Burton's Branston pickle!
By TMX Archives on 17th Jun 15
Just weeks after switching from Passion Husqvarna over to FUS AMS KTM machinery, Luke Burton delighted his new team by blasting to a great debut win on Sunday at round two of the AMCA British Motocross Championship.
On the rough Branston circuit near Burton-on-Trent, Luke had to work hard for an opening race seventh before then taking comfortable victories in both motos two and three.
Joining him on the MX2 podium was the in-form Matt Ridgway and series leader Josh Waterman. In MX1 Richard Cannings took homours on the day ahead of Elliot Barrs and Joe Jones.
That success helped Cannings jump from fourth in the table to top the MX1 table after his main rivals encountered a painful conclusion to what was a bruising day.
Following heavy rain in the 24 hours before the event, conditions early were heavy and sticky. That quagmire quickly dried to form a total maze of deep, energy sapping ruts which required respect, concentration and precise control.
Right from the off in the opening MX2 clash there was drama as series leader Josh Waterman collided with Adam Cook just yards out of the start gate.
As both riders started the long chase from the back, the pack was already disappearing and on lap one there was further incident as Luke Burton, Lewis King and Paul Neale collided and became the first victims of the dreaded ruts. After those frantic, bar bashing early exchanges, Bradley Wheeler led the pack with Zac Stealey, Robert Johnson, Daniel Brough, Alec Everitt and Matt Ridgway in tow.
Stylish young Wheeler controlled proceedings up until lap six, before being passed by both Stealey and a hard charging Ridgway.
Using all of his experience gained in Enduro competition, Ridgway revelled in the conditions and on lap seven blasted past Stealey before racing on to a the race victory. Stealey finished second and Wheeler third.
However, the story of this moto was all about the early fallers. Showing fantastic skill, speed and determination, King got right back to fourth with Waterman fifth, Burton seventhth and Cook 11th.
Also starting the event strongly were Jamie Smith, Dean Swift, Johnson and Jansen Day.
In the second MX2 clash, Wheeler again grabbed the holeshot but by the end of lap one Burton had taken control from Ridgway, King, Waterman, Cook and Stealey. Four laps in and Ridgway picked up a rear wheel puncture and both Waterman and King quickly overhauled him.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX NEWS, JUNE 18, (ISSUE 1976)
