Shelley returns for Darley finale as Hillier unveils exciting OMG Racing plans

Spectators were treated to some excellent racing from some full grids –and even the weather played its part during the action in Derbyshire.

Shelley, from Burntwood, who had been a dominant force in recent years, returned to the Darley paddock for the first time in 2020.

But riding a new, street legal, 765 Triumph, he was not able to repeat his dominance, playing second fiddle to Matlock's Ash Stone, who managed to take seven victories from eight starts, as well as posting seven fastest laps in the Peak Cup and combined Open Solo/Preinjection Open class races.

Shelley managed to take victory in one race, after Stone was handed a 10-second penalty for jumping the start, which demoted him to fourth place.

In their first Peak Cup encounter, Stone was quicker off the line and led from the opening lap, whilst Shelley was fourth, behind fellow Staffordshire racers, Richard Wardle and Brendan Brown.

Shelley managed to find a way pass by on lap four whilst Brown lost his position to Tim Poole.

Their second battle, in Open Solo/Pre-Injection Open, saw Shelley lead at the end of lap one, with Adam Walters second, on a Pre-Injection machine, with Stone third.

Stone then began to make his move, taking the lead on lap five and eventually the chequered flag.

Shelley again started well in the Peak Cup, taking a seven-second lead over Stone heading into lap four, but after his rival set the fastest lap of the race his advantage was reduced to less than 0.5 seconds.

Stone then took the lead on lap eight and stretched his advantage to almost eight seconds before claiming another win.

Four start-to-finish victories then followed for Stone before Shelley – who had claimed a further two thirds and two seconds – claimed a win in the Peak Cup following the jump start.

Wednesbury's Neil Lloyd also wrapped up his Classic Motorcycle Racing (CMRC) campaign at Darley Moor.

And once more he had to overcome plenty of mechanical gremlins to end this season on a high.

"Setting out for Darley Moor on the Friday afternoon for the final race meeting of 2020, our van developed a problem and had to turn back," he said.

"I managed to get a hire van for the Saturday morning so missed that day's racing and went out Sunday morning for qualifying, finishing ninth out of 23.

"I was really looking forward to racing and in the first race I got a good start but had to pull in after two laps as the engine got really noisy.

"Turned out the cam sprocket had come loose, which meant I had to start last, in 23rd, for race two."

However, after getting another good start this time the bike help up and Lloyd finished seventh, which was good enough for second in 500cc class.

"I think we needed that race to finish the season on good terms and would like to thank Tony Else for his generous support covering fuel costs for the racing, it was much appreciated," said Lloyd.

Cannock-based OMG Raving has also revealed star ridet James Hillier has resigned for the team for the 2021 road racing season.

And the Isle of Man TT winner will also be taking on the infamous Dakar Rally in 2022, as well as leading OMG Racing's debut campaign on the roads.

Hillier will contest a number of off-road events in preparation for the gruelling rally, which sees riders regularly cover more than 500 miles per day over a 12-day endurance event containing timed stages.

Becoming the first TT winner and only the second TT rider ever to take on the world’s most extreme off-road sport, Hillier will also compete at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Dubai Baja events, subject to ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

With the 2020 Isle of Man TT cancelled in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, OMG Racing say they are also pleased to confirm Hillier will be returning as part of team's 2021 TT debut.

Hillier said: “I’m really pleased to continue with RICH Energy OMG Racing for the 2021 season.

"Although we weren’t able to race the bike this season due to the pandemic, I feel really settled within the team and our testing programme alongside the British Superbike riders at Monteblanco and Jerez went very well.

"We’ve now got more time to continue developing the bike ahead of next season’s racing, to ensure we’re right on the pace once things do get underway.

"Being involved with the Dakar project with RICH Energy OMG Racing is seriously exciting.

"It’s a massive task but I have full faith in the team and can’t wait to continue our preparations with some more testing and a few rally events as soon as possible to really settle into this new challenge.”