MX Diary: Martin lines MX Nats crown up
By Dick Law on 31st Aug 16
The sixth and final round of the Michelin MX Nationals takes place this weekend at the sandy, power-sapping Hawkstone Park in Shropshire and although Graeme Irwin (Buildbase Honda) has sewn-up the Pro MX1 championship all the other classes have yet to be decided.
Sadly, Irwin has had to pull out of the last round due to injury but the remaining places on the championship podium are still up for grabs.
Round five overall winner Jake Shipton (Crescent KTM) is on a roll and will want to retain his championship second place position but Gert Krestinov (Phoenix Honda) is just three points behind him and loves hard and rough tracks. And you can't count out Josh Spinks (Heads & All Threads Suzuki), Brad Anderson (Verde KTM) and Dan Thornhill (Cab Screens Husqvarna) who are all within reach of the runner-up position.
Irwin's team-mate Martin Barr only needs seven points to become Pro MX2 champion but knowing the tough Irishman he will be going for the wins and will let the title take care of itself.
Only Lewis Tombs (Geartec Yamaha) has a mathematical chance of taking the championship but that would require Barr having two
non-scoring races and for Lewis to finish in the top two or three in both motos.
Other than that Tombs looks set for second in the championship leaving Liam Knight (Dyer & Butler KTM), Jake Millward (Verde KTM) and Brad Todd (Planet Suspension Husqvarna) to fight over third place.
Hunt
Only 10 points separate the top two in the Bell Experts MX1 class and once again Luke Parker (Herts MX Honda) and team-mate Shaun Southgate will be going at it again for the wins but Brad Cavill (KTM) is still in the hunt and will snatch the points wherever he can.
The Fly Expert MX2 title sees Henry Williams (RFX KTM) holding a healthy 68-point lead over Adam Wells (Yamaha) and another 20 over third-placed Luke Mellows (Park Lane IDS KTM). With 100 points available over the two days this could all change.
Michael Ellis (KTM) has a 43-point lead over 125cc class leader Taylor Hammal (Dyer & Butler KTM) in the Talon MXY2 class but Jamie Carpenter (Husqvarna) is just six points behind them.
Joel Rizzi (KTM) has a commanding lead in the exciting Gaerne BW85cc class and will be very unlucky not to take the title but that won't
stop Rossi Beard (KTM) and Sam Nunn (GMX KTM) pushing him all
the way.
You'd have thought that Ike Carter (MBO Power Husqvarna), who's won all but two races this year, would have the SW85cc title in the bag but Bobby Bruce (KTM) – the only other rider to win a race this season – just won't quit and is 61 points behind.
In the RFX Clubman class only Josh Canton and Jake Thompson can win the championship with the pair separated by just 21 points.
Admission is just £10 for the weekend for adults with no charge for under 10s. Camping is £10 for the weekend but don't arrive before 2pm on Friday. Postcode is SY4 4NA.
