Report: Norwich Viking MCC
By TMX Archives on 7th May 14
Round four of the Eastern Centre Championships took place at Cadders Hill, Lyng, in Norfolk, on Sunday, and a bumper entry of almost 200 riders took part.
All three races for the Expert graded riders were keenly contested, and the crowd witnessed some very fast, close racing all day.
National star, Ryan Houghton, soon found a way past fast-starting Shaun Southgate, and current champion, Carl Nunn, to win the first race, leaving Southgate and Nunn battling for second spot.
The pair were joined by Luke Benstead after ten minutes of racing, and Benstead went on to claim second place at the flag. Southgate was third from Nunn, Luke Norris and Steve Bixby.
In race two Nunn snatched the lead, but Houghton took over on lap two for his second win.
Benstead was on a charge again, passing Nunn halfway through the race, and along with Southgate, these three battled hard.
Houghton took his third win in the final race of the day, leaving Southgate and Nunn to battle over second again. Nunn finally got the better of Southgate to claim second spot, and maintain his lead in the series.
Benstead had to fight through the pack to take fourth place, from Norris and South African, Brad Woodroffe.
Sixteen-year-old Essex rider, Sid Evans, was in devastating form in the Junior Championship races, winning all three legs in style. Evans was over 30-seconds ahead of the second place rider each time.
Peterborough's Sean Avery had three good rides to claim second place in each. Third overall was teenager, Adam Day, and former expert, Andrew Greeney, making a return to the sport, was fourth overall.
Dean Smith, James Miles, Mark Hunt, and Connor Hughes kept the crowd on their toes with some closely fought battles throughout the day.
Results
Expert Champs Overall: 1 Ryan Houghton (Yamaha), 2 Luke Benstead (Suzuki), 3 Carl Nunn (KTM), 4 Shaun Southgate (Honda), 5 Luke Norris (KTM), 6 Steve Bixby (KTM).
Junior Champs Overall: 1 Sid Evans (KTM), 2 Sean Avory (Honda), 3 Adam Day (Honda), 4 Andrew Greeney (Honda), 5 Dean Smith (Suzuki), 6 James Miles (Honda).
Support Group B: 1 Nicky Banks (KTM), 2 John Hilton (Honda), 3 Will Nice (Honda), 4 Jacob Chambers (KTM), 5 Tom Archer (Kawasaki), 6 Liam Gill (Kawasaki).
Support Group C: 1 Nathan Attwood (Suzuki).
Support Group D: 1 Harry Hill (Honda).
Expert Champs: 1 Nunn 258 points, 2 Southgate 228, 3 Benstead 226, 4 Syd Bales 173.
Junior Champs: 1 Evans 193, 2 Will Hempstead 190, 3 Andrew Stephenson 186, Avery 177, Hughes 173.
