Rock stars
By TMX Archives on 2nd Mar 12
The opening round of the new Fast Eddy Rock Oil X-Country Championship attracted a paddock packed with new bikes, new kit and new riders on Sunday as the sun shone on a perfect Bicton course, near Shrewsbury.
It was hard to believe the change in the weather from the previous weekend's appalling conditions at the BEC at Eelmoor in Hampshire.
But with warm winter sun bathing the venue throughout the day, the ground conditions could not have been better for the start of this new series.
For many riders this was their first competitive outing of the year and time eventually told on who had been working hard at keeping fit and who had spent the last few months in front of the TV with cups of tea and packets of biscuits.
Although Bicton is not one of the largest venues around it was in pristine condition, with the soil offering plenty of grip all around the course, making for fast racing in all three races which ran on the day.
The motocross course had been freshly graded and the woodland section was just the right side of dry to offer a selection of lines for riders to try out.
More than 40 young riders filled the start area for the Youth race, which blasted off at 9am.
Jack Edmondson took the lead right from the off and looked as if he would be a runaway winner.
But Henry Williams had other ideas and closed ‘Jacko' down throughout the 90-minute race, pushing hard to take the top spot.
Williams came close but young Edmondson kept his head and claimed his first win of the season, taking the overall honours and the Youth 85/150F class win.
Williams followed him home 30 seconds adrift in second spot, with the pair clocking-up 17 laps apiece – one more than third-placed Jamie Wainwright.
Harry Edmondson also had his work cut out as he tried in vain to pass Junior 65cc leader, Ben Clark, with both riders posting 15 laps.
Clark really got his head down in the last half of the race though to open a significant gap and ensure victory in the opening round of this series.
Joseph Davies rode to a safe third place, a lap ahead of closest rival Shea Ryan.
The Small-wheel 85cc class was equally enthralling as Max Ditchfield managed to keep a handful of rivals at bay to take the win ahead of George Saunders and William Stansbie.
Bang on 10.30am the Sportsman and Novice riders lined-up ready for the off and it was hard to believe that the huge pack contained just two classes, with around 80 riders sitting on the start line.
Steve Thornton got a great start and held a reasonable lead as the riders left the first field section and entered the woodland, before breaking out onto the MX track.
Alan Stockdale was in hot pursuit with Tim Thornton and a gaggle of Sportsman riders close behind and the pace was incredible.
Steve Thornton had led for much of the first half but was overtaken by his brother, Tim, who went on to win the race and the Novice class.
Steve took the runner-up spot followed by Lewis Reany and Stu Robson.
Alan Stockdale slowly slipped down the field from second to fifth by the flag.
As the Thornton brothers dominated the Sportsman class, the Mead brothers – Scott and Darryl – led the Novice class into the woodland.
Darryl quickly took the lead and pulled clear to win the class by ten minutes from Scott, with both riders on 20 laps.
Ben Wainwright just kept plugging away in third, finishing with 19 laps to his credit.
Usually the final race of the day has the least number of entrants – but on this occasion 90 riders filled the start as the Pro/ Expert, Veteran, Clubman and Youth classes all jostled for position.
The Pro/ Expert line was packed with top quality riders from across the country with Team Green rider Ryan Voase among the favourites – but Scott Austin, Brad Freeman, Ben Wootton, Derek Bawn, James Jackman and Tim Foreman all fancied their chances around the fast and flowing course.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX MARCH 2
Fast Eddy Rock Oil
X-Country Championship
Bicton, nr Shrewsbury (fasteddyracing.com)
Youth race
Junior 65cc: 1 Ben Clark, 2 Harry Edmondson, 3 Joseph Davies.
SW 85cc: 1 Max Ditchfield, 2 George Saunders, 3 William Stansby.
BW85/150F: 1 Jack Edmondson,
2 Henry Williams, 3 Jamie Wainwright.
Middle Race
Sportsman: 1 Tim Thornton, 2 Steve Thornton, 3 Lewis Reany.
Novice: 1 Darryl Mead, 2 Scott Mead, 3 Ben Wainwright.
FINAL RACE
Pro Expert: 1 Ben Wootton, 2 Brad Freeman,
3 Scott Austin.
Veteran: 1 Justin Carter, 2 Chris Wagstaffe,
3 Jason Hope.
Clubman: 1 Garin Rosser, 2 Danny Morris,
3 Jack Ditchfield.
Youth 14-16: 1 Luke Rudd, 2 Sam Sault, 3 Ryan Phillips.
