IT'S A WASHOUT
By TMX Archives on 7th Oct 10
The Maxxis British Motocross Championship came to a climax at the weekend at Hawkstone Park but not the way everyone would have liked it to end!
The champions in the respective classes – Evgeny Bobryshev (MX1), Zach Osborne (MX2) and Terry House (Veteran) – were crowned without turning a wheel.
Heavy rain throughout Saturday prompted the closing of the famous Hawkstone Hill, as the rain had gouged great channels from top to bottom of the infamous climb.
Race director, Brian Higgins, made the decision to close the hill and re-route the course by opening up the ‘cut' across the lower reaches of the hill to make sure Sunday's race could go ahead. Come Sunday morning at 5.30am, the rain started again and the track was in danger of been washed away in certain areas.
Water flowing across and along certain parts of the track dug gullies up to two-feet deep and two-feet wide.
The race director and the ACU Events team along with members of the host Salop club worked tirelessly to dig drain holes to let the water flow away – but to no avail.
A wet programme was scheduled so at least two races could be run by both the MX1 and MX2 riders and this was initially set to get underway at 11am with a ten-minute practice for all.
At that time the organising team made a further track inspection and checked out local weather forecasts, and at noon announced the cancellation of the meeting, as there were waterfalls, huge channels, large puddles and rivers and rivulets flowing not only on and across the track, but all through the paddock.
Some riders were happy with the decision to cancel the meeting although some were not overly delighted.
Being so late in the season it is impossible to re-schedule the meeting, so the ACU events team made the only decision possible under the circumstances and awarded the championship titles to the riders who were leading the points standings.
In the MX2 class the title went to the likeable Zach Osborne, who said: "I am really happy that I have won this title in my first full year in the Maxxis British championship, even though this has happened at the last meeting.
"I have won 13 motos this year and all this is down to the team and of course me for doing it for them!
"It has also been a good year also at the GPs where I finished fourth.
"This will be a good present to take back home to America and show my family and all my friends.”
In the MX1 class the honours went to the CAS Honda's Russian rider, Bobryshev, who was keeping everyone guessing if he was going to turn up.
He was there and keeping a low profile, awaiting the start of the race which never came!
Some of the riders were not happy at the cancellation and one, Stephen Sword vented his anger on his Facebook page, claiming he had raced before in worse conditions and was wondering what the ACU were thinking by cancelling the event.
It would not have been cancelled ago, he said.
So that's another championship series completed. Let's hope the ACU Events team can continue to improve this championship even further for next year and keep the series as one of the best in Europe.