Bridgestone British Masters Race Report – Round Five, Hawkstone Park

By Dick Law on 22nd Aug 23

Martin Barr made a last-minute decision to bring his Apico Husqvarna over the Irish Sea for the fifth round of the Bridgestone British Masters which was held at the historic Hawkstone Park in Shropshire. Despite arriving at the venue straight from the ferry at 6.00 am Sunday, it was a good decision as with a second place and a race win, Martin won the Pro MX1 overall.

In the Pro MX2 side of the class, Charlie Heyman (Tru 7 Honda) took the overall from supercross specialist Dylan Woodcock who is filling in for the injured Jake Millward at Verde Shiloh KTM.

Rain on and off for most of the week before the event had left the sandy track in fine condition with, perhaps, the sand being a bit deeper than it has been over previous years and, with the occasional light rain, keeping it that way all weekend.

Tom Grimshaw (Chambers GASGAS) is still recovering from an early season injury, but that didn't stop him from getting the holeshot at the start of the first combined Pro MX1 and MX2 race. Brad Todd (Honda) and Barr followed him around the opening lap, as series leader Steven Clarke (Store 114 Racing Honda), who had gated fourth but seemed to be struggling slipped back into the chasing pack.

For lap after lap, Todd would close on the leader Grimshaw but not be able to affect a pass till, on lap six, Grimshaw lost drive over the jump at the far end of the circuit, and Todd was through and into the lead.

A last-minute decision to race paid off for Apico Husqvarna's Martin Barr who topped the podium

All this time, Barr was inching closer and closer to the leading pair and, with a lap to go, snatched second place from the unsuspecting Grimshaw on the run to the chequered flag.

Heyman, who was the first of the MX2 riders, had gated well in fifth and moved into fourth as he passed the ailing Clarke. He spent the rest of his race in fourth place but was the leading MX2 rider.

Callum Mitchell (Lexa MX Husqvarna) had passed both Clarke and Richard McKeown (RM 22 Husqvarna) in the first couple of laps of the race and spent the rest of it in fifth. At the same time, Woodcock had made it hard for himself by messing up the start but struggled with an unfamiliar motorcycle on his way to sixth on the track, but third in MX2, just behind Mitchell.

Clarke took the holeshot at the start of race two, from Barr, Grimshaw, Todd, and Carlton Husband (Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki). But as Barr took the lead at the beginning of lap two, Clarke, still suffering, started to slip back again as Grimshaw and Todd surged past him.

Travis Steels (GASGAS) had gated sixth, but a few crashes would see him finish his race in 20th place. Woodcock had made a better start in seventh place and, after passing Husband on lap three, was the highest place MX2 rider in fifth until Heyman, from 14th, snatched fourth place and the class win on the very last lap.

While all this was happening, Grimshaw had found a way past Barr for the race lead as Todd started to close, once again, on the two leaders.

Brad Todd secured second overall in the Pro MX1 class

It was looking good for Grimshaw till, on lap seven, he slipped off his machine handing the race and the overall win to Barr, with Todd second in both the race and the overall standings. Grimshaw had done enough to secure third overall, with Clarke making the best of a bad day in fourth place.

Husband was sixth over the finish line but third in MX2 with Mitchell, after an initial surge through the pack in the first couple of laps into eighth place but fourth MX2 for third overall.

“It’s been a weird season just coming back from injury, and it’s taken me some time to get back into it,” said a happy overall winner Barr. “I am 36 next week, and I am still loving the sport, so to come away with a win at the end of the day is fantastic.

“We only decided to come here at about five o’clock last night, so me and Glenn McCormick got on the boat and drove straight here. But I love racing, the Bridgestone Masters crew always put on a good meeting, so coming away with the overall is great, and I just want to now finish the season on a high".

If I had thought I was going to get a first and a second place on the way here, I would have been over the moon,” said runner-up Brad Todd. “I am still over the moon about it, as it’s my first podium of the year, so I can’t complain about that.

“In the second race, I didn't get the best of starts, but to be honest, I was spent anyway. Halfway through the race, I was running on empty.

I was happy with my performance, but I need to get a bit more ‘full-time’ I think that's what I am missing out on now – training and practising during the week. But that's what I am working on for next year now.”

Third-placed MX1 rider Grimshaw said – “although I may have thrown away the overall with my crash, I am happy because I was going for it when I did crash. I make no secret about it, but I do struggle with this place, so that’s why I am here in preparation for the MX Nationals that are here in two weeks. You could say, to get more comfortable being uncomfortable.

“I was going for it and was happy with how I rode. In the first race, I stiffened up as I had not got a holeshot and led a race for years but I was a lot more relaxed in the second race. Martin Barr was going well and a bit stronger than me in places. But two-thirds for third overall. I have to be happy with that.”

Tru7 Honda's Charlie Heyman captured the Pro MX2 victory

The winner of the Pro MX2 class, Heyman, said - "I am back to feeling my old self again. I think I have the fitness that allowed me to push on towards the end of the race for the wins. I am happy and proud about the win and it will help me when the MX Nationals come here in two weeks".

"I should have won that last race,” said MX2 runner-up Dylan Woodcock. “But jumping on a bike set-up for Jake Millward and riding it around a track like this is probably not the best idea. I slept on an old camp bed in the back of my van last night and had a little BBQ – all old school. I am very happy to get on the podium.”

SX specialist Dylan Woodcock took an old-school approach to the weekend and bagged second overall in the Pro MX2 class

Third place in Pro MX2 was Calum Mitchell. “I have been a bit up and down with my riding recently,” he admitted. “So to get two good races in is good. It’s been a solid day considering some riders turned up today that are not really in the championship. But I need to work on my starts for the future.”

Wildcard rider Henry Williams (GASGAS), with four wins from four starts, took the overall in the Amateur MX1 class, which left Max Lewis (MX Dreams California KTM) and Keelan Hope (Suzuki) to fight over the remaining podium positions as just two points separated the pair.

Rory Jones (IDS Transport KTM) dominated the Amateur MX2 class by winning all four races. Josh Coleman (Holeshot KTM) chased Jones across the finish line on all four occasions with Callum Murfitt (Team PP Sports KTM) third.

The 125s leave the line in a cloud of two-stroke smoke

Cory Collins (KTM) messed up the start of his first Clubman race and could only manage to finish third. But he made up for that by winning the remaining three races for the overall win. Lee Clarkson (Yamaha) was second, with Richard Roberts (rutzz.co.uk Yamaha) third as race one winner Colin McLuckie (Honda) had a DNF in race three, which spoilt his day and the chance of a top 10 finish.

With a win and three second-place finishes, Luke Grundy (KTM) won the 125ss class from race three winner Freddie Gardiner (Team Matt Gardiner MX KTM) and race one winner Beau Brown (KTM).

It was close at the top of the MXY2 class as Bayliss Utting (Gibbons Plant Honda) won the overall by just two points from Tyla Hooley (GASGAS) with Mckenzie Marshall (DK Offroad KTM) third, just four points behind Hooley.

Josh Vail (SJP Moto Husqvarna) once again won all the BW85 races and remains unbeaten in the series. Hayden Statt (Manchester MC KTM) took second with Finley Pickering (KTM) third and Lewis Spratt (KTM) fourth.

Robbie Scott (Husqvarna), with a win, two-second places and a fourth place, won the SW85s from Joel Winstanley-Dawson (Castle Trucks KTM) and Lucas Lee (Ken Rodney Husqvarna).

Casey Lister (Ken Rodney Husqvarna) and Harley Marczak (JMR Foundation GASGAS) couldn't be separated in the Junior 65s. Both had two race wins, a second and a third place each but Lister was declared the winner as he was the highest-placed finisher in the last race. Cohen Jagielski (Fast Eddy GASGAS) with third but was just six points behind the winning pair.

The sixth and final round of the championship will be held at Foxhill Moto Parc on September 16/17.

Results

Pro MX1

1	Martin Barr	Apico Husqvarna	43 + 45 = 88
2	Brad Todd	Honda	45 + 43 = 88
3	Tom Grimshaw	Chambers GASGAS	41 + 41 = 82
4	Steven Clarke	Store 114 Racing Honda	39 + 39 = 78
5	Richard McKeown	RM22 Husqvarna	37 + 35 = 72
6	Jack Beniston	KTM	34 + 34 = 68
7	Travis Steels	GASGAS	35 + 33 = 68
8	Louie Kessel	Honda	33 + 32 = 65
9	Aaron Patstone	Yamaha	32 + 30 = 62
10	Dan Brough	Yamaha	31 + 29 = 60

Pro MX2

1	Charlie Heyman	Tru 7 Honda	45 + 45 = 90
2	Dylan Woodcock	Verde Shiloh KTM	41 + 43 = 84
3	Callum Mitchell	Husqvarna	43 + 39 = 82
4	Carlton Husband	Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki	35 + 41 = 76
5	Ben Franklin	Chambers GASGAS	37 + 33 = 70
6	Bailey Johnson	Verde Shiloh KTM	33 + 35 = 68
7	Ben Mustoe	ASA United GASGAS	34 + 34 = 68
8	Alfie Jones	Chambers GASGAS	29 + 37 = 66
9	Liam Garland	Holeshot KTM	32 + 32 = 64
10	Daniel Hutchinson	Husqvarna	30 + 31 = 61

Amateur MX1

1	Henry Williams	GASGAS	45 + 45 + 45 + 45 = 180
2	Max Lewis	MX Dreams California KTM	43 + 41 + 43 + 35 = 162
3	Keelan Hope	Suzuki	37 + 43 + 39 + 41 = 160
4	Ed Briscoe	Husqvarna	35 + 35 + 34 + 39 = 143
5	Todd Ritchie	Yamaha	32 + 39 + 41 + 31 = 143
6	Sean Wainwright	KTM	34 + 37 + 35 + 32 = 138
7	Josh Canton	Yamaha	33 + 33 + 37 + 34 = 137
8	Lee Harrison	Kawasaki	41 + 30 + 26 + 37 = 134
9	John Joe Wright	Mr Dig Honda	39 + 29 + 17 + 43 = 128
10	Simon Booth	Acerbis KTM	31 + 27 + 33 + 30 = 121

Amateur MX2

1	Rory Jones	IDS Transport KTM	45 + 45 + 45 + 45 = 180
2	Josh Coleman	Holeshot KTM	43 + 43 + 43 + 43 = 172
3	Callum Murfitt	Team PP Sport KTM	39 + 39 + 39 + 41 = 158
4	Mitchell Armour	Call-Mac Husqvarna	35 + 34 + 41 + 39 = 149
5	Patrick Jackson	Yamaha	31 + 37 + 37 + 33 = 138
6	Logan Wilcox	Honda	34 + 35 + 32 + 35 = 136
7	Leon Ongley	723 Race Bikes Fantic	32 + 32 + 34 + 34 = 132
8	Seth Manners	Chambers GASGAS	33 + 31 + 35 + 32 = 131
9	Syd Putnam	SC Sporthomes Husqvarna	28 + 33 + 33 + 31 = 125
10	Henry Siddiqui	Apico Husqvarna	41 + 41 + 0 + 37 = 119

Clubman

1	Cory Collins	KTM	41 + 45 + 45 + 45 = 176
2	Lee Clarkson	Yamaha	37 + 43 + 41 + 34 = 155
3	Richard Roberts	Rutzz.Co.UK Yamaha	43 + 37 + 35 + 32 = 147
4	Mitchell Collins	Collins Motor Care KTM	39 + 33 + 33 + 39 = 144
5	Nathan Heath	KTM	33 + 31 + 39 + 33 = 136
6	Josh Young	KTM	35 + 25 + 32 + 37 = 129
7	Sam Menzies	Honda	30 + 19 + 43 + 35 = 127
8	Mark Kinsley	Man Scaffolding Yamaha	31 + 39 + 37 + 18 = 125
9	Hayden Stevens	KTM	32 + 30 + 34 + 25 = 121
10	Matthew Fuller	KTM	23 + 34 + 31 + 31 = 119

125cc

1	Luke Grundy	KTM	43 + 43 + 43 + 45 = 174
2	Freddie Gardiner	Team Matt Gardiner MX KTM	41 + 37 + 45 + 43 = 166
3	Beau Brown	KTM	45 + 39 + 41 + 41 = 166
4	Chester Hyde	Matt Pope GASGAS	35 + 45 + 39 + 35 = 154
5	Ryan Waggott	Team Hutch KTM	39 + 41 + 37 + 34 = 151
6	Daniel Brough	rutzz.co.uk Yamaha	37 + 33 + 35 + 32 = 137
7	Drew Stock	KTM	33 + 35 + 33 + 33 = 134
8	Harry Barker	HRH Group Yamaha	29 + 31 + 31 + 39 = 130
9	Stu Owen	KTM	32 + 29 + 32 + 37 = 130
10	Charlie Richmond	JP Racing KTM	31 + 34 + 34 + 31 = 130

MXY2

1	Bayliss Utting	Gibbons Plant Husqvarna	41 + 45 + 43 + 43 = 172
2	Tyla Hooley	GASGAS	45 + 43 + 37 + 45 = 170
3	Mckenzie Marshall	DK Offroad KTM	43 + 41 + 45 + 37 = 166
4	Jak Taylor	W&M Tatchell Husqvarna	39 + 39 + 39 + 41 = 158
5	Liam Bennett	Apico Husqvarna	37 + 34 + 41 + 39 = 151
6	Kayde Rayns	Gaz 66 Yamaha	35 + 37 + 35 + 35 = 142
7	Joel Fisher	KTM	34 + 35 + 34 + 33 = 136
8	Finley Evans	KTM	33 + 32 + 32 + 34 = 131
9	Joseph Leeks	Honda	32 + 33 + 33 + 32 = 130
10	Jack Dando	KTM	29 + 30 + 29 + 30 = 118

BW85

1	Josh Vail	SJP Moto Husqvarna	45 + 45 + 45 + 45 = 180
2	Hayden Statt	Manchester MC KTM	37 + 43 + 41 + 41 = 162
3	Finley Pickering	KTM	41 + 41 + 39 + 35 = 156
4	Lewis Spratt	KTM	34 + 39 + 37 + 39 = 149
5	Zane Stephens	Troy Lee GASGAS	39 + 37 + 34 + 34 = 144
6	Austin Beasty	Husqvarna	35 + 35 + 35 + 37 = 142
7	Jamie Keith	KTM	43 + 0 + 43 + 43 = 129
8	Kameron Greenhalgh	Greenhalgh Removals Husqvarna	32 + 34 + 32 + 31 = 129
9	Ethan Jordan	SX Works KTM	29 + 33 + 29 + 33 = 124
10	Maison Jones	Electrical Innovations KTM	28 + 30 + 33 + 32 = 123

SW85

1	Robbie Scott	Husqvarna	45 + 43 + 43 + 39 = 120
2	Joel Winstanley-Dawson	Castle Trucks KTM	35 + 45 + 39 + 43 = 162
3	Lucas Lee	Ken Rodney Husqvarna	37 + 39 + 45 + 41 = 162
4	Olly Waters	KTM	41 + 37 + 41 + 37 = 156
5	Leo Wilson	Lyme Design KTM	43 + 32 + 33 + 35 = 143
6	Harvey Collins	HRC Scaffolding KTM	39 + 31 + 34 + 34 = 138
7	Archie Butterfield	KTM	33 + 34 + 37 + 33 = 137
8	Chase Panter	KTM	34 + 41 + 23 + 24 = 122
9	Arthur Moore	Retro Coatings Husqvarna	0 + 35 + 35 + 45 = 115
10	Caiden Brand	KTM	32 + 33 + 28 + 22 = 115

Junior 65

1	Casey Lister	Ken Rodney Husqvarna	41 + 45 + 43 + 45 = 174
2	Harley Marczak	JMR Foundation GASGAS	45 + 41 + 45 + 43 = 174
3	Cohen Jagielski	Fast Eddy GASGAS	43 + 43 + 41 + 41 = 168
4	Nixon Coppins	Yamaha	39 + 37 + 37 + 39 = 152
5	Arthur King	Motoverde KTM	37 + 35 + 39 + 35 = 146
6	Ethan Gawley	Derry Hale KTM	35 + 32 + 35 + 33 = 135
7	Jamie Currie	JMR Foundation GASGAS	34 + 34 + 28 + 34 = 130
8	Elliott Shawyer	GRT Impact KTM	31 + 29 + 34 + 32 = 126
9	Lyall Rutherford	Paint Tech KTM	32 + 33 + 32 + 28 = 125
10	Jett Gardiner	Team Matt Gardiner KTM	33 + 39 + 14 + 37 = 123