Billy's a local hero
By Team TMX on 18th Jan 17
Arenacross Tour Billy MacKenzie
Double British champ Billy MacKenzie made a guest appearance for the Buildbase Honda team at round two of the 2017 Arenacross Tour at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
The Scot was hugely popular with the crowd and after running 8-7 in his heats he earned his place in the Main Event with a win in the LCQ head-to-head races.
"I needed all the track time I could get but once I was behind the gate I just did what comes naturally to me,” he said. "I didn't take any chances, did all the jumps and ended up eighth in the final so I'm all right with that. The fans were really cool – I got a great reaction from them, especially after I won the LCQ.”
Top performer for the team was 2013 champion Adam Chatfield who took fifth in the Pro AX final after running third for most of the 14-lap race.
"It's an all right result I suppose but I struggled a little bit,” he said. "I was in third in the final and made a few mistakes – the track was slick and the front wheel kept wanting to wash out.
"I should have been third – no excuses, I just couldn't get it done – but I'm still in the hunt for the title and only a few points away from the lead and I was the first English rider so it could be worse.”
Matt Bayliss showed his class in his two heat races, taking second first time out and leading the second until a late crash. A bad start in the Main Event saw him playing catch-up and after suffering with arm-pump for most of the race he came home seventh.
"In the final my arms just locked up from about the third lap and couldn't do much really,” said Matt. "It was all right but I set myself higher standards. Being positive I led almost the whole of my second heat so I know my speed is good – I just have to put everything together in the final.”
Heading into Glasgow on the back of a second overall in the AX Lites class in Manchester, Chris Bayliss came out swinging and powered his CRF250R to the win in the first of his two finals.
In the second final he almost crashed hard in the whoops but stayed upright to finish third, scoring the same points as overall winner Dylan Woodcock but just missing out on a tie-break.
"I got my first final win in the first race and I'm absolutely buzzing with that,” said Chris. "I wish I could have done the same in the second final but I've come away tied on points for the win. I'm happy with second again and I've moved closer to the series lead.”
Team boss Dave Thorpe was quick to acknowledge his riders' performances on the slick and challenging circuit.
"The lads rode well,” he said. "The ground was quite hardpack in places which didn't make for aggressive passing. It was a very good track and was technically challenging in places but it was a bit slippery.”
Adam goes into round three of the series at the Genting Arena, Birmingham, on Saturday sitting fifth in the Pro AX standings just three points from the lead. In the AX Lites class Chris lies second having reduced the deficit to the leader to three points.
