Fastest 40 Foxhill MX2 Report
By Dick Law on 22nd Apr 24
Dirt Store Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle’s return to the MX2 class netted him his first victory of the season at the opening round of the Fasted 40, powered by Michelin, series at Foxhill.
Searle showed he had lost none of his small bike racing skills as he set the fastest qualifying time by over a second from the on-form Charlie Heyman (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) and Ben Mustoe (ASA United GASGAS).
Heyman got the holeshot at the start of the first Leatt Pro MX2 race from Searle, Mckenzie Marshall (DK Offroad KTM) and Howard Wainwright (HRW Racing Honda). But despite a monumental effort by Heyman to hold off Searle, he slipped through and into the lead on lap six.
Marshall and Wainwright had gated third and fourth but after a couple of laps, Mustoe (ASA United GASGAS) and Joe Brookes (426 Motosports KTM) passed them on their way to finishing third and fourth.
Joel Rizzi (Dirt Store Kawasaki) rounded turn one in 10th place but carved his way through the pack on his way to a fine fifth place, passing Josh Coleman (Concept Yamaha), amongst others, on the way.
Tyla Hooley (KTM) didn’t have the best of races. He was involved in a first-turn crash but fought his way back to 13th place, only to crash again with two laps to go for no race points.
Searle got the holeshot at the start of race two and that was almost the last the other riders saw of him. Rizzi kept him honest for about half the race until Tommy edged away for what should have been a comfortable win. However, a puncture for Tommy on the last lap allowed the hard-charging Rizzi to catch back up and with maximum effort tried everything he could to pass his Dirt Store Kawasaki teammate before the finish but fell half a wheel short as they passed the chequered flag.
Jack Lindsay (Apico Husqvarna) and Reece Jones (K-Tech KTM), had gated third and fourth but both had troubles. First, Jones, crashed back to last place on lap two before pulling out of the race, while Lindsay had slipped back to fifth before he crashed also.
Mustoe and Jamie Wainwright (WHP/SBR KTM) took full advantage of what was going on in front of them as Mustoe finished third with Wainwright fourth.
Heyman didn’t have the best of races. He was held up in turn one and ended the first lap way down the pack in 16th place. For lap after lap, he picked riders off until he crossed the finish line in fifth.
Overall, it was Searle from Mustoe and Rizzi with Heyman just off the podium.
Combined with this event was the MX2 Under 21 championship which was scored separately. Mustoe took the overall in this one tied on points with Hayman while Brookes rounded out the podium.
“It's been a great day at the new Fastest 40 championship with a new team,” said Searle. “I'm happier for the Dirt Store Kawasaki guys as they have put a lot of hard work in over the winter, and it takes a lot to change from one team to another, unlike it is for me as I jump from one bike to another. I am really happy as it's nice to get the wins and start the championship off this way.”
Rizzi was more philosophical Rizzi. “The first half of the day wasn’t the best as it took me some time to get back into racing and finding my rhythm and all that. But later in the race, when I started overtaking people, it all came back, and I started feeling good again.
“The second race was really good as me and Tommy were playing a bit of cat and mouse till, on the last lap, he picked up a puncture, and it got really close.
“But it's been a positive weekend as I have had a lot of energy building up inside me. I have not raced for so long but this wasn’t the track to let it all out, as you have to respect it. I am looking forward to Lyng next week with some twists and bumps.”
“I had a good day today with a couple of good starts and running up the front for a bit,” said third-placed MX2 rider and Under-21 winner Mustoe. “I did have to make a couple of passes, but I struggled with the arm pump, and that held me back a bit. But it’s been a good day and I am now looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Pro MX2
| 1 | Tommy Searle | Dirt Store Kawasaki | 25 + 25 = 50 |
| 2 | Ben Mustoe | ASA United GASGAS | 20 + 20 = 40 |
| 3 | Joel Rizzi | Dirt Store Kawasaki | 16 + 22 = 38 |
| 4 | Charlie Heyman | SC Sporthomes Husqvarna | 22 + 16 = 38 |
| 5 | Joe Brookes | 426 Motorsport KTM | 18 + 14 = 32 |
| 6 | Mckenzie Marshall | DK Offroad KTM | 14 + 13 = 27 |
| 7 | Howard Wainwright | WHP Racing Honda | 11 + 15 = 26 |
| 8 | Josh Coleman | Concept Yamaha Racing Yamaha | 15 + 9 = 24 |
| 9 | Jamie Wainwright | WHP/SBE/Pure Redline KTM | 5 + 18 = 23 |
| 10 | Jak Taylor | Husqvarna | 12 + 11 = 23 |
Under 21
1 Mustoe 47, 2 Heyman 47, 3 Brooks 40, 4 Ty Westcott 33, 5 Jack Lindsay 31, 6 Liam Bennett 27, 7 Lennox Dickinson 27, 8 George Hopkins 26, 9 Syd Putnam 22, 10 Reece Jones 18
