Red Bull reach the Heights
By TMX Archives on 17th Jul 09
AFTER two rounds at Landrake and Whitby the Red Bull Pro Nationals are set for two cracking rounds at Canada Heights (Postcode: BR8 8DX) over the next month. This weekend, July 18/19, is the first at the popular Kent circuit and both events are shaping up to be something special. Preparations have been going well for the onslaught of race action this weekend that will see the MCF's Fuchs-Silkolene Two-stroke, Women's Nationals and Red Bull Pro Nationals all take place on one action-packed weekend. And if that's not enough there will also be the certified loonies of the Red Bull X-Fighters promotional tour to put on a show right in front of the marquee during Sunday.
First up will be the hard charging two-stroke riders for round six of their championship. With the lagoon dredged and now completely full for watering, the track will be groomed to perfection.
On the rider front, STR Honda's James Noble will be rolling out the big 500 again after winning the previous round at Whitby on his debut ride. Team-mate Jordan Rose will also be in action, but probably on a 250. MVR-D Suzuki's Carl Nunn will be out again on his two-stroke and the entire LPE Kawasaki team were set to ride but they are now two riders light after the unfortunate Kristian Whatley injured his knee and Lewis Rose broke his leg last weekend.
Gordon Crockard will also be working his way back to fitness and dusting off the two-stroke before working on his rehabilitation at the Pro Nationals the following day. Open class leader and British MXdN team manager, Mark Eastwood will be relishing the chance of going at it with non two-stroke regulars even at the ripe old age of 38, he still loves the challenge. Luke Hill, like Noble, will be ripping around on his 500cc Service Honda.
In the 125cc class TM's Jim Davies has a healthy points lead now that defending champion David Willet has gone out with a knee injury, but he'll have his work cut out to claim the win. Jack Brunnell is likely to be the main player as he returns from the German championship for another wild-card ride.
Also on the schedule on Saturday will be the second round of the Girlracer' Women's Nationals. It's no surprise really that MVR-D's Natalie Kane leads the way after her clean sweep at round one. She's followed by Scotland's Kerry Wilson and Buildbase CCM's Alix Dunlop. Kiwi import, Nikki Scott is looking to improve on her opening round and aiming for the podium as she certainly has the speed. The girls have two races on Saturday and another two on the Sunday.
Sunday's Pro National has the best line-up to date. Brad Anderson and PAR Honda team-mate Scott Elderfield will be lining up and they'll be joined by James Noble, Jordan Rose and Nathan Parker of the STR Honda team. MVR-D Suzuki will be out in force with Carl Nunn and Matiss Karro along with the Samsung Yamaha duo of alias Smith and Jones Wayne and Mark. Neville Bradshaw, who won the MX2 class at Whitby, will be aiming to repeat but he'll have to work his socks off with the current men on form, the Red Bull KTM UK team of Stephen Sword and Jake Nicholls rocking up. They'll also be joined by team-mates Alex Snow and Graeme Irwin.
The factory CCM team will be making a first appearance with Tom Church and the returning Ray Rowson.
CAS Honda's lone new boy, Bryan MacKenzie, will also be looking to continue his good form. Relentless Suzuki will come out swinging with Martin Barr and Scott Columb. Columb now leads the way in the popular proppa.com Van Slam mini-series, a two-lap sprint race where the winner at the end of the year will get the keys to a pimped out VW T5 Transporter van.
Add to that all the atmosphere of the marquee, the X-Fighters demo and the tunes from the Red Bull Urban Assault' DJ vehicle and it's going to be a jam-packed weekend at the Heights' all for 10 admission or 20 for a family ticket of four.
There will be a 125cc Two-stroke Support class on Sunday for which entries are still available. Anyone wishing to enter should contact secretary@mcfederation.com or call 01865-342107 or visit the websites www.2strokebritishchampionship.co.uk or www.redbullpronationals.com
Gates open at 9am. The first race is at 10.30am and the last race at 4pm.