Down in the Dale
By TMX Archives on 7th Oct 09
FOUR of the five British Supermoto Championships up for grabs this year were wrapped up in Wales, as the new venue of Dale hosted rounds 11 and 12 of the proppa.com British Supermoto Championship.
Christian Iddon had a commanding lead over his perennial rival Matt Winstanley but he knew one slip up could quickly hand the advantage back. In the end a dramatic finale ensued but not before both riders had to give best to South African star Craig Venske.
With the season nearing its end and the organisers having had to change venues and dates at the last minute to avoid clashes with the World Championships, it was a smaller than usual group of riders that made their way to the far west of Wales for the penultimate rounds but what the entry lacked in depth, it made up for in quality with most of the country's leading riders in evidence.
It was the Rochdale-based South African Craig Venske who dominated the Elite class. In the supporting races, Oliver Harrison, Joe Collier and Bruce Dingle came out on top in the Lites, Junior and Cup classes respectively.
PROPPA BRITISH SUPERMOTO CHAMPS Rds 11/12 – Dale, Wales
SATURDAY – ROUND 11
Elite: 1 Matt Winstanley 58 points, 2 Christian Iddon 50, 3 Ady Smith 48, 4 Craig Venske 38, 5 George Clements 33.
SM Lites: 1 Oliver Harrison 60, 2 Lee Rudd 54, 3 Justin Bateman 44, 4 Joe Collier 42, 5 M Mitchell-Thomas 36.
Junior: 1 Joe Collier 58, 2 Malachai Mitchell-Thomas 52, 3 Ben Stafford 50, 4 Ryan Rudd 42, 5 Ashley Rudd 38.
SM Cup: 1 Bruce Dingle 60, 2 Lewis Cornish 54, 3 Ryan Martin 48, 4 Brad Davey 42, 5 Robert Hartley 33.
SXV Challenge: 1 Bruce Dingle 60, 2 Brad Davey 54.
SUNDAY – Round 12
Elite: 1 Craig Venske 60, 2 Ady Smith 48, 3 George Clements 42, 4 Christian Iddon 38, 5 Bruce Dingle 31.
SM Lites: 1 Oliver Harrison 60, 2 Lee Rudd 52, 3 Joe Collier 48, 4 M Mitchell-Thomas 40, 5 Justin Bateman 37.
Junior: 1 Joe Collier 60, 2 Malachai Mitchell-Thomas 54, 3 Ben Stafford 48, 4 Ryan Rudd 42, 5 Ashley Rudd 36.
SM Cup: 1 Ryan Martin 56, 2 Brad Davey 54, 3 Robert Hartley 44, 4 Brad Davey 42, 5 Robert Hartley 33.
SXV Challenge: 1 Bruce Dingle 60, 2 Brad Davey 52, 3 Chris Harrison 50.
SERIES STANDINGS with one round remaining:-
Elite: 1 Christian Iddon 620 points (CHAMPION), 2 Matt Winstanley 558, 3 Craig Venske 481, 4 Ady Smith 477, 5 George Clements 311.
SM Cup: 1 Bruce Dingle 626 points (CHAMPION), 2 Brad Davey 521, 3 Chris Harrison 413, 4 Dean Wingate 308, 5 Mick Bertram 295.
Junior: 1 Joe Collier 690 points (CHAMPION), 2 Malachi Mitchell-Thomas 624, 3 Ben Stafford 614, 4 Kane Robson 262, 5 Ryan Rudd 170.
SM Lites: 1 Oliver Harrison 658 points, 2 Lee Rudd 615, 3 Joe Collier 407, 4 James Moore 356, 5 Lewis Cornish 334.
SXV Challenge: 1 Bruce Dingle 718 points
(CHAMPION), 2 Chris Harrison 501, 3 Lee Abbott 436, 4 Brad Davey 428, 5 Peter Bennett 353.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009
The mighty South African, Craig Venske, dominated the penultimate round in the Elite class.
