Trophy winning trio mix it with the stars

The Moat House Hotel, Stoke on Trent, was the venue for a record-breaking turnout for The Stars at Darley and Club Championship Presentation of Awards and Annual Dinner .

Staffordshire's Lloyd Shelley and Andrew Lowe, and the Black Country's Neil Lloyd, were all on hand to claim their first, second and third place awards.

Trophies were presented by Ben and Tom Birchall, last year's World F2 Sidecar Champions, Brierley Hill's Michael Rutter, a multiple Stars at Darley winner, and last year's Stars at Darley champion Peter Hickman, from Burton upon Trent.

Darley Moor spokesman Brian George said: "This year's awards presentation, the 52nd, was the biggest yet.

"More than 350 people attend including Neil Tuxworth, team manager of Honda's British-based team in Louth, Lincolnshire.

"He was honoured for his 20 years in racing, where he has achieved three World Superbike titles, numerous British Superbike titles and more than 60 TT victories.

"Stuart Hicken, team manager of Hawk Racing, a regular at Stars at Darley and winner of national superstock titles, also attended."

Shelley, aged 33, from Burntwood, took a nine-point lead ahead of title rival Steven Procter into the final Formula 600 race at Darley Moor last year, which was combined with the Stars of Darley event.

He led across the line each lap, finishing 0.11 seconds clear of Procter to take the title.

Shelley was also leading the Sound of Thunder Championship by 18 points from Jamie Horner and managed to secure his second title a lot easier, taking another flag-to-flag victory by more than 16 seconds.

Lowe, from Stone, led the Pre Injection 600 championship by 25 points from Jamie Pearson, who went on to win the race by 24 seconds.

But Lowe's second place was enough to secure the title.

Lowe was also in contention for the Pre 98's (Up to 1300cc) Championship but it was to end in heartbreak as mechanical problems meant he was unable to finish the first lap, eventually ending the series in third.

Lloyd, 46, from Wednesbury, finished both the Pre 98's Up to 500cc and Lightweight series in second place.

All three riders will be back to at Darley Moor but only Lowe will be focussing on retaining his titles.

Shelley will only be defending his Formula 600 title but will also enter the Peak Cup open class, for bikes of any engine size, during 2017.

His main focus, however, will now be the Thundersport GB Elite class, which he

has decided to enter for the first time this year.

Lloyd will be back on board his Honda RVF400 on the circuits this year – but he will also be trying his hand at road racing after gaining his national licence.

He said: "I plan on returning to Darley but it won't be my main event.

"The main goals instead will be the Cock of the North road race over Oliver's Mount, in Scarborough, and Southern 100 at Isle of Man."