April 20th, 2018.


The Connor Smith Memorial meeting at Cingoli in Italy last weekend was a huge success, with eight riders representing the UK. And the Brits held their heads high with four of the eight reaching the podium and taking the silverware back home.

Ayrton Knowles who had a mixed Saturday with a spill on one of the large double jumps, pulled his way back through to 3rd in the Sport class, with three very strong rides from the youngster.

Alfie Walker on his new 250cc Yamuski started with a cautious approach to day one, but with a night to sleep on it he spared the Italians no mercy with two confident wins and taking the youth 250cc class by some margin, ending up 4th overall in the adult support and vet group.

Murray Graham, who has had the pleasure of riding most of the five visits to Cingoli, set a blistering pace in timed training and looked to be going to the gate first on Sunday only to be dropped to P3 after both Walker and Mastronardi pulled their best laps out with seconds to spare. Murray took the runner-up honours on the weekend with a 3/2/3 in class.

A very on form and consistent Harry Walker took a win in Moto 1, followed by a P2 in class behind Mastronardi in Moto 2. For the Superfinal he saved the best till last and took the win with a breath-taking pass on Patrick Turrini on his Weinen Yamaha on the last lap.
The grandstand and pit box both lit up and he instantly became the star of the day with the Italian crowds and becoming the only Brit to bring the Connor Smith Memorial Trophy back home in its five-year history, much to the delight of ' of Connors father, Bill Smith.

Both Steve Pinder and Matt Alberti experienced the perils these big tracks can bring, with a couple of spills in the vet class. Adam Robinson finished a very respectable 5th in class and Mark Wilson 4th.

The whole event was a fine tribute to the life of Connor, with all participating Pro and Sport riders present with their bikes for a tribute, revving their bikes at Connor's trackside memorial stone on Saturday evening.

The meeting manages to maintain its momentum due to the generosity of the Smith family to keep the memories alive of Connor's sport and the togetherness of the UK Quad clubs and supporters who travelled to support the event.


Pictured: The British riders on the podium at Cingoli, Italy last weekend