Hawkstone: ACU speaks
By TMX Archives on 7th Oct 10
The ACU filed an explaination of the circumstances which led to the cancellation of the Maxxis series finale at Hawkstone on the series website...
Despite major efforts by the organisers to actually run the event, the British weather finally won the day at Hawkstone Park on Sunday after more than 25mm of rain fell during the morning and the event was eventually called off at noon.
This means that Evgeny Bobryshev (CAS Honda), Zach Osborne (Bike It Cosworth Yamaha) and Terry House (Dextra Crescent Suzuki) are the 2010 champions, as the event will not be re run as in it now very late in the season.
At 8am on Sunday morning a decision was made to postpone the qualifying session until 11am as the forecast at that time was for the rain to start clearing.
However, at 10.45am, with still no sign of a let up and much running water on and across the circuit, the stewards, race director, clerk of the course and series manager made a further circuit inspection.
A chasm had been created towards the end of the lap where water had washed a huge gulley in the sand and it became obvious that racing would be dangerous and nigh on impossible.
ACU Events Ltd, the series promoter, acknowledge that this is not a good way to end the season.
Speaking on their behalf, series manager, Brian Higgins, commented: "We would like to thank everyone for the effort which has been put into trying to keep this event running.”
"The riders and teams have also been very understanding, but as we could not guarantee to be in a position to run the full wet race schedule, I think the only decision possible has been made.”