For the penultimate round of the King of the Roads championship, riders headed to the Cynon Valley in Wales and the Aberdare Park Road Races. Located less than 25 miles north of the Welsh capital Cardiff, the Aberdare Park Road Races has been held since 1950 after local authorities decided to crack down on a number of illicit and highly illegal late night races taking place. For 75 years since, the Victorian park in the centre of Aberdare has been transformed into a racing venue, and has managed to attract some of the best road racers in world, John Surtees, John Cooper, Malcolm Uphill, Neil Tuxworth, Mike Hailwood, and in more recent years John McGuinness, Steve Plater, Ian Lougher and Davey Todd to name but a few.
In 2024, the event saw a strong entry list of riders from all across the British Isles, with local favourites Jay Bellers Smith and Justin Collins taking on the likes of Mark Goodings, Ryan Dixon and Dean McMaster.
The two biggest events at Aberdare are the Park Challenge and the Welsh Open, with a Final for each held on Saturday and Sunday. But unlike other events on the King of the Roads schedule, results are aggregate of the two days. Therefore, the winner on Saturday may not be the winner on Sunday.
2022 winner Ryan Dixon was on pole position for Saturday’s Park Challenge Final, and the Trickbits Racing rider would lead from lights out to chequered flag, opening up a 3 second lead on Jay Bellers Smith. Andrew Smart was third with reigning champion Mark Goodings in fourth place.
Dixon also claimed pole position for the Welsh Open Final later in the day, and would once more prove to be the class of the field. Bellers Smith was again best of the rest with Mark Goodings a valiant third.
Conditions throughout the weekend were perfect as once more Dixon set the pace in the Heat race and led from pole position. However, this time he was followed closely by both Andrew Smart and Bellers Smith, with less than half a second between the three riders. This meant that on aggregate, Dixon was the winner by 3 and a half seconds from Bellers Smith and Smart.
The final race of the weekend for the 600s was the Welsh Open, and this time Dixon was pipped to the post by Andrew Smart, the pair separated by 1.7 seconds after 15 laps. However, on aggregate times, Dixon emerged the winner, collecting the Welsh Open title for the second time.
With the full 50 points, Dixon climbs to the top 10, while Davey Todd is uncontested at the top of the standings.
The King of the Roads will conclude with the Macau Grand Prix in November.
Photo courtesy of Cams PhotoVideo/Aberdare Park Road Races
