Lewis pulls a Fast one
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jan 09
DESPITE the fact that it was running just five days before Christmas, the second round of the MXC series, the latest offering from Fast Eddy Racing and WOR Events was well attended and hotly contested. Boreton Farm, near Shrewsbury, was the venue once again and the ground was in perfect shape for very competitive racing. The going was mainly dry with the lower section of the field a little bit tacky, overall good shape considering the weather over the past couple of weeks.
The entry list saw a growth in the motocross classes from the opening round, solidly backed-up by all the usual cross-country boys, and girls.
The standard format of two one-hour races, with a break in between, worked well and gave riders time to recover and repair bikes in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Races one and three consisted of the Enduro Expert, Motocross Expert and Enduro Clubman and the Fun riders while races two and four contained Enduro Sportsman and Novice, Youth and Over 40 classes plus the Motocross Seniors and Juniors.
KB Racing's Lewis Belfield took the Expert Enduro honours in the opening race as team-mates Lincoln Brewster and Rowland Morris pushed the field early on but fell by the wayside as Morris ran out of fuel and Brewster's KTM had overheating problems.
James Jackman, who had a disastrous MXC one event, came back strongly to nail second place ahead of the
hard-charging Jack Twentyman, followed by Warren Hazlett and Jamie Robinson. Just out of the top five was an unlucky Kip Herring, on a 450 Touratech BMW. He would have placed higher but joined the growing ranks of riders who ran out of fuel.
Lee Edmondson took to the field for the third race and he even allowed everyone to leave him on the line before finally firing up his PAR Honda and taking the lead within a lap, a position he held to the finish. KB Racing's Rowland Morris put in an excellent performance to claim second spot, just ahead of team-mate, Lewis Belfield.
The Enduro Experts had been given a hard time by Mark Roberts in the MX Experts class. Roberts held and challenged for the lead on and off throughout the race while Craig Davies and Geoff Hunt were some way behind in second and third spots.
Roberts was unstoppable in the third race and banged in 12 laps for the MX Expert victory, with Hunt in second and Carl Brittain third.
Carl Critchlow was right up there with the Expert ranks even though he was in the Clubman class. He won both of his races to take the class overall. Luke Smith grabbed the runner-up spot in the opening race with Dennis Harrison close behind and Carl Thomas, on the same lap, in fourth.
Critchlow posted his second win of the day, followed home by Dennis Harrison, moving up a place from the first race, with Carl Thomas still tailing him.
Chris Hamer headed the Fun class on a creditable ten-laps followed
by Stu Robson and Cameron Hudson but, in the third race, Robson turned the tables and took the win from Hamer, with Hudson third again.
In races two and four, Alec Trawford dominated the Sportsman class. A clear winner in both races, he is on his way to the overall title at the end of the third round in January.
Mark Bill must also be in with a shout as he followed Trawford home in both races with David Dudley third, Damian Groves fourth and Tom Braceway fifth in their first race. Groves, Gareth Pocket and Braceway completed the top five second time out.
Danny Morris and Daryl Morris took a win and a second place each in the Novice class with Jonathan Hayes third each time. Tom Beedles claimed fourth in the
second race, a lap up on Andy Challinor but Challinor had his revenge in the final race, taking fourth in class ahead of Lee Gaskin.
Rees Cook was another two-time winner as he nailed the Youth class in both the second and fourth races. Danny Blair followed him in the second with George Hough third. Jack Sherlock threw his name into the mix by taking second in the final race as Hough once again took third ahead
of Scott Challinor and Charlie Nichols.
Paul Minihane improv-ed his series standing significantly with two fine wins in the MX Seniors group. The top three remained the same in each race as Minihane won from Thomas Cooper and Richard Miller.
Matt Nash headed both MX Junior races, each time just ahead of Jake Humphries by a lap with Sam Archer taking one third spot.
Finally, the Over 40 class, where Mike Allport had a great day with two wins to his credit as Dave Cook and Dave Ellis swapped the other two top three places over the two races.
Conditions had changed significantly from the start of racing to the start of race three. Lines, ruts and a few small berms appeared and the track grew wider with each lap but it was manageable for all classes and once again successful in as much as all riders went away feeling they had had a good outing for their money in a compet
MOTO X-COUNTRY SERIES
Rd 2 Boreton Farm, Shrewsbury(Fast Eddy Racing & WOR Events)
RACE ONE
Enduro Expert: 1 Lewis Belfield, 2 James Jackman, 3 Jack Twentyman, 4 Warren Hazlett, 5 Jamie Robinson.
Enduro Clubman: 1 Carl Critchlow, 2 Luke Smith, 3 Dennis Harrison, 4 Carl Thomas, 5 Matt Evans.
MX Expert: 1 Mark Roberts, 2 Craig Davies, 3 Geoff Hunt.
Fun: 1 Chris Hamer, 2 Stu Robson, 3 Cameron Hudson.
RACE TWO
Enduro Sportsman: 1 Alec Trawford, 2 Mark Bill, 3 David Dudley, 4 Damian Groves, 5 Tom Braceway.
Novice: 1 Danny Morris, 2 Daryl Morris, 3 Jonathan Hayes, 4 Tom Beedles, 5 Andy Challinor.
Youth: 1 Rees Cook, 2 Danny Blair, 3 George Hough, 4 Alex West, 5 James Smith.
MX Senior: 1 Paul Minihane, 2 Thomas Cooper, 3 Richard Miller.
MX Junior: 1 Matt Nash, 2 Jake Humphries, 3 Sam Archer.
Over 40: 1 Mike allport, 2 Dave Cook, 3 Dave Ellis, 4 Paul Robson, 5 Alan Henley.
RACE THREE
Enduro Expert: 1 Lee Edmondson, 2 Rowland Morris, 3 Lewis Belfield, 4 Jack Twentyman, 5 Gav Hazlett.
Enduro Clubman: 1 Carl Critchlow, 2 Dennis Harrison, 3 Carl Thomas, 4 Martin Stretton, 5 John Holt.
MX Expert: 1 Mark Roberts, 2 Geoff Hunt, 3 Carl Brittain.
Fun: 1 Stu Robson, 2 Chris Hamer, 3 Cameron Hudson.
RACE FOUR
Enduro Sportsman: 1 Alec Trawford, 2 Mark Bill, 3 Damian Groves, 4 Gareth Pocket, 5 Tom Braceway.
Novice: 1 Daryl Morris, 2 Danny Morris, 3 Jonathan Hayes, 4 Andy Challinor, 5 Lee Gaskin.
Youth: 1 Rees Cook, 2 Jack Sherlock, 3 George Hough, 4 Scott Challinor, 5 Charlie Nichols.
MX Senior: 1 Paul Minihane, 2 Thomas Cooper, 3 Richard Miller.
MX junior: 1 Matt Nash, 2 Jake Humphries, 3 Tom Guilt.
Over 40: 1 Mike Allport, 2 Dave Ellis, 3 Dave Cook, 4 Paul Robson, 5 Alan Henley.