BACK to the FUTURE!
By TMX Archives on 1st Nov 10
Supercross returned to Northern Ireland after a three-year absence when Future West promoted round one of the ACU British Supercross Championship in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast.
The motorsport mad Northern Ireland fans showed that they have missed this type of event when they filled the Odyssey Arena to capacity for this opening round of the Series.
And, with competitors from all over the UK, Canada, USA, South Africa and Russia the event took on a truly International feel.
Words: Roy NeilL
Pictures: Anthony Sutton
The Pro SX1 main final started off in explosive fashion when Tom Church on the Buildbase CCM and competing in his first Supercross for quite a few years led the field off the line and straight into the woops section.
Local favourite Gordon Crockard was second chased by Brad Anderson, Adam Chatfield and Eugeny Bobryshev. Lap by lap the determined Bobryshev picked off the opposition and a final block pass move on Tom Church took him into the lead just past the halfway point a position which he held to the flag.
Tom Church was just 3.4 seconds behind to claim a well earned second from the charging Brad Anderson on the PAR Homes Honda. Gordon Crockard riding Paul Bird's 250 Two-stroke Kawasaki just missed out on a podium position in fourth. Adam Chatfield and American rider Ryan Blizzard completed the top six.
For Bobryshev this was an amazing result as he had indicated in the Pre-race interviews that this was his first Supercross Event and he was not sure if it would suit his riding style.
Martin Barr got the local fans off their seats when he took the lead three laps in to the Pro SX2 15 lap final.
There was a tremendous scrap behind Martin between Jack Brunell, Adam Chatfield, defending champion Colton Facciotti and Bobryshev. Close to half distance Martin Barr stalled his TAS Suzuki on the left hand corner before the finish jump and a great big sigh could be heard all around the Odyssey Arena.
This all left Adam Chatfield, who had recorded the fastest lap of any competitor during the afternoon practice, to slog it out with Jack Brunell and Eugeny Bobryshev.
In the end, Adam Chatfield claimed the win in the Pro SX2 Championship Class by just 3.2 seconds from Jack Burnell and Eugeny Bobryshev. Martin Barr did recover to finish fourth followed by Colton Facciottii and Neville Bradshaw.
Local fans were in for a real treat when the British Open Championship race saw Martin Barr take the lead early in the ten-lap final. Martin's main contenders in this one were Brad Anderson, Adam Chatfield and Tom Church. Lap by lap the support Martin received from the local crowd was fantastic and he admitted post race that this did give him a real boost to stay at the front.
Barr held on and won by three seconds from Brad Anderson who was just ahead of Adam Chatfield. The top six positions were filled out by Tom Church, Gordon Crockard and Neville Bradshaw.
James Dunn, from Swindon, was in powerful form in the Clubman Open Class, he had won his qualifying heat in some style in the afternoon and won the evening Clubman final by almost a ten second margin. James' main contenders were Edward Briscoe and local lad Adrian Weatherhead, they finished second and third. Three additional Irish competitors; Christy Harnett, Ryan Adair and Shane Mulligan completed the top six.
To make a double success of the evening James Dunn also won the Clubman Lites final from Daniel Brough and Mark Perfect who had been in charge of this race in the opening stages. Ed Briscoe, Ryan Adair and Shane Mulligan all claimed some useful points in the top six.
The Adult Quad final really captured the interest of the fans with their high powered drifting round some of the turns. Jonny Kelly shot into the lead and initially chased by multi British Quad Champion Justin Reid until his Can Am expired allowing Michael McAneney to move into second place.
Brad Frost was having his own fierce battle with Mark Watson who had been late away from the start line. Jonny Kelly won but only just from Michael McAneny in second, Brad Frost did claim third with Mark Watson fourth.
The Youth Championship events were as always hotly contested and were warmly greeted by the spectators. These races were nicely spaced in between some of the Adult action to offer a good race mix on the night.
Nathan Watson had a hectic battle with James Wood in the Youth Lites Championship Class. After ten laps Nathan Watson did win by just 1.7 seconds from James Dunn with Mark Perfect claiming third. Local riders Shane Mulligan,
John Meara and Jim O'Neill filled out the top six positions.
The Supermini's were split into two separate races at this first round. In the Big-wheel 85cc Class Ben Watson took the win from local lad Glen McCormick in second and Tom Neal third.
In the 85cc Small-wheel version of the Supermini Class Gradie Featherson took the win from Jay McCrum and Eddie Remner.
Young Harry Kimber was the winner of the Youth 65cc class, but only just from Dylan Woodcock; he was only 0.16 seconds behind at the flag with David Robson third.
Finally the Auto Class race was won by Daniel Breen from Callum Beeken and Lee Percy, they all got a great cheer from the crowd.
This first round of the ACU British Supercross Championship was a real credit to all involved and a special thanks should go to Future West Promotions, the ACU and MRA Teams. A 20-race, non-stop programme, including a 20-minute opening show all done and dusted by 10.30pm, with everyone enjoying the experience.
BRITISH SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 1 – Odyssey Arena (Future West)
YOUTH 85cc FINAL: 1 Gradie Featherstone, 2 Jay McCrum, 3 Eddie Remmer, 4 David Galvin, 5 Aaron Wilson, 6 Matt Lomas.
BRITISH OPEN (Qualifier 1): 1 Martin Barr, 2 Tom Church, 3 Adam Chatfield, 4 Gordon Crockard, 5 Ashley Greedy, 6 Wayne Garrett.
BRITISH OPEN (Qualifier 2): 1 Jack Brunell, 2 Brad Anderson, 3 Neville Bradshaw, 4 David Goosen, 5 Danny Tollet, 6 Edward Briscoe.
AUTO FINAL: 1 Daniel Breen, 2 Callum Beeken, 3 Lee Percy, 4 Lewis Townsend, 5 Finley Beard, 6 Bistu Hart.
PRO SX2 (Qualifier 1): 1 Martin Barr, 2 Colton Facciotti, 3 Evgeny Bobryshev, 4 Neville Bradshaw, 5 Matthew Bayliss, 6 James Dodd.
PRO SX2 (Qualifier 2): 1 Ashley Greedy, 2 Kyle Beaton, 3 David Goosen, 4 Jordon Booker, 5 Wayne Garrett, 6 Jack Brunell.
JUNIOR 65cc FINAL: 1 Harry Kimber, 2 Dylan Woodcock, 3 David Robson, 4 Connor Ellis, 5 Aaron McGregor, 6 Adam Dunn.
PRO SX1 (Qualifier 1): 1 Jack Brunell, 2 Ryan Blizzard, 3 Gordon Crockard, 4 Neville Bradshaw, 5 Wayne Garrett, 6 Stuart Edmonds.
PRO SX1 (Qualifier 2): 1 Evgeny Bobryshev, 2 Tom Church, 3 Colton Facciotti, 4 Adam Chatfield, 5 Ashley Greedy, 6 David Goosen.
BRITISH OPEN (LCQ): 1 Jordon Booker, 2 Wayne Garrett, 3 James Dodd, 4 Edward Briscoe, 5 Matthew Bayliss, 6 Daniel Brough.
SUPERMINI FINAL: 1 Ben Watson, 2 Glenn McCormick, 3 Tom Neal, 4 Gradie Featherstone, 5 Jay Lamb, 6 Scooter Webster.
PRO SX2 (LCQ): 1 Adam Chatfield, 2 Jack Brunell, 3 Wayne Garrett, 4 Stuart Edmonds, 5 Danny Tollet, 6 James Dodd.
CLUBMAN LITES FINAL: 1 James Dunn, 2 Daniel Brough, 3 Mark Perfect, 4 Edward Briscoe, 5 Ryan Adair, 6 Shane Mulligan.
PRO SX1 (LCQ): 1 Brad Anderson, 2 Kyle Beaton, 3 Matthew Bayliss, 4 Stuart Edmonds, 5 Danny Tollet.
CLUBMAN OPEN FINAL: 1 James Dunn, 2 Edward Briscoe, 3 Adrian Weatherhead, 4 Christy Harnett, 5 Ryan Adair, 6 Shane Mulligan.
BRITISH OPEN FINAL: 1 Martin Barr, 2 Brad Anderson, 3 Adam Chatfield, 4 Tom Church, 5 Gordon Crockard, 6 Neville Bradshaw.
QUAD FINAL: 1 Jonny Kelly, 2 Michael McAneney, 3 Brad Frost, 4 Mark Watson, 5 Oliver Sansom, 6 Geoff Ingram.
PRO SX2 FINAL: 1 Adam Chatfield, 2 Jack Brunell, 3 Evgeny Bobryshev, 4 Martin Barr, 5 Colton Facciotti, 6 Neville Bradshaw.
YOUTH LITES FINAL: 1 Nathan Watson, 2 James Dunn, 3 Mark Perfect, 4 Shane Mulligan, 5 John Meara, 6 Jim O'Neil.
PRO SX1 FINAL: 1 Evgeny Bobryshev, 2 Tom Church, 3 Brad Anderson, 4 Gordon Crockard, 5 Adam Chatfield, 6 Ryan Blizzard.
NEXT ROUND: February 5 – O2 Arena, Docklands, London (Future West).