start and take the bridge into the paddock. From here you have two very good options. Head straight across to the inside of the hairpin at Edwina’s.

This location is excellent for spectating and photographing the riders. It is a good overtaking spot as the riders will try and out brake each other into the first bend. There can be obvious consequences when trying late braking.

As there are usually good crowds at Edwina’s . The riders can stop after a race and do a burnout or wheelie past. I noticed quite a few photographers miss these shots as they were reviewing their pictures from the race.

John Cooper Esses Mallory Park

To the right is the John Cooper Esses. Here the pro and amateur photographers mix with joe public. It’s a great area for getting another iconic Mallory picture.

The riders are coming around the bend the rear tyres will be compressing and they will head on, being only a few feet away.

However, they will be going at a great rate of knots, so to get all of the bike in shot and in focus is challenging but can be done with a bit of practice. While you are in the paddock it’s worth grabbing a few pictures of the teams in action.

Paddock Mallory Park

During the lunch break the main pits are open for you to papp the star riders. Don’t forget to grab that orange bib wearing 16 year old at the back of the paddock. They might be the Bradley Ray of the future.

Race of the Year Mallory Park 2018

Ashley King was a little late for the start of the main event which was held just after lunch. Superstock rider Billy McConnell was sitting in pole position with Richard Cooper and Lee Jackson making up the front row.

McConnell lead for half of the race with Coops and Ray locked in a tremendous battle. Managing to get past McConnell on lap 10, Ray was looking to emulate last year’s win, however Coops was having none of that.

Coops and Ray swapped positions with some fantastically close racing on laps 14 and 17, giving us an insight on how close the racing will be between these two Suzuki Buildbase team mates in next years BSB.

Edging past Ray, Coops held onto the lead eventually going onto win the 2018 Mallory Park Race of the Year by 0.128s with McConnell four seconds behind in third.

Celebrating the race with the cheering crowds at Edwina’s with a very average burnout Ray and Billy McConnell. This win was an excellent result for Coops coming on the back of his BSB win in the torrential win at Brands Hatch rain and at Bishopscourt with a Superbike hat-trick.

Sidecars at Race of the Year Mallory Park 2018

Mixed in with the two wheeled events were the side cars. competing for the Phil Dongworth Trophy, Ben and Tom Birchall on the 600cc LCR Yamaha, the current world champions dominated the field with an impressive win in race 7.

Other riders of note were Number 12 OMG Suzuki’s new recruit Luke Mossey riding the Suzuki GSXR 1000 on his way to winning the tenth race of the day in the Buildbase Mallory Trophy.

In the Bill Fry & EMRA Formula 125, GP125, KTM, 50, 80 and Scooters it was Jodie Fieldhouse on her NSF Honda 250 who came out top in the qualifying. She had to settle for second in the two races behind Asher Durham and ahead of Jamie Kelman in third.