Church returns to two-strokes
By TMX Archives on 2nd Oct 08
AS the main motocross season draws to a close the final rounds of the DEP British Two-Stroke Championship screams into Wiltshire's spectacular hillside venue, Marshfield, near Chippenham, this Saturday and Sunday. In one of his final rides aboard a green machine MX1 Molson Kawasaki rider, Tom Church, headlines a star return to two-stroke racing by announcing he'll take on the challenge to race at this weekend's final British Two-stroke round at Marshfield aboard a KX125.
I went along to the round at Marshfield last year and it really is a great series with some of the closest racing you'll see all year, explained Church.
That's why I thought I'll have a crack at it, I can't wait to get back on a 125cc two-stroke although I'm under no illusions that riders like Pettit and Dave Willet are pretty rapid. I'm just going out their to have some fun and enjoy my last ride on a Kawasaki.
In the Expert 125cc class, run-away series leader Jon Pettit looks set to take his first British crown with an impressive season-long domination of the class aboard his equally impressive TM. With a 114-point lead over Yamaha's Dave Willet, and 270-points still up for the taking over the two-days of action, it's not quite in the bag yet for Pettit.
It couldn't be more different between second and third positions as only three-points separate the Yamaha duo of Willet and the young talent of Jack Brunnel.
With the Open qualifying enabling Junior riders to race in the main class, young talents such as Christian Taylor have proved they are just as fast as the front runners. Taylor currently leads Lloyd Morgan by a slender 24-points on 871 points for the championship, while Jack Plowman currently holds third spot on 782.
The Open class yet again looks likely to provide a fiercely contested end to the season as Britain's MX of Nations team-manager, Mark Eastwood, is looking for his second straight title aboard his Honda. Eastwood's 94-point lead over iron-man Dave Willet looks a little too out of reach for the Yamaha rider, although the championship could still go down to the wire. Dale Rayner currently holds third place just 18-points clear of Andre David.
It's a much closer affair in the Open Junior class as David Dibble, Ashley Pennycook and Justin Penty are capable of coming away from Marshfield as Junior British Champions.
Marshfield will be signposted from the A420, six-miles west of Chippenham, Wiltshire. The gates open at 9am and racing on both days starts at 11am. Adults are 10 and children under 16 are 5.
For more information check out the website www.2strokebritishchampionship.co.uk