AMCA showdown!
By Mike Wood on 9th Aug 17
With just three rounds remaining of the 2017 AMCA British Motocross Championship its time for the riders who still hold aspirations of challenging for top-three honours to step up to the plate!
Going into Sunday's meeting promoted by the Cheltenham Spa MXC on the recently revamped Brookthorpe circuit it's Luke Burton, Ray Rowson, Brad Turner and James Russell leading the charge in their respective classes but they all know there's still plenty of hard work to come.
Right from day one in this super series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop it's been the immaculate Burton leading the MX1 charge and looking on course to retain his AMCA crown. Behind him though there's been plenty of quality chasers in what has proved to be a very competitive contest.
Included on the list of riders to possibly break into the top three is Ryan Crowder, winner last time out at Boraston. At present Ryan is fourth behind Gary Gibson and Shane Carless who was also on the Boraston podium. With the unlucky fifth-placed James Dodd now out with a wrist injury it's so close that Richard Cannings, Paul Neale, Andrew Smart, Ashley Thomas, Ed Briscoe, Luke Meredith and Ben Saunders could all overhaul him this weekend.
Having taken the overall win at the last three rounds Rowson has surged to the top of the MX2 standings. At present Ray sits 41 points clear of Josh Waterman with Luke Dean in third. After suffering a disappointing eighth overall last time out at Boraston, Dean will be hoping to make amends on Sunday.
The spectacular Brookthorpe circuit will certainly suit him although he will have to be very aware of the form riders currently in MX2.
James Wainwright who sits in fourth and Lewis King are right on it at present and also going well and putting in high-scoring rides are Jack Cox, Clinton Barrs, Bradley Tranter, Luke Mellows and Jansen Day.
During the last two rounds Turner has stretched his advantage at the top of the Two-stroke class thanks to overall wins at both Hawkstone Park and Boraston. At present he is 120 points clear of Jordan Saunders who has had a super season with podiums at Bevercotes and Boraston. In the separately scored Two-stroke (MX2) class it's still Nathan Bache leading the way.
With six rounds down it's been the same three riders who've taken the Vets podium spots each time. At present it's Russell on 988 points, Terry House on 908 and Simon Lane on 889.
There's also racing on the Saturday at Brookthorpe with the headline event being the final round of the AMCA BWMA Ladies Championship.
The track will be signposted off the A4173 Gloucester to Stroud and also B4073 Gloucester to Painswick roads. Closest postcode is GL4 0UT.
