Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship 2008
By G2F on 10th Mar 08
Round 1 Donington Park Sunday 9th March. MacKenzie and Searle dominate at Donington.
Clear blue skies and several thousand expectant race fans marked the openingencounter of the 2008 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship held at thefamous Donington Park road race circuit. Although not quite as fast as theirtarmac compatriots, the dirt based riders produced some equally thrilling actionon a track that hosted last year's British MXGP and that will welcome the MX ofNations in late September.
Picking up from where he left off last season,reigning MX1 British Champion Billy MacKenzie CAS Honda in his new coloursdelivered a clear message that he has no intention of surrendering his domesticcrown. The twenty-four old from Scotland was in devastating form throughout theday. Tommy Searle KTM UK who just missed out on the MX2 title last year, alsoopened his account with an equally dominant performance.
There was nogentle beginning to the day, with MacKenzie topping MX1 qualifying by anopponent destroying margin of nearly two seconds, over the highly rated KennethGunderson UTAG Yamaha. MacKenzie took this pace straight into the first race,and led the field by three seconds as he crossed the line on his initiallap.
No one had an answer to Billy's sheer speed, with Gunderson and TomChurch Molson Kawasaki having to settle for the remaining podium placesrespectively before the race had even properly begun. It was the same story inthe second MX1 moto, with MacKenzie going from the gate to the flag unchallengedto leave Brad Anderson - Swift Suzuki and Gunderson to pick up the rostrumscraps this time around.
Searle had to wait until lap three in the firstMX2 race before he hit the front and then disappeared in to the distance tocross the line fifteen seconds ahead of Stephen Sword Molson Kawasaki andPascal Leuret Swift Suzuki. It was almost a repeat performance by Tommy nexttime out, as he took command of the race on lap five to come home seventeenseconds clear of Sword and Shaun Simpson KTM UK to end a perfect day for theteenager.
A win and a fifth place was just enough to give ScottElderfield KTM the overall win in the MXY2 class by a single point over SamDavis, who finished as runner up thanks to two consistent third places from histwo outings.
The championship will only pause briefly now, before thebattle resumes at the fantastic Canada Heights Circuit on Sunday 23rd March. Forfurther information and all the latest series news please visit www.mxgb.co.uk
MX1 Moto One: 1: MacKenzie 2: Gunderson 3: Church 4: Noble 5:Anderson
MX1 Moto Two: 1: MacKenzie 2: Anderson 3: Gunderson 4: Noble 5: Church
MX1 Overall: 1: MacKenzie 50 2: Gunderson 42 3: Anderson 38
Championship to date: 1: MacKenzie 50 2: Gunderson 42 3: Anderson38
MX2 Moto One: 1: Searle 2: Sword 3: Leuret 4: Swanepoel 5: Barr
MX2 Moto Two: 1: Searle 2: Sword 3: Simpson 4: Leuret 5: Barr
MX2 Overall: 1: Searle 50 2: Sword 44 3: Leuret 38
Championship to date: 1: Searle 50 2: Sword 44 3: Leuret 38
2008 Championship Schedule
Rnd 1 9th March DoningtonPark
Rnd 2 23rd March Canada Heights
Rnd 3 13th April - Torrington
Rnd 4 4th May Lyng
Rnd 5 22nd June - Desertmartin
Rnd 6 27th July Foxhill
Rnd 7 17th August Brampton
Rnd 8 21st Sept - Hawkstone Park