Donington BSB: Belford doubles up at BTC finale

City Lifting by RS Racing’s Evan Belford completed a double victory at Donington Park as 2022 Honda British Talent Cup came to a close.

With 2022 Champion Johnny Garness out of action after a qualifying crash, the penultimate race was thrown wide open on Saturday. Starting from pole position Belford was hoping to sign off the season in style, a feat he completed after triumphing in a last lap battle.

Taking the holeshot, Belford was soon picked off by Rocket Racing’s Rhys Stephenson who had a half a second lead by the halfway point in the lap. Carter Brown (MLav VisionTrack Academy) sat third, whilst Lucas Brown (SP125/Amphibian Scaffolding) and Harley McCabe (MLav Vision Track Academy) rounded out the top five.

With a new lap record set by Belford on lap eight, it was matched by Stephenson next time around, the drama continuing as the two collided going through turn six three laps later, leaving Stephenson in the dirt. Rider okay but his bid for third place overall had been hurt. That promoted McCabe into third on track.



A lap later, Brown got ahead of Belford at turn 11, with the number 52 striking back at the start of lap 14. Onto the final revolution, Belford again came under attack at the Melbourne Loop from the number 74, but Brown ran wide, allowing Belford to get the cut-back and take a second victory of the season. Brown was second ahead of McCabe, whilst Lucas Brown was fourth ahead of Crosby in fifth, Filip Surowiak (MJL Racing), James Cook (ThorneyCroft56 Racing), Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing/J&S Accessories), Dessoy and Daniel Goodman (MLav VisionTrack Academy) completing the top ten.

The final race of 2022 brought to a close a record-breaking season, with another thrilling race. With good weather at