MX Diary: Maxxis head to Canada Heights
By Sean Lawless on 20th Apr 16
Tommy Searle (Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki) and Shaun Simpson (Wilvo Virus KTM) resume their MX1 title battle at round two of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship this Sunday (April 24) at the Canada Heights circuit in Kent.
Searle came out on top after a fiercely-fought opening round at Cadders Hill last month with maximum points as Simpson, the defending champion, followed him home each time to leave Lyng trailing by six points.
Simpson was, admittedly, feeling below par after picking up a stomach bug in Thailand and the result represented his first overall loss in the Maxxis series since 2014.
Both riders have scored solid – if unspectacular – MXGP points this season with Simpson eighth and Searle 10th in the championship standings after five rounds.
The Scot's form at the Sidcup club's super-tough track over the past two seasons has been brilliant – he's won five out of six motos and dropped just three points – but there's a question mark hanging over his fitness after he was hit by Alessandro Lupino in the second moto in Mexico last Sunday.
Tanel Leok (MVR-D Husqvarna) sits third in the table a further six points adrift with Jake Nicholls (Hitachi Revo Husqvarna) and Buildbase Honda team-mates Graeme Irwin and Kristian Whatley snapping at his heels.
In theory the leading pair's GP saddletime should give them an advantage over the chasing pack but the top 10 is stacked out with talent and a bad start or crash could prove costly for either man.
Other riders who should figure high up in the results include Elliott Banks-Browne (Geartec Yamaha), Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Tools Honda), 2015 MX2 champion Steven Lenoir (Dyer & Butler KTM) and Brad Anderson (Verde Sports KTM).
The MX2 class is wide open for round two with Rockstar Husqvarna team-mates Max Anstie and Conrad Mewse, who ran 1-2 at the opener, both absent as they fulfil team obligations in Holland.
This elevates James Dunn (Hitachi Revo Husqvarna) to the status of virtual leader but just three points separate him from Brad Todd (Planet Husqvarna) and Martin Barr (Buildbase Honda).
Barr was desperately unlucky to pick up a rear wheel puncture during the early stages of race two at Lyng which kept him back in 12th and seriously affected his points haul and the Irishman will fancy his chances for overall victory on Sunday.
Race one no-scores at Lyng proved to be expensive for Steven Clarke (Apico Husqvarna), Ben Watson (Hitachi Revo Husqvarna) and Lewis Trickett (Buildbase Honda). If Clarke and Trickett can put in two solid scores they'll move up the rankings but Watson is likely to be a non-starter after breaking bones in his foot in Argentina.
Lewis Tombs (Geartec Yamaha) will be looking to move up from sixth in the standings and expect better performances this time around from experienced championship campaigners Neville Bradshaw (Heads & All Threads Suzuki) and Bryan MacKenzie (Apico Husqvarna) with Bry in particular having a point to prove after Lyng.
Vsevolod Brylyakov (Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki), third at the Mexican GP, will be missing because of visa problems but Canada Heights will mark the return of his team-mate Mel Pocock who's been sidelined for over a year after sustaining serious hand injuries at 2015's opening round.
Whether the rapid redhead is fully up to speed remains to be seen but there won't be another rider in action on Sunday with as much support.
MXY2 at Lyng was dominated by Alexander Brown (Apico Husqvarna) who took both moto wins. The Scot was followed home by James Carpenter (Phoenix Honda) and George Grigg Pettitt (Nunn KTM).
If last weekend's BYN round at Brampton is anything to go by, the racing at Canada Heights will be close with Brown's lead challenged by GGP, Henry Williams (RFX KTM) and Dexter Douglas (Husqvarna) who all went well at Low Gelt.
Canada Heights is situated in Button Street, Swanley, which is just off the A20. Leave the M25 at the Swanley Interchange. Postcode is BR8 8DX.
The Sidcup club needs more marshals for this Sunday's Maxxis round. Benefits are free entry, lunch, an event souvenir and the satisfaction of participating in this premier event.
If you are interested and least 16 years old contact Colin Bushall via email at colin.bushell2@ntlworld.com
