Donny's sandtastic
By TMX Archives on 15th Jul 10
This year's BYMX Championship has without doubt seen a definite slant towards the sandier circuits - and following a brief flirtation with hard - packed dirt at Dean Moor, round five of this year's Express Insurance sponsored series returns to the looser stuff this coming weekend July 17 /18, with a visit to Doncaster Motoparc, Finingley.
In the Junior 65s Albie Wilkie looked a class apart in West Cumbria but the London Express can fully expect the challenge to be stiffer this time around with the South Yorkshire sand potentially acting as a leveller in the tiddler class. Albie currently holds the championship stakes with Taylor Hammal in second place. Keenan Hird is third in the table 17 points off the lead and the realistic championship challenge for the BYMX 65cc crown barring complete disaster is between these three guys.
In the Small-wheel 85cc section Oli Osmaston will be back on the start line following his recent injury, so there is now going to be a true classic with a five way battle at the business end as we go forward towards the climax at Cusses Gorse in September. Currently Cornish-man Josh Gilbert has a slender one point advantage over Robert Yates at the top with Conrad Mewse 14 points off the lead in third.
Thirteen year old Adam Sterry has been the very model of consistency so far in this years BYMX series with only a loose drive sprocket at Norley blotting what has a been a superb season long copy book. Adam took the Big-wheel 85 series lead at Dean Moor with a thunderous show and he will have to dig deep once more at Finningley if he is to hold off the two stroke challenge and retain his advantage. It's really unfortunate that championship contender Ben Howell has broken his collar bone but Ben Watson will see round five as the perfect opportunity to reclaim the section lead. Adam has a one point lead over Ben Watson, and a four point advantage over the injured Howell in third.
In the Youth Open class Connor Walkley struck what could be a decisive blow at Dean Moor by winning conclusively and opening up a 16 point gap in the title hunt. Under the new BYMX points scoring system for 2010 16 points is a more than healthy cushion. Nathan Watson sits in second place in the championship and he really needs an overall win to reclaim at least six of those points if he is to apply any pressure for the final two rounds. Tom Kelly is third in the standings 25 points off the top but he blitzed the field with a five race winning show the last time in sand at Mepal. Gary Sharp as another confirmed sand specialist will also be well worth keeping a close eye on as he too could be challenging for the overall honours along with Harry Mckenna who has been in fine form just lately.
nFinningley will also see the resumption of the ACU adult Two-stroke Championship where James Dunn will be going flat out to grab the lead in the 125cc section following the unfortunate injury to series leader Josh Waterman and in the 250s Matt Moffat will be keen to keep his Championship lead.