Ditteri-doo
By TMX Archives on 1st Nov 10
In October 2009, Midwest MCC introduced a brand new venue at Ditteridge, although the inaugural event at the Wiltshire circuit was marred by very wet weather.
So, in 2010 the club returned to Ditteridge to try again, and what a contrast in conditions this time around as riders were able to enjoy three-hours of quality XC racing in perfect, dry, sunny going.
Report and Pictures: MIKE WOOD
Sunday's event, which was round six of the Hewitt National XC Championship, certainly produced a dramatic start for Expert rider Tyson Maytom-Jones as his rear tyre removed itself from the rim of his Midwest Husaberg on the very opening lap.
While Tyson fought to get back into action, Ollie Moyce – debuting a brand new Kawasaki – led the charge followed by Aaron Smith, Derek Bawn, Darren Wheeler and Rich Warner.
Despite having only recently moved from a Midwest Husaberg, Moyce looked very comfortable aboard his green machine, and set a blistering pace in the early exchanges until, unfortunately, he was forced out of contention on lap 11 with clutch problems.
Briefly it was Wheeler's turn to set the pace until he was relegated by Bawn. From there onwards it was a battle all the way to the chequered flag with Bawn eventually taking the win, two-minutes ahead of Wheeler Third placed finisher, Smith, was the only other rider to also complete 21 laps.
After his earlier tyre problems, Maytom-Jones still managed a total of 13 laps.
In a well-supported Veteran Expert class, eventual winner Jack Twentyman completed a full lap more than both Chris Brown and Triss Ball, Twentyman also posting the fastest lap time on his way to victory.
Battling hard for fourth place, Marcus Barnes, Dave Potts, Lewie Davis and Stuart Keedwell all completed 18-laps. However at the flag, Barnes won that particular tussle, some six minutes in front of Potts.
It was certainly tough at the top of the Clubman 2T class as George Bayliss and Mark Hamblin locked horns and both completed a total of 20-laps. After holding just a slender one-second advantage over Hamblin as he went through the timing gate for the first time, Bayliss then gradually stretched his advantage to eventual claim victory by over six-minutes.
Arran Wells took the finish flag in third ahead of Donavan Pearce, Jason Hamblin, Simon Prideaux and Shaun Couzens who had all managed 18-laps in the three-hour contest.
Just 38-seconds separated eventual winner, Fredie Davis, from Jez Dance at the top of the Clubman 4T class. One lap in arrears, Niki Richardson finished third from ‘Heiko' and Peter Ballinger.
The Veteran class at Ditteridge also produced a rather tight finish as after both completed 16-laps, less than one-minute was the difference between winner Terry Hoskins and Moe Godding. Chasing hard in a tight tussle for third, Darren Jones, Alan James and Paul Herbert all posted a 15-lap total. Jones got the verdict in that one, nearly four-minutes in front of James.
Sam Hoskins was in great form in Sportsman 2T, finishing a full lap ahead of his closest challengers, Mark Schofield and Mike Owen.
Indeed the top three set such a quick pace up front that the next best riders – Alex Knott, David Pilgrim, Paul Andrews and Ian Potts – were a further two-laps down.
Like Hoskins, the winner of Sportsman 4T was also a full lap better than his rivals as James Heath took the win ahead of Kevin Park and Chris Jones.
So, with just one round of the super 2010 Hewitt National XC Championship remaining, there's still plenty to race for in the title standings following Sunday's action at Ditteridge!
HEWITT NATIONAL XC CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 6 – Ditteridge (Midwest MCC)
EXPERT: 1 Derek Bawn, 2 Darren Wheeler, 3 Aaron Smith, 4 Rich Warner, 5 Jeremy Box, 6 Dave Nuttall.
VETERAN EXPERT: 1 Jack Twentyman, 2 Chris Brown, 3 Triss Ball, 4 Marcus Barnes, 5 Dave Potts, 6 Lewie Davis.
VETERAN: 1 Terry Hoskins, 2 Moe Godding, 3 Darren Jones, 4 Alan James, 5 Paul Herbert, 6 Ian Griffiths.
CLUBMAN TWO-STROKE: 1 George Bayliss, 2 Mark Hamblin, 3 Arran Wells, 4 Donovan Pearce, 5 Jason Hamblin, 6 Simon Prideaux.
CLUBMAN FOUR-STROKE: 1 Fredie Davis, 2 Jez Dance, 3 Niki Richardson, 4 Heiko, 5 Peter Ballinger, 6 Stuart Davy.
SPORTSMAN TWO-STROKE: 1 Sam Hoskins, 2 Mark Schofield, 3 Mike Owen, 4 Alex Knott, 5 David Pilgrim, 6 Paul Andrews.
SPORTSMAN FOUR-STROKE: 1 James Heath, 2 Kevin Park, 3 Chris Jones, 4 Wayne.