Lassu captures Polesworth win
By TMX Archives on 7th Jan 09
Following a recent bereavement in the land-owner's family at Wilden Lane, Wilden MXC decided a change of venue would be appropriate for the opening round of this year's Moto Goo championship.
Considering the Arctic like conditions the country is enduring right now, the Polesworth circuit came up trumps yet again, providing a solid stage for the 200-plus cast of riders who braved the elements as the curtain went up on the first of the seven-round series.
With the temperature down at zero, James Lassu warmed things up with an assured battling performance as he came from the back to get the better of Robert Barney in the opening 30-minute race of the Four-stroke class.
Likewise, in the opening Two-stroke encounter, Josh Spinks had to turn the screw while chasing and also relying on a bit of luck as Jack Rowland crashed out when leading, thus handing the race win to Josh.
The best action of the day, however, came in the second round of the 30-minute races when the two and four-stroke guys were combined.
Spinks took the lead with Barney, Lassu and Rowland all battling up close behind in a four-way scrap for the lead.
Lassu eventually found himself being the meat in a two-stroke KTM sandwich as Barney tailed
off with the two KTM
youngsters, Spinks and Rowland, constantly push-ing the pace.
Over the final few laps of a cracking 30-minute session, Lassu's extra grunt and experience showed, as he held off
the attentions of a rapid Rowland, at the same time wearing down Spinks at the front to snatch a terrific last-gasp win.
Further down the field, Richie Worral, David Sweet and Paul Burn all entertained to the max with their efforts too.
Just as engaging were the 125cc racers who, under new ORPA rules for 2009, now race an open category for both two-stroke and four-stroke machinery.
Damon Wales and Craig Maddox were joined at the hip for most of the afternoon, snatching a race win apiece in the opening two encounters. For race three, however, Dean Hakes got off to a flier and took it all the way to the flag as Wales, Levi Whiteoak and Maddox carved it up in the chase for second, third and fourth places in yet another fascinating scrap.
Jordan Wills looked a class act taking the opening two Big-wheel 85cc race wins as he got the better of Jake Millward and Matthew Wild. Matthew did, however, get his wheels over the line first to snatch glory in the final race of the day, claiming second overall in the process.
Jordan Pyne was another double-race winner in Small-wheel 85cc and really should have carded three from three as he was head and shoulders above the opposition but out of luck in race three. Jack Seabourne took full advantage with three gutsy rides giving him the overall win. Chelsea Gowland kept the flag flying for the girls, powering home first in the final race.
In a cracking little Junior 65cc group that included a few new upgrades, Todd Richie sparkled best. He eventually came through to claim all three race wins in a really entertaining series of races, battling it out bravely with Harry Wickman and Brooklyn Evans.
Bradley Sullivan and Dylan Spencer lead the Novice 65cc and Auto Small-wheel standings as Jack Wankling got his quest for more Auto Big-wheel silverware off to a flying start opening up a clear points lead over Marcus Edwards.
Ryan Griffin took the spoils in the Quad races.
Moto Goo MX Series
Rd 1 – Polesworth (Wilden MXC )
Four-stroke: 1 James Lassu, 2 Robert Barney, 3 Richie Worral, 4 David Sweet, 5 Paul Burn, 6 Steven Simpson.
Two-stroke: 1 Josh Spinks, 2 Dan Ward, 3 Matt Waterworth, 4 John Perrot, 5 Craig Jakes, 6 Jamie Houston.
Youth 125cc: 1 Damen Wales, 2 Craig Maddox, 3 Dean Hakes, 4 Harry Brookes, 5 Kai Passmart James, 6 Josh Brame.
Big-wheel 85cc: 1 Jordan Wills, 2 Matthew Wild, 3 Conal Glover, 4 Nathan Dixon, 5 Aaron Nichols, 6 Jack Mac.
Small-wheel 85cc: 1 Jack Seabourne, 2 Jordan Pyne, 3 Chelsea Gowland, 4 Ryan Deacon, 5 Jack Nailer, 6 Lee Jones.
Junior 65cc: 1 Todd Ritchie, 2 Harry Wickman, 3 Brooklyn Evans, 4 Nathan Harlow, 5 Jack Taylor, Ben Kind.
Novice 65cc: 1 Bradley Sullivan, 2 Leon Jones, 3 Matthew Leedam, 4 Rhys Goodall.
Auto Big-wheel: 1 Jack Wankling, 2 Marcus Edwards, 3 Zac Clarke, 4 Dylan Edwards, 5 Jamie Evans, 6 Finlay Smith.
Auto Small-wheel: 1 Dylan Spencer 2 Archie Collier.
Quad: 1 Ryan Griffin, 2 Scott Linley, 3 Amy Phillips, 4 Jamie Cartwright.
James Lassu knew the ropes at Polesworth as he took the Four-stroke overall win.