Bell's ring for Lewis at tough Nantmawr
By TMX Archives on 13th Nov 08
A DIGNIFIED two-minutes of absolute silence at 11am in Nantmawr Quarry, on Sunday, gave time for reflection, a quiet before the storm at the final round of the Motul GBHS Series.WOR Events six-year relationship with Motul has gone from strength-to-strength and this year the series has been very well attended. Next season is planned to be even better.Set in and around the intimidating Nantmawr Quarry, the home of the legendary Tough One, the final round proved to be one of the toughest. In addition to the quarry's testing terrain there was the added hurdle of flat-out tracks and field sections, which surround the upper parts of the quarry area. Over 120 riders lined up for this Remembrance Day outing and to a man there was silence for two minutes as everyone showed their respect. The only sound to be heard was the rain falling on the saturated quarry floor.
Within minutes of the start, the rain abated as riders blasted off, out of the quarry and onto the field and track sections. The tracks were fast but the field compensated for this by slowing riders in a couple of strength-sapping boggy sections in preparation for their descent back into the quarry base and all it had to offer.
The terrain was testing for both man and machine, as many riders were to discover. Chris Wagstaffe was winning the Over 40 class when he lost the nut from his rear wheel spindle, followed shortly afterwards by the spindle and the wheel itself. Michael Briggs was going well in the Clubman class but suffered not one, but two snapped chains in the seven laps he completed.
KB Racing's Lewis Bellfield, at just 17-years-old, led from start to finish and took the win some five minutes ahead of Rob Reese with Paul Herbert taking third in the Expert class. All three riders managed to dig deep and bang in 14 laps. Bellfield's performance was outstanding in the tough going and he never once looked as if he would let his lead slip.
His team-mate Lincoln Brewster, usually near the front, had a nightmare day. He took to the line feeling very poorly but still clocked up an impressive 13 laps to take sixth spot, despite having his KTM stuck in second gear then fifth gear for much of the race and becoming entangled in wire for over five minutes. Dave Cadwalader took fourth in class just three minutes head of Steve Hughes in fifth.
MOTUL GB HARE SCRAMBLE SERIES
Final Rd – Nantmawr Quarry, Oswestry
(WOR Events)
Expert: 1 Lewis Bellfield, 2 Rob Reese, 3 Paul Herbert.
Clubman: 1 Owain Humphries, 2 Scott Hughes, 3 Gethin Humphries.
Over 35: 1 Jason Hope, 2 Jack Twentyman, 3 Chris Roberts.
Over 40: 1 Allan Hopwood, 2 Michael Reece, 3 Paul Robson.
Over 45: 1 Ray Whittall, 2 Gareth Lloyd, 3 Dennis Harrison.
Sportsman A: 1 Paul Engelen, 2 Scott Smith, 3 Andrew Donald.
Sportsman B: 1 Luke Williams, 2 Huw Edwards, 3 Mike Belshaw.
Novice: 1 Jaroslav Ceri, 2 Alex Stock, 3 Glynn Boughton.
Youth: 1 Johnny Jones, 2 James Dent, 3 Huw Jones.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008
Expert winner, 17-year-old Lewis Bellfield, who led the race from start to finish, takes time out for refuel.