Brown reaches the Heights
By TMX Archives on 9th Apr 09
THIS week, the Maxxis British Sidecar-cross Championship moved to round two at Canada Heights. Conditions were great but, as usual, the sand cut into deep ruts making it hard going for the teams.It was great to see Stuart Brown and Luke Peters on top form, with three good wins to take the overall, despite strong challenges throughout the day.
The first race started with an early lead for John Lyne and Steve Kirwin, with Brown and Peters in close attention.
Behind this leading pair initially were Dean Hyde and Sam Harris, following a great start, but Hyde was quickly ousted by Dan and Joe Millard in the first few bends.
Within the first lap, Brown blasted into the lead and pulled out a safe margin, with Lyne in second place ahead of the Millards and this was to develop into a heated
battle.
Back in fourth, Simon Bradford and Neil James took advantage of a good start annd soon climbed past rivals Andy and Tim Breacher. On a charge from down the field came Nick ‘Stickle' Jarvis and Josh Chamberlain. Jarvis had been delayed by crashers on the first lap and blasted through the pack, looking safe and determined to eventually take sixth at the flag, just overhauling Rob Oldfield and Gary Kinge in the final laps of the race.
In moto two, Lyne again headed the pack into the first bend with Brown a close second. The two leading crews fought hard for the first lap until Brown edged into the lead and again pulled out a safe margin, before going on to take his second win of the day.
The Millard brothers quickly tucked into third spot, staying close to Lyne, but again eventually settled for third. Bradford had a good ride behind in fourth, but the real battle of the race was for fifth place. Oldfield held the early advantage with Richard Jenkins and Dan Chamberlain on his back wheel, and the Breachers trying to pass them both!
Breacher was in top form and battled ahead, leaving Oldfield to battle with Jenkins for sixth, but it was Jenkins who won through in his best result of the season. Jarvis again recovered well from early problems to finish close behind Oldfield.
In the final encounter, Oldfield was on a mission, blasting straight into the lead and taking the hole-shot prize ahead of Lyne and Bradford, while the Millard brothers tried to fend off Brown.
However, the excitement was just starting!
Within a few laps, Lyne took over at the front, with Brown quickly hunting him down. Oldfield was third but Bradford was left trackside when passenger Neil James suffered problems when his injured knee gave out. His leg collapsed, leaving him lying on the jump watching his driver and bike disappear into the distance without him.
On the same lap, the Millard brothers stalled their engine and the electric start took some time before it managed to restart a reluctant engine, the time lost relegating them down the pack. They eventually restarted outside the top ten.
David Keane and Geoff Wigglesworth were up to fourth, but were suffering with the injuries picked up from their race one crash and had to drop out from the fast pace.
So the battle was on for fourth, Jarvis fought hard to stay ahead of the Millards with Breacher also close at hand.
In the end, the Millard boys finally blasted ahead, also passing Oldfield to secure another third place finish. Breacher edged into fourth with Jarvis just behind, despite their engine making ‘worrying' noises. Oldfield had a fantastic ride, holding sixth to the flag, just ahead of Mark Kinge and Colin Dunkley, who put their mechanical problems behind them to take a safe finish.
So, at the end of another great day's racing, Brown still holds the championship lead with Lyne in second and the Millards now in third, from 16th at the start of proceedings.
The next round is at Asham Woods, Frome, on April 13, and Breacher and Jarvis will be fighting to get into that top three.