Sheffield ready for Arenacross showdown
By Team TMX on 10th Feb 16
The 2016 Monster Energy Arenacross heads to Yorkshire for the penultimate round of the hotly-contested series at the Sheffield Arena this weekend.
Having completed its run of gruelling double-headers, AX now sprints to the last two rounds, firstly at Sheffield, Saturday February 13 and then Wembley, London on Saturday February 27. It's a safe bet that there'll be plenty of no-holds-barred racing action.
The story so far has read like a chapter of a French invasion novel, but you can never write off the Brits. Adam Chatfield, Buildbase Honda, and Jack Brunell, SJR Kawasaki, are sitting in the top six, respectively 55 and 56 points off the leader Cedric Soubeyras, Geartec Yamaha, who is just eight points ahead of reigning AX Pro champ Thomas Ramette, SR75 Molson Racing Suzuki.
Both Chatfield and Brunell have now tasted podium success, with the SJR Kawasaki rider claiming three third places and the Buildbase Honda man taking to the podium for the first time at Newcastle.
The question is, can the Brits reel in the French? Well, mathematically, yes.
Each round has a maximum of 24 Pro class points up for grabs. Twenty for a win in the Main Event, and four for a win in the exhilarating head-to-head two-lap dash.
The points are doubled at Wembley, so there are potentially 72 points to be bagged over the course of the last two rounds.
The ProLites category is pretty much sewn up. Joe Clayton has won seven of the nine but he hasn't always had it his own way as George Clarke has been hot on his back wheel throughout the series. It would be fair to assume the championship is Clayton's to lose, but it would be foolhardy to write off Clarke.
On paper, the Super Mini class is virtually a done deal with Harry Kimber 51 points ahead of Kacey Hird, who in turn is fending off Lewis Hall just one point behind him.
Bradford-based Hird could well have the home advantage at Sheffield though and, of course, they can drop their worst result. In best musical style, it ain't over until the last chequered flag falls ...
Super-quick, intense racing has been the order of day for the 65cc mini racing warriors.
They have won the hearts of Arenacross audiences for their gutsy performances and at Newcastle they literally had the crowd on its feet as current class leader Kiean Boughen tried to nail Newcastle darling Ollie Colmer across the finish line jump.
There was hardly a dry eye in the Arena as the little guys threw down their bikes to accept the well-deserved applause and, with just six points in it, Sheffield is truly in for something of a showdown!
Tickets can be bought by following the BUY TICKETS link at www.arenacrossuk.com or by calling the box office on 0844 338 8000.
Series stangings
Pro Championship: 1 Cedric Soubeyras #120 (Geartec Yamaha) 171 points, 2 Thomas Ramette #1 SR75 (Molson Racing Suzuki) 163, 3 Cyrille Coulon #5 (SR75 Molson Racing Suzuki) 139, 4 Fabien Izoird #871 (LPE Kawasaki) 128, 5 Adam Chatfield #407 (Buildbase Honda) 116, 6 Jack Brunell #155 (SJR Kawasaki) 115, 7 Florent Richier #2 (LPE Kawasak,i 101, 8 Angelo Pellegrini #941 (Buildbase Honda) 100, 9 Matt Bayliss #4 (Wooldridge Demolition) 99, 10 Josh Hansen #100 (SJR Kawasaki) 79
Team Championship: 1 SR75 Molson Racing Suzuki 302, 2 LPE Kawasaki 253, Buildbase Honda 216, 4 SJR Kawasaki 207, 5 Geartec Yamaha 174, 6 Wooldridge Honda 112, 7 Xbladez Husqvarna 82, 8 MVRD Fuel Husqvarna 57, 9 Hitatchi Revo Husqvarna 57, 10 Shocktech Honda 9.
Pro Lites Championship: 1 Joe Clayton #14 351, 2 George Clarke #161 315, Jordan Moxey #981 279
Supermini Championship: 1 Harry Kimber #78 343, 2 Kacey Hird #28 292, Lewis Hall #419 291
Junior 65 Championship: 1 Kiean Boughen #5 319, 2 Ollie Colmer #6 313, Jak Taylor #22 255
