Report: AMCA British Motocross Championship - Rd 4

By Mike Wood on 29th Jun 16

Motocross

With the AMCA British Motocross Championship now having passed its midway point, the pictures at the top of the respective title chases are becoming a little clearer.

As Luke Burton (MX1) and Josh Waterman (MX2) continue to gradually edge away from the chasing pack, Ben Saunders (2T) and Matt Gordon (Vets) have both now stretched their advantages following a dramatic round four at Hawkstone Park on Sunday. 

With the famous Shropshire venue having a strict 6pm finishing time, several red-flag incidents meant that the latest action of this series –  powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop – was unfortunately restricted to just two blocks of racing, although there was still plenty of excitement and drama.

While MX1 pretty much followed the current form book as Burton took the win from Gary Gibson and James Dodd, the MX2 podium had a rather unfamiliar look to it.

For the first time this season, pace-setter Waterman did not make the box, as wildcard Ray Rowson took top honours ahead of the impressive James Wainwright and Zac Stealey. 

There were also new names taking home the 2T trophies as Saunders was joined by Jake Edey and Jamie Powell. 

Over in the equally competitive Vets class, Terry House, Gordon and good old Yorkshireman Danny Blakeley filled the top three.In the event promoted by the AMCA Northern Group, the MX2 class was first up and Rowson led the charge from Charlie Hamlet, Wainwright and Stealey.

Waterman had gated eighth and had plenty of work to do and it got worse when, after fighting his way to fourth, a big crash dropped him back to ninth. 

Rowson galloped away to a big win as Wainwright showed his sand-riding skills in second and Hamlet had easily his best ride of the campaign to bag a great third. 

After the moto, Waterman discovered a sticking holeshot device button on his KTM's front fork leg which meant he had just four inches of suspension travel, so that seventh-place finish was a great effort.

Chris Povey made a super start to the second MX2 clash and led the charge before Rowson moved through and then took charge to the chequered flag. 

Barrs also got off to a flyer in second but gradually dropped back to eventually finish 15th. 

Wainwright claimed second and Sealey fourth  to earn fully-deserved podium spots. 

Splitting the dynamic duo was series leader Waterman who produced another determined effort after gating 12th to earn vital championship points. 

After winning three out of the last four AMCA MX1 motos, Gary Gibson arrived at Hawkstone in confident mood and recorded fastest qualification time. 

And when the gate dropped at the start of race one, he took very little time to pass fast-starting Brad Turner, who had led the charge to the opening turn. 

Series leader Luke Burton also quickly passed Turner and from here onwards the race was well and truly on. 

Five rip-roaring laps later after the leading duo passed and repassed each other, Burton finally hit the front to take the win from Gibson and James Dodd after a smooth ride to third.

There was high drama at the start of the second MX1 clash as Gibson and Turner collided on the opening turn, with both riders going down. 

The unfortunate Turner was forced out with a broken wrist, while Gibson restarted last and with it all to do.

At the front, Meredith had made a brilliant start to lead the pack before disaster struck when he crashed in spectacular fashion, dropping back to fourth behind Burton, Dodd and Dean. 

Burton then rode to another smooth win and with Dodd looking very comfortable in second, all the attention was on a crazy eight-rider scrap for third.

Dean was at the head of the pack but Gibson worked his way up from 11th and in a great effort passed Dean two laps from home to snatch third. 

Also having a superb ride in the rain was Ryan Morris, who bagged a strong fifth.

In a very entertaining opening 2T clash, Jamie Powell, Jake Edey and Ben Saunders took turns to head the pack, but eventually series leader Saunders saw off the close attentions of Edey  to take the win, with Gavin Houson slipping into third.

Elliot Stones put in a brilliant effort to claim 10th after initially gating right down in 23rd.

Young Edey was fastest away in 2T moto two but his joy lasted just one lap as the immaculate Saunders took control to bag another big win. 

Lane crashed hard on the opening lap, trapping a nerve in his back in the process and being restricted to a 32nd-place finish. 

Also tasting the Shropshire sand was Waterman who crashed very hard on lap two before bravely remounting to finish 21st. With Lane and co in trouble, Edey and Powell took full advantage to confirm their podium places. 

Another lad enjoying the second Hawkstone moto was Rory Jones, just about the youngest competitor in the series, got home in a brilliant fourth.

The moto-two result could prove pivotal in the battle for the title. 

Going into the event just six points separated Saunders and his closest rival Lane but the gap at the top of the table has now widened to a massive 70 points in Saunders' favour. 

Just like his brother, Simon Lane also lost vital ground in the championship race after a rear-wheel puncture restricted him to ninth in the Hawkstone Veterans contest. 

Looking very comfortable in the sand, series leader Matt Gordon took the win with Terry House moving through the pack for second.

After having to replace a broken silencer during timed qualification, Danny Blakeley got his trusty 2T Yamaha back on song to earn third.

Flying the flag for 2T power, Blakeley grabbed the holeshot in the second 

Vets clash before being overhauled by Gordon shortly before the end of the opening lap. 

The man with all the speed in this clash, though, was House and after gating sixth he took just three laps to move into pole position and stormed ahead on his KTM to bag a massive win from Gordon and Blakeley. 

That win also gave House the overall from Gordon, after they finished the event locked together on 114 points. 

In the Championship race, though, Gordon has a nice 53-point advantage with three rounds to go.

The Championship Non-Qualifiers completed the action and Jason Kendrick topped the MX1/MX2 class, with Nigel Woodman taking the honours in the 2T/Vets. 

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