Scarborough and speedway for Reeves!

Sidecar star Tim Reeves explored two very different forms motorcycle sport this week – with a winning debut at the Scarborough Gold Cup and a day of riding speedway bikes with John McGuinness at Stoke on Monday.

Reeves spread his real road racing wings a little further at the weekend when the triple World Sidecar Champion made his debut at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough Gold Cup.

The 2.43-mile public road circuit is notoriously tricky for the F2 Sidecars but despite never having seen the circuit before practice on Saturday and having a last-minute substitute passenger in the shape of Dipash Chauhan, Reeves showed his undoubted class progressing from third in the first race, second in race two and finally winning the third and final race of the weekend.

The new pairing were also able to set the fifth fastest lap time ever recorded around the woodland circuit.

With regular crew man Daniel Sayle being forced to pull out of the meeting at the 11th hour, the experienced Chauhan answered an SOS call to partner Reeves and the first time the duo competed together was in Saturday morning’s opening practice session.

Reeves said: “Scarborough was an absolutely brilliant meeting and all I can really say is, ‘wow, what an awesome circuit!’

“It’s been superb from start to finish and I’m so glad I came and raced here – I loved the circuit from the very start and have enjoyed myself immensely.

“To get 52,000 people there shows the high regard that people have of the races at Scarborough and I’ve got to say a big thank you to Peter Hillaby and the (Auto 66) club for all their hard work and for making me feel so welcome, I’ve already made my mind up that I’m going to be back next year.

“A big thanks to Dips as well for stepping in at the 11th hour, he did a superb job for me and it was great to have him on board and share in the success.”

After Scarborough, Reeves headed to Stoke speedway on Monday where he joined fellow road racer John McGuinness on the shale for his first-ever try out on the alcohol-fuelled, brakeless 500cc machines.

With expert tuition from speedway stars Joe Screen and Peter Carr, Reeves put in a number of laps on the 500cc-engined machines although as he explained, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Reeves said: “Blimey, speedway bikes are a totally different animal to anything else I’ve ever had a go on and my respect for speedway racers has gone through the roof.

“They’re heroes as far as I’m concerned. I began to pick it up a little bit as the day wore on but I won’t be giving up the day job just yet!”

Reeves will be back to familiar surroundings this weekend when he takes part in the F2 Sidecar invitation race at the Silverstone BSB round.

Pictures by Glynne Lewis