Hare'raising action
By TMX Archives on 4th Jun 08
FOLLOWING the recent spell of very unsettled weather, it would have been no surprise if the Gloucester AMCA MXC's latest promotion at Haresfield became another cancellation victim. However, with a bumper entry including numerous out of group' riders raring to go racing, the organising club worked very hard to ensure that nobody would be disappointed, even hiring pumps to remove standing water off certain areas of the hillside circuit.
Naturally, conditions were initially rather sticky with deep ruts forming as the circuit dried out, making the choice of selecting the correct riding line imperative. Despite the tricky going, Bradley Bird, Lee Dunham, Michael Croudace and home club rider, Clinton Barrs, all enjoyed their Haresfield experience to bag impressive maximum points scores.
Following his superb overall runners-up position the previous week at Cleobury Mortimer during the opening AMCA Championship round, Lee Dunham was again in great form in Expert MX2. In all three motos, the MotoXtreme Kawasaki pilot dominated from gate to flag, leaving the Lane boys, Simon and James, to give chase. On each occasion James finished as runner-up with Simon in third while both Chris Jones and Tom Guilding were always in the thick of the action.
After Clinton Barrs had won the opening two Expert MX1 motos, chased hard by a very determined Brad Turner, the leading pair then featured in a dramatic final clash. With Barrs making a disastrous start and being forced to work his way through the pack, Turner led the way and appeared all set for his first win of the day.
In the final stages though, Barrs eventually got back to second, then caught Turner only for the pair to collide with the finish flag in sight. In a frantic race to remount their bikes, Barrs was quickest and thus took his third victory of the day. In all three clashes, the very consistent Mark Bayliss was third man home with Simon White fourth.
In Senior Unlimited Group One, eventual overall winner, Paul Maile, was first past the chequered flag in the opening two clashes, chased hard by Kieran Kellett. In the final moto, though, Maile again led the way only to be eventually forced back to third behind Kellett and Wayne Powell.
Over in Senior Unlimited Group Two, overall victory went to Robin Harrison with a 2-1-3 scorecard ahead of Adrian Phelpstead and Ashley Shipton. Michael Croudace took all three Junior Unlimited Group One victories. In the opening two motos, eventual overall runner-up Michael Gwynne chased Croudace home before Karl Wadley finished in second spot in the final clash.
In Junior Unlimited Group Two, Peter Trotman and Matthew Best rather dominated proceedings. Trotman was first home in motos one and three, enough to also earn him the overall trophy while moto two victory went to overall runner-up, Best. Despite starting the season as an Inter Junior, Bradley Bird is already making his mark in the Junior MX2 class. Aboard his 85 KTM and naturally having a major horsepower disadvantage, Bird still stylishly blasted his way to three majestic wins. In the battle for the remaining trophies, Michael Hudson snatched second from Scott Jordan after the latter shed a chain in the final clash.
Completing the programme, Jack Hill (twice) earned Inter Junior race wins and should have been favourite to claim overall victory. However, it all went wrong for young Hill in moto two when he failed to score points. So, instead, it was winner of that second clash, Jamie Linton who took home the first place trophy while Joseph Hale pushed Hill back to third in the final reckoning by posting a 3-2-3 scorecard.
AMCA Wessex & South Wales Group MX
at Haresfield (Gloucester MXC)
Expert MX1: 1 Clinton Barrs (450F Fowlers KTM), 2 Brad Turner (450F Honda), 3 Mark Bayliss (450F Yamaha).
Expert MX2: 1 Lee Dunham (250F MotoXtreme Kawasaki), 2 James Lane (250F Sutton MX Honda), 3 Simon Lane (250F Sutton MX Honda).
Senior Unlimited Group One: 1 Paul Maile (250F Honda), 2 Kieran Kellett (125cc KTM), 3 Wayne Powell (250F Kawasaki).
Senior Unlimited Group Two: 1 Robin Harrison (250F KTM), 2 Adrian Phelpstead (250F Suzuki), 3 Ashley Shipton (250 Yamaha).
Junior Unlimited Group One: 1 Michael Croudace (250F Honda), 2 Michael Gwynne (450F Yamaha), 3 Karl Wadley (450F Husqvarna).
Junior Unlimited Group Two: 1 Peter Trotman (300 KTM), 2 Matthew Best (250F Honda), 3 Daniel Nelmes (125 Honda).
Junior MX2: 1 Bradley Bird (85 KTM), 2 Michael Hudson (250F KTM), 3 Scott Jordan (250F Kawasaki).
Inter Junior: 1 Jamie Linton (85 KTM), 2 Joseph Hale (85 KTM), 3 Jack Hill (85 KTM).