British Masters Round One Report and Results – Preston Docks

By Dick Law on 19th Apr 23

Conrad Mewse had to be content with second overall. Photo Dick Law

Full line-ups are the order of the day as the Bridgestone British Masters series gets underway at Preston Docks.

Crendon Fastrack Honda teammates Josh Gilbert and Conrad Mewse took the opening round of the Bridgestone British Masters at Preston Docks by storm and completely dominated the event. Although they ended the weekend tied on points, Gilbert took the top step on the podium by winning race two, which was made slightly easier after Mewse was involved in a first-turn multi-rider pileup.

Brad Anderson won both Pro MX2 races on his two-stroke KTM but was missing from the presentation as he was at the local hospital after his son Vinnie was involved in a crash in his Junior 65 race.

Riders travelled from all over the country to Preston Dock's new deep sand track. Despite Friday’s heavy rain, it was in excellent racing condition, with most of the sloppy mud confined to the paddock area. With 10 full classes of riders, it was a busy weekend.

Gilbert took the first Pro holeshot from Mewse but by the end of the lap, Conrad had taken the lead and slowly worked on opening up a bigger and bigger lead – eventually lapping up to fifth place before the end of the 25-minute plus two-lap race. Gilbert crossed the finish line over 30 seconds behind Mewse but a minute clear of third-placed Miro Sihvonen (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna). The only other rider on the lead lap was Evgeny Bobryshev (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) who was making his full-time return to UK racing.

A 2-1 scorecard got the job done for Josh Gilbert. Photo Dick Law

Bobby had gated fifth and, for the first three laps, was involved in a battle for third with Steven Clarke (Store 114 Racing Honda) and Carlton Husband (Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki). But while the three riders were tripping over each other, Sihvonen slipped by them for the last podium position. Clarke was fifth and a lap down, while Husband, who was racing a 450 instead of his usual 250, ran out of fuel with three laps to go.

Billy Askew (GTCI Revo Kawasaki), making his Pro debut was the first MX2 rider at the start in 19th place. But his race only lasted five laps until his machine's new clutch stopped working, leaving him stranded at the far end of the track with a long push back to the paddock.

Anderson had gated two places behind Askew but worked his way to 11th at the end of the race to finish as the first MX2 rider. Bailey Johnston (Verde Shiloh KTM) didn't get the start he wanted and ended the opening lap way down in 24th. From there, he pushed on and finished the race in Anderson's wheel tracks.

Pro MX2 winner Brad Anderson. Photo: Dick Law

There was carnage at the start of the second Pro race two with a heap of riders going down in the first turn which included race one winner Mewse, Clarke, Sihvonen and Bobryshev. Gilbert, Husband and Liam Knight (Gabriel KTM) had got away clean and had pulled out quite a gap thanks to the big crash behind them.

While Gilbert stretched out a sizable lead at the front of the pack, Husband did all he could to stay with him till, at the halfway point, Mewse, who was really on a mission, shot past him and into second place. But Gilbert's lead was too large for Mewse to catch him, so he settled for second.

Husband had a crash, like most others, and dropped back to fourth place, while Sihvonen, who was following Mewse from turn one, slotted into third place with three laps to go.

Miro Sihvonen took third in MX1. Photo Dick Law

On the MX2 side of the race, both Askew and Anderson had gated well and were amongst the bigger 450 machines but while Anderson held his own and finished seventh on the track (first MX2 rider) Askew slipped down to 12th place.

Bobryshev's day didn't get any better as after he was involved in the first-turn crash and then he mistimed the whoops on lap five, which sent him over the handlebars. He was severely winded but unhurt.

Overall, in MX1 it was Gilbert from teammate Mewse on the same points ahead of Sihvonen. Anderson, meanwhile, took the MX2 win from Johnston and Lewis Hall.

Lewis Hall took third overall in the Pro MX2 class. Photo: Dick Law

“I have been getting a little bit better each week," said Gilbert. "I keep getting arm pump and I don't know if it's just a matter of getting more outdoor races under my belt.

“That's one of the reasons we came here. The track today was savage but good. The races were the full 25 minutes and that's tough going.

“I got the holeshot in the first race but Conrad got by me. I held onto him for a bit but then I got the arm pump again so we changed some things for the second race.

“I thought I’d got the holeshot but Liam Knight snatched it from me. After that, I took the lead and then just rode my race and felt more comfortable.”

“I don't really know what happened,” said second-placed Mewse about the first corner pile-up. “I was riding around the inside of the first turn and someone thought they would ride into me. It was a bit of a novice move and I don't know what they were thinking.

“As I picked up the bike, I noticed I had no brake or clutch lever, so I rode with just the throttle and back brake. I was coming fast into turn three when someone went down and I couldn't stop and went over their bike and came off.

“It was a disaster of a race but I came from last back to second which I must be happy with".

Third place on the podium, Sihvonen was happy with his day. "I was struggling a bit with the track in the morning but then it started to go better and better.

“In the second race, I was involved in the first-turn crash. I got really angry with that but I had a good race getting back to third, so that was OK.”

With Anderson unavailable for comment, it was second-placed MX2 rider Johnston who stood highest on the podium. "I have had a good day today,” expressed Bailey. “I am very happy with my riding as we only entered this last minute for some good race training. In both races, I have come from the back to a second and a fourth for second overall, so I am happy with that.”

Lewis Hall was content with third place. "I have only had a week on the bike since I had five months off with no training. So, I rocked up today to see how I got on without expectations. I was rusty in the first race but found my flow in the second. I then realised I could ride sand, so third overall is good.”

With three-second places and a win, Max Lewis (MX Dreams KTM) took the overall in the Amateur MX1 class. Daniel Parry was in the top four in all four of his races for second overall while John Joe Wright (Mr Dig Honda) was third. A crash for Ryan Mawhinney (Yamaha) on the last lap of race two – which saw him finish 15th – robbed him of the overall win or even a podium position as he won all the other races.

Amateur MX1 runner up Daniel Parry. Photo: Dick Law

Rory Jones (IDS Transport KTM) proved that you don't have to win races to win overalls, as he didn't win any of the Amateur MX2 races but finished on the top step of the podium. Race three winner Ben Clark (Rock Oil Husqvarna) was second overall, with race one winner Henry Siddiqui (Apico Husqvarna) third. The last race of the weekend was won by Patrick Jackson (Yamaha) but he missed out on the podium by just two points.

Mitchel Collins (Collins Motor Care KTM), with two wins, a second and a third, won the Clubman class from race two winner Daniel Chapman (Honda) with Nathan Heath (KTM) third.

Jimmy Margetson (Husqvarna) won the 125cc class with three wins and a second place. Race three winner Samuel Price (KTM) took second spot with Freddie Gardiner (Team Matt Gardiner KTM) who spent all weekend in the top five and was third overall while Beau Brown (KTM) just missed out on a podium position in fourth.

Ryan Waggott leads this 125cc class battle. Photo: Dick Law

On the youth side of things, Bayliss Utting (Gibbons Plant Hire Husqvarna) took the MXY2 victory with two second places on Saturday, backed up by two wins on Sunday. Jak Taylor (W & W Tatchell Husqvarna) didn't finish out of the top four for second overall with Joseph Leeks (Honda) third. Mackenzie Marshall (DK Offroad Yamaha) won races one and two but he didn't race on day two.

Only one rider was unbeaten over the race weekend and that was BW85 supremo Josh Vail (SJP Moto KTM). Jamie Keith (KTM) chased Vail over the finish line in all four races for second overall with Lewis Spratt (KTM) third.

Josh Vail was unstoppable in the BW85 class. Photo Dick Law

With three wins and a third, Olly Waters (MGMX KTM) won the SW85 class from race three winner Joel Winstanley-Dawson (Cattle Trucks KTM). The Wigan lad took second overall with Jenson Severn (Rod Sten Brickworks GASGAS) third.

It was close at the top of the Junior 65s, with Harley Marczak (JMR Foundation GASGAS) notching up three-second places before ending the weekend with a race win. With two race wins and two third places, Casey Lister (VIP Motocross GASGAS) was second, just two points behind Marczak. Race two winner Cohen Jagielski (Fast Eddy Racing GASGAS) was third, just two points behind Lister, as six points separated the top three.

Jett-Gardiner-leads-Nixon-Coppins-in-the-Junior-65-class.jpg — Jett Gardiner leads Nixon Coppins in the Junior 65 class. Photo: Dick Law

British Masters Round One

Preston Docks, Lancashire

Pro MX1

1	Josh Gilbert	Crendon Fastrack Honda	43 + 45 = 88
2	Conrad Mewse	Crendon Fastrack Honda	45 + 43 = 88
3	Miro Sihvonen	SC Sporthomes Husqvarna	41 + 41 = 82
4	Liam Knight	Gabriel KTM	34 + 37 = 71
5	Steven Clarke	Store 114 Racing Honda	37 + 34 = 71
6	Jason Meara	JM 10 MC Racing Honda	33 + 35 = 68
7	Carlton Husband	Phoenix Evenstrokes Kawasaki	26 + 39 = 65
8	Callum Green	Tru7 Honda	30 + 33 = 63
9	Brad Todd	BT Racing Honda	35 + 28 = 63
10	Gavin Stevenson	Dixon Racing Honda	31 + 31 = 622

Pro MX2

1	Brad Anderson	KTM	45 + 45 = 90
2	Bailey Johnston	Verde Shiloh KTM	43 + 39 = 82
3	Lewis Hall	LHR KTM	37 + 43 = 80
4	Uldis Friebergs	Lexa MX Husqvarna	39 + 37 = 76
5	Callum Mitchell	Lexa MX Husqvarna	41 + 32 = 73
6	Aaron Ongley	GASGAS	34 + 35 = 69
7	Jake Preston	Husqvarna	35 + 33 = 68
8	Travis Steels	Stan Civils GASGAS	32 + 34 = 66
9	Daniel Hutchinson	DMH Advantage Husqvarna	33 + 31 = 64
10	Billy Askew	GTCI Revo Kawasaki	0 + 41 = 41

Amateur MX1

1	Max Lewis	MX Dreams KTM	43 + 45 + 43 + 43 = 174
2	Daniel Parry	KTM	39 + 41 + 41 + 41 = 162
3	John Joe Wright	Mr Dig Honda	41 + 43 + 39 + 39 = 162
4	Ryan Mawhinney	Yamaha	45 + 24 + 45 + 45 = 159
5	Harrison McCann	KTM	35 + 33 + 37 n+ 37 = 142
6	Simon Booth	Acerbis KTM	29 + 35 + 30 + 35 = 129
7	Luke Mellows	Honda	30 + 37 + 24 + 34 = 125
8	Liam Crellin	Happy Days Motors KTM	34 + 34 + 26 + 30 = 124
9	Jamie Dixon	P and S Auto KTM	27 + 39 + 21 + 33 = 120
10	Callum Gordon	MX Revive GASGAS	26 + 32 + 32 + 29 = 119

Amateur MX2

1	Rory Jones	IDS Transport KTM	35 + 43 + 43 + 41 = 162
2	Ben Clark	Rock Oil Husqvarna	37 + 35 + 45 + 43 = 160
3	Henry Siddiqui	Apico Husqvarna	45 + 41 + 41 + 30 = 157
4	Patrick Jackson	Yamaha	43 + 28 + 39 + 45 = 155
5	Aaron Ongley	GASGAS	39 + 45 + 32 + 37 = 153
6	Callum Murfitt	Team PP Sports KTM	41 + 33 + 37 + 35 = 146
7	Drew Roe	KTM	33 + 37 + 33 + 27 = 130
8	Adam Harris	A53 EPS Fantic	27 + 34 + 35 + 31 = 127
9	Logan Wilcox	KTM	31 + 31 + 30 + 33 = 125
10	Denny Rapson	Team Forestry Husqvarna	34 + 39 + 12 + 39 = 124

Clubman

1	Mitchel Collins	Collins Motor Care KTM	45 + 43 + 41 + 45 = 174
2	Daniel Chapman	Honda	41 + 45 + 35 + 37 = 158
3	Nathan Heath	KTM	39 + 35 + 37 + 39 = 150
4	Kane Fisher	PR Crane Yamaha	34 + 41 + 39 + 33 = 147
5	Colin McLuckie	Honda	26 + 29 + 45 + 41 = 141
6	Richard Roberts	Rutzz.co.uk Yamaha	37 + 39 + 34 + 29 = 139
7	Richard Evans	KTM	27 + 33 + 27 + 35 = 122
8	Matthew Jones	KTM	33 + 37 + 25 + 26 = 121
9	Jacob Bell	Yamaha	43 + 27 + 31 + 20 = 121
10	Mark Kinsley	Man Scaffolding Yamaha	0 + 32 + 43 + 43 = 118

125cc

1	Jimmy Margetson	Husqvarna	45 + 45 + 43 + 45 = 178
2	Samuel Price	KTM	43 + 39 + 45 + 39 = 166
3	Freddie Gardiner	Team Matt Gardiner KTM	41 + 43 + 31 + 43 = 158
4	Beau Brown	KTM	37 + 34 + 41 + 41 = 153
5	Troy Willerton	TM UK TM	39 + 41 + 37 + 34 = 151
6	Chester Hyde	Matt Pope MC GASGAS	34 + 37 + 39 + 32 = 142
7	Declan Wright	SPS MC KTM	32 + 28 + 33 + 37 = 130
8	Finlay Boxall	KTM	30 + 30 + 34 + 35 = 129
9	Daniel Brough	Rutzz.co.uk Yamaha	33 + 31 + 35 + 30 = 129
10	Will Haddock	KTM	31 + 32 + 29 + 33 = 125

MXY2

1	Bayliss Utting	Gibbons Plant Hire Husqvarna	43 + 43 + 45 + 45 = 176
2	Jak Taylor	W & W Tatchell Husqvarna	35 + 39 + 41 + 43 = 158
3	Joseph Leeks	Honda	39 + 35 + 37 + 37 = 148
4	Liam Bennett	Apico/Leatt Husqvarna	26 + 41 + 39 + 39 = 145
5	Josh Bassett	Ben Bens Racing GASGAS	37 + 37 + 34 + 35 = 143
6	Tye Jones	Dynamic Air GASGAS	32 + 34 + 35 + 32 = 133
7	Jack Dando	KTM	33 + 33 + 32 + 34 = 132
8	Kayde Rayns	Gax 66 Yamaha	41 + 0 + 43 + 41 = 125
9	Kyron Carron	KTM	27 + 31 + 31 + 33 = 122
10	Jack Meara	Honda	34 + 28 + 33 + 20 = 115

BW 85

1	Josh Vail	SJP Moto KTM	45 + 45 + 45 + 45 = 180
2	Jamie Keith	KTM	43 + 43 + 43 + 43 = 172
3	Lewis Spratt	KTM	41 + 41 + 41 + 41 = 164
4	Jorge Parkin	SPS MC KTM	39 + 37 + 37 + 39 = 152
5	Zane Stephens	KTM	34 + 39 + 39 + 37 = 149
6	Kameron Greenhaigh	Greenhaigh Removals Husqvarna	37 + 35 + 35 + 35 = 142
7	Cailin Jai Griffiths	ETS Innovo KTM	35 + 34 + 33 + 24 = 126
8	Ollie Jewitt	KTM	32 + 30 + 29 + 32 = 123
9	Harley O’Callaghan	KTM	31 + 28 + 30 + 29 = 118
10	Oakley Kettle	Ad. Modular Race Team GASGAS	27 + 33 + 24 + 33 = 117

SW 85

1	Oily Waters	MGMX KTM	45 + 45 + 39 + 45 = 174
2	Joel Winstanley-Dawson	Cattle Trucks KTM	39 + 43 + 45 + 39 = 166
3	Jenson Severn	Rod Sten Brickworks GASGAS	41 + 41 + 41 + 41 = 164
4	Jack Leese	Gerrard Mobile Grooming GASGAS	43 + 37 + 35 + 43 = 158
5	Marty Spires	DBC MC KTM	34 + 34 + 43 + 34 = 145
6	Lucas Lee	Ken Rodney Construction KTM	29 + 39 + 34 + 37 = 139
7	Arthur Moore	Retro Coatings Husqvarna	37 + 32 + 37 + 31 = 137
8	Archie Butterfield	KTM	35 + 33 + 33 + 33 = 134
9	Chase Panter	KTM	33 + 35 + 30 + 35 = 133
10	Alfie Stott	Easy Landscapes KTM	32 + 29 + 31 + 24 = 116

Junior 65

1	Harley Marczak	JMR Foundation GASGAS	43 + 43 + 43 + 45 = 174
2	Casey Lister	VIP Motocross GASGAS	45 + 41 + 45 + 41 = 172
3	Cohen Jagielski	Fast Eddy Racing GASGAS	41 + 45 + 41 + 43 = 170
4	Nixon Coppins	Yamaha	34 + 39 + 37 + 39 = 149
5	Jett Gardiner	Team Matt Gardiner KTM	37 + 35 + 27 + 37 = 136
6	Ethan Gawley	Derry Hale Transport KTM	35 + 33 + 34 + 34 = 136
7	Arthur King	Motoverde KTM	28 + 34 + 39 + 33 = 134
8	Lyall Rutherford	Paint Tech Midlothian KTM	33 + 31 + 33 + 35 = 132
9	Teddy Merriman	KTM	39 + 37 + 35 + 19 = 130
10	Charley Wilcock	KTM	31 + 29 + 32 + 31 = 123