Alfie attacks Yarley
By Team TMX on 2nd Oct 15
Last Sunday the Phoenix Tools Ifly Premier Motocross Championship took on yet another new venue for the penultimate round Yarley Moto Park, near Wells, Somerset.
The sun was out in all its glory and water had to be used early morning to dampen the track which rutted up in places as the day went on.
In the Pro Expert class entries were a bit lower than normal as many had gone to France for the Des
Nations – but for those who hadn't there was some great racing.
Championship leader Shane Carless set the fastest time in qualifying and looked to be in top form as he took the holeshot in the opening race.
But Alfie Smith was right on his tail and in a real hurry and he really had the throttle wound back to pass Carless on the opening lap.
Jamie Skuse was third and all over Carless for the first couple of laps.
But as the race progressed Carless dealt with the pressure from Skuse and eased away although he couldn't catch Smith who was flying and took the win.
In the second moto Smith hit the front from the off from Skuse and Carless, with the latter up to second by the end of the opening lap.
But he had no answer to Smith who lap by lap increased his advantage at the front.
Wildcard Luke Dean didn't have the best of starts but was soon up to fifth and was all over Kelvin Townsend which turned in to a really good tussle for several laps, with Dean getting the advantage on the last lap for fourth behind Skuse, Carless and runaway winner Smith.
In the last race it looked as if Smith had got off to the best start but as they got to the top of the hill Skuse powered past to take the lead.
It was short-lived though, as when they came back in to view it was Smith leading from Skuse and Sunny Thompson.
Carless was well down the field after totally missing the start but was soon on the gas and gradually eased his way up through the field.
By lap 10 Smith was well clear again at the front from Skuse, but up to third just eight seconds adrift was Carless who was closing in all the time.
Skuse slowed on lap 11 after catching his knee on a bank which let Carless close right up and with just two laps remaining Carless passed the injured Skuse into second.
But he couldn't catch Smith who made it a hat-trick of wins.
In the Expert class things had all changed at the top at the last round so the battle was on and in the opening race Jake Penny took the early lead from wildcard Darren Banwell and Championship leader Ben Butler.
But by the end of the opening lap Banwell and Butler had found away pass Penny and started to ease away.
Butler was all over Banwell until lap five, when a slight mistake let Butler through into the lead and he held on to win from Banwell and Penny.
In the second moto Butler was in fine form and eased away at the front, while Banwell moved second after a mistake from Kensington on lap two, with Penny claiming third at the flag.
In the last race Banwell had the early lead from Butler and these two had a great battle for several laps with Banwell not giving an inch until lap four when Butler got the inside line at a slow right hander.
Banwell stayed with him though and on lap nine forced his way into the lead over one of the jumps and held on to take the win.
In the Over 35 Championship class there was no stopping wildcard Ben Harmon in the first two races, taking the flag from series leader Nick Life.
But in race three Harmon went over the handlebars, allowing Life to get away and take the win – and with it the 2015 MD Racing Over 35 Championship.
In the Over 40s class the day belonged to Terry House who took a fine hat-trick of wins, each time ahead of championship leader Chris Brown, who held on to his Championship lead but only by nine points as they go to the final round.
In the Over 50s there was no messing about for championship leader and defending champ Mark Gleadhill who notched up yet another hat-trick of wins and to retain his crown with a round to spare.
In the Junior class there were again plenty of wildcard entries out to beat championship leader Jamie Carpenter.
Jamie had set the fastest time in qualifying though and was well on the gas to again blitz the field in all three races and wrap up the series to become Tyremarks Junior Champion 2015.
