Rich Pickings – Portsmouth MX Summer Championship Round 10
The deluge of rain throughout Saturday night ensured the Foxholes circuit at Bishopstone, near Salisbury would be perfectly watered for the 180 riders who arrived to a well prepared track for the tenth round of Portsmouth Motocross Club’s Summer Championship.
A scattering of heavy showers throughout the morning meant there was not a speck of dust to be seen, and racing got underway with a great showing of VMX riders all raring to score highly. Paul Williams dominated the front of the field once he took the lead, and remained as leader throughout all three motos to reign supreme in the class and won overall. Shaun Brooker pushed his way through the pack after an early crash, and kept hard on the gas to finish in second, third and second to finish runner-up on the day. Simon Smart battled hard to catch the leader, a fourth, second and third awarded him third overall.
Brendon Crew rode a sensible and consistent set of races, ensuring he stayed in contention of a high placing and three fifth places awarded him fourth overall on the day. Neil Jenkinson again was straight out of the start gate and first to the front of the field but unfortunate spills pushed him further down the pack than he should have been, but a brilliant third in the first plus respectable top ten finishes secured him fifth overall ahead of Adam Taylor. Taylor was set for a guaranteed top three finish but a crash in the first pushed him back to 11th but redeemed himself in the remaining races to finish in fourth and finished the day in sixth overall.
A mass of AMX riders roared up the start straight and just about all squeezed around the first corner for some breathtaking and wild action on the track. With three different race winners on the day, it was going to be a close call for the overall win, with Sean Hewett and Richie Walters tying on points at the end of race three, but Hewett just grabbed the win, thanks to his first race win and second place. Walters, set for the overall victory was unfortunately wiped out by a backmarker in the final moto after leading for most of the race, and couldn’t repeat his great second race win, but still managed to secure second overall with a third, first and sixth. Josh Scott returned after breaking his foot and showed no signs of injury as he ended the day in third overall. Pushing hard at the front of the pack in the final moto saw him finish in a brilliant third place, regrettable crashes in the opening races denying him a possible higher placing.
Shaun Kerley’s day didn’t start off too well, running well up the field only to find himself in ninth place at the end of the race but battling through backmarkers and keeping his wits about him, he netted two fourth places to secure himself fourth overall. Aaron Lovelock’s opening races weren’t what Aaron would’ve hoped for but he redeemed himself in the final race as he obliterated the field by charging into the lead to win the last moto to grab some extra vital points to move into the top six and finish in fifth overall. Rupert Heaton returned to the Club he left years ago to slot back into the placings where he left off and two sixths and a fifth secured him sixth overall.
It was “follow the leader” in the Senior class, with the top six riders in the races maintaining their positions throughout most of the day. Jackson Evans was a class act in the first two races, keeping a rampaging Matt Bayliss from taking the lead, but his no-show in the final moto allowed Bayliss to take over the lead and secured the overall victory with two seconds and a first. A slipping clutch denied Jake Hassell from pushing his green machine too hard, but he kept the front runners in his sights, making no mistakes to bag second overall. Luke Smith followed Hassell home in all three motos, passing the finish line in fourth, fourth and third to take home third overall.
Jordan Carrier followed home the top three trying as hard as possible but just couldn’t quite catch Smith but two fifths and a fourth rewarded his hard efforts with fourth overall. Ricky Britton crossed the road from Gunner to stamp his mark on the Senior class and worked his way up through the field to move into sixth position in the final race to secure fifth overall. Returning from injury, Tommy Walker made a cautious start to the day but by the final race he was back on top form to move into fifth place, his best position of the day to secure sixth overall.
The biggest group on the day were the Inter Open boys and the action was thick and fast at the front of the pack, a group of five riders all possible winners. George Clarke stole the show to take the overall victory with two first class wins, but had to pass over the second race win to Billy Hare. Hare could have possibly grabbed the overall but a coming together on the finish line denied him but his first, second and third placings awarded him the runner-up spot. Chris Bayliss chased Hare all the way, battling head-to-head but after crashing in the first he had to settle for third overall, a great second and third ensuring the high placing.
Ryan Monckton was on fine form but a couple of mishaps denied him from finishing high up in the top three. A commendable and spot on performance in race one awarded him second place, and with two further top six placings he secured fourth overall ahead of Harry Hinson. Hinson was always in contention, not dropping out of the top six once, and battled hard to keep on the pace with the front runners, never once giving up and pushing himself to the extreme in all three motos, two fourths and a fifth awarded him fifth overall. David Roberts was so close to pushing his way into the top three, not putting a wheel wrong throughout the day, and making sure he stayed on the gas in case the top boys made a mistake, he crossed the finish line in sixth, sixth and fifth to end the day in sixth overall.
Because of the muddy conditions around the track, the young Autos raced on a reduced circuit, with the leaders flying passed the lapscorers at lightning speed. Louis Thomas was outstanding, bagging all three wins in confident style to take home the overall win. Arthur Williams was hot on the pace, and didn’t let Thomas out of his sights to finish in second, second and third to finish second overall. Liam Jones battled hard to pass Williams, a couple of unfortunate crashed denying him the runner-up spot, but a brilliant second in the final moto and staying firmly glued to his seat throughout the race, left him in third overall.
Visiting rider Reagan Brooks tried his utmost to get past Jones but it wasn’t to be but two brilliant fourth places awarded him fourth overall. Charlie Sturgess’s determination should have placed him higher as he powered around the track, a fourth in the final race his best result on the day, and he finished in fifth overall ahead of Jamie Griggs. A consistent set of finishes and keeping his wits about him, Griggs finished seventh in all three motos and finished in sixth overall.
Newcomer Callan Cooper put the fear of god into the Inter 85 riders, super-quick and perfectly executed riding a pleasure to watch, and he secured the first two wins to bag the overall victory. Daniel Neale’s hard work paid off in the first and last races to finish in third and second, bad luck in the second denying him the chance to move into top spot, but his great efforts on the track still secured him second overall. Dylan Hodgkins fought hard all day to keep Patrick O’Neill and Josh Coleman from placing higher, a great opening race seeing him finish in second place, with two further top six places resulting in him finishing the day in third overall.
Patrick O’Neill tied on points with Hodgkins but just missed out on third overall, but he persistently improved his results throughout the day finishing on a high in third in the final moto and ended the day in fourth overall ahead of Josh Coleman. Uncharacteristically taking more than one tumble, Coleman still persevered to push his way into top spot, a third in the second moto his best result of the day, but a determined effort throughout the day still ensured he finished fifth overall. Oliver Osmaston should have placed second overall, but mechanical problems in the opening race left him trailing in 20th place, but completely obliterating the field in the remaining motos saw the fluorescent helmet flashing past the finish line in second in the second, and secured a win in style in the last to finish the day in sixth overall.
A handful of Junior riders were the last to tackle the track and Camlann MacDonald was the outright winner with three perfect rides who charged ahead clear of the rest of the field and stormed through the chequered flag in first in all three races. Toby Saunders ensured a high placing with outstanding starts, always at the first corner ahead of the pack, and he remained at the front of the field to finish in third, second and second to finish second overall. Christopher Nuttall was flying high in the opening moto, pushing hard to grab a win, but settled into second place and two fifth places gave him a brilliant third overall on the day.
Charlie Coles excellent start ensured he would place highly, and saving the best for last he cruised his way into third place to grab fourth overall away from Archie Osmaston. Both riders tied on the same points but Cole’s third awarded him the higher position. Osmaston in his distinctive fluorescent helmet just like big bro’s was unmistakable at high speed around the track, and consistent rides leaving him in fifth, fourth and fourth awarded him fifth overall. Olivier Cook was obviously missing his brake in the second moto as there was no stopping him, and an outstanding third proved he still has was it takes after becoming Auto champion last year. The move from Kawasaki to KTM proved to suit Cook better and with two sixths and a third he was rewarded with sixth overall.
Results:
VMX: 1 Paul Williams, 2 Shaun Brooker, 3 Simon Smart, 4 Brendon Crew, 5 Neil Jenkinson, 6 Adam Taylor.
AMX: 1 Sean Hewett, 2 Richie Walters, 3 Josh Scott, 4 Shaun Kerley, 5 Aaron Lovelock, 6 Rupert Heaton.
Seniors: 1 Matt Bayliss, 2 Jake Hassell, 3 Luke Smith, 4 Jordan Carrier, 5 Ricky Britton, 6 Tommy Walker.
Inter Open: 1 George Clarke, 2 Billy Hare, 3 Chris Bayliss, 4 Ryan Monckton, 5 Harry Hinson, 6 David Roberts.
Inter 85s: 1 Callan Cooper, 2 Daniel Neale, 3 Dylan Hodgkins, 4 Patrick O’Neill, 5 Josh Coleman, 6 Oliver Osmaston.
Juniors: 1 Camlann MacDonald, 2 Toby Saunders, 3 Christopher Nuttall, 4 Charlie Cole, 5 Archie Osmaston, 6 Olivier Cook.
Autos: 1 Louis Thomas, 2 Arthur Williams, 3 Liam Jones, 4 Reagan Brooks, 5 Charlie Sturgess, 6 Jamie Griggs.
“Portsmouth MX Club are pleased to announce that they will be holding the 11th round of their Summer Club Championship at Cusses Gorse, Winterbourne Gunner, Salisbury on Sunday 26th July 2009.
All groups available Auto through to Adult Open (2 classes – AMX Open and VMX Open [35+])
Visitors are more than welcome to book in. Day licences are available for non-BSMA licence holders at £15 each.
ALL riders will be expected to provide a marshal, please be aware that NO MARSHAL = NO RIDE!
To book in, please contact the Race Secretary, Kay on 01489 571493 (please leave your riders name, riding group, riding number and licence held PLUS A CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER [mobile if possible]) or return your regs if you are a Portsmouth member.
IF YOU ARE CAMPING ON SATURDAY PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE PITS UNTIL AFTER 6pm – YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN UNTIL AFTER THIS TIME! ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER NO DOGS OR PUSHBIKES ARE ALLOWED AT THIS CIRCUIT”
Tags: adams, brakes, clarke, clutch, cooper, extreme, helmet, injury, jones, kawasaki, ktm, luck, motocross, smith, water, williams
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