That's Life
By Team TMX on 25th Oct 13
With an incredibly enthusiastic attitude, its no surprise that the Purbeck MXC can generate such a genuine, feelgood atmosphere amongst the riders and spectators alike who make the annual pilgramige to the AMCA Weymouth Beach Motocross.
For this year's 28th staging of this unique event – in conjunction with the Weymouth and Portland Lions Clubs – the normally reliable Dorset weather forgot to read the script.
Despite heavy rain, a massive crowd again lined the Esplanade and every available vantage point, refusing to be beaten, instead standing firm to enjoy an afternoon of adrenalin pumping action.
After six frantic races, taking top honours and being crowned Kings of the Beach for 2013 were Nick Life (Expert), James Adams (Senior) and Luke Oldfield (Junior).
However, before the 280 strong entry could go sand blasting there was the little matter of circuit construction to be considered.
Throughout it's history, the support of local business and sponsors has helped ensure that the Weymouth Beach Motocross continues to thrive.
One such local business chipping in is the local plant hire company of George Crook and Sons which continues to offer both its machinery and manpower free of charge.
So, shortly after 8am on Sunday morning, the Crook team were already working hard to transform the beach into a flowing motocross circuit.
Following practice sessions and entertainment provided by Andy Hobbs – the performing Gorilla aboard his trusty quad – it was time to get serious and let the all-important racing commence.
First up was an incredible line-up of some 100 Juniors who filed carefully onto the start area in preparation for the dead engine start. The silence was quickly turned into a thunderous roar as the flag dropped to signal the start of the event.
With a combination of heavy rain and sea spray, making a quick start was imperative and at the end of the opening circuit Ryan George enjoyed the clearest vision as he led closest challengers Luke Oldfield, Jonny White, Mark Teggin, Andy Biles and Mark Slade.
With George dropping back initially to fifth spot on lap three, Oldfield took control before blasting on to win the first race of the day from White, Biles, Jordan Talmage – who had started tenth – Teggin and Richard David Burridge.
Jonny White was the fastest rider away in the second and deciding Juniors clash with moto one victor Oldfield initially down in eighth. By the end of the first lap, Oldfield was already up to second and exerting pressure on White.
On lap three Oldfield hit the front with White, Burridge, Jack Nixey and Talmage fighting hard to stay in contention.
Racing in far better conditions this time around, Oldfield managed a total of eight laps on his way to victory as Talmage eventually climbed up to finish second with Burridge third and early leader White taking fourth.
A total of 95 Seniors lined up and James Adams was the moto one pace-setter, with Mitchell Bligh, Tony Revell, Anthony Stephens, Lewis Scard and Brett Moore for close company.
On lap two Bligh hit the front before completing a total of ten laps to earn victory.
In a fast and entertaining contest, Adams went on to bag second ahead of Riley Lowe and Mark Cornick, both lads charging up the leader-board.
Lowe had started eighth while Cornick blasted through from 16th.
Looking to confirm overall Seniors victory, moto one winner Bligh again led the early exchanges of the second clash before making a mistake which dropped him back to tenth.
Up front, Yamaha-mounted Adams was now in control and there he remained to take both the race and overall victory.
Second this time out was Lowe from Jon Rutherford, Stephens, Olly Ford and Revell.
While winner Adams enjoyed the sweet taste of success, there was heartache for Bligh, his hopes of earning a trophy dashed by a DNF on lap six.
What an intriguing line-up the Experts race produced as amongst the 70-strong quality field, Maxxis British Championship runners Josh Waterman, Lewis Trickett, James Dodd and Jake Shipton took on AMCA stars Lee Dunham, Adam Harris, Paul Neale and Ben Saunders,
while also throwing into the mix Enduro aces Simon Wakely, Arran Poolman and South West beach race expert, Nick Life.
As expected, the early pace in moto one was red hot and Lanes Kawasaki star Lewis Trickett led the charge.
In the frantic opening few laps, Trickett was on a mission as Waterman, Shipton, local favourite and 2012 winner Life and Ryan Butler provided the challenge.
Three laps in, though, and Waterman became the first major retirement, forced out by mechanical gremlins.
In an ever-changing leaderboard, Waterman was then joined on the side-lines by race leader Trickett.
For the next two laps Dodd, then Shipton, also took turns to head this encounter before Shipton also joined the ever increasing DNF list.
So once again the destination of the moto win was firmly back in the hands of Dodd, but in a final twist he found himself being relegated back to a fourth place finish.
The man finally taking the victory in this breath-taking affair was Life as, almost unnoticed, both Dunham and Wakely produced truly incredible rides moving from outside the top ten to bag superb second and third places respectively.
Despite their earlier problems, both Waterman and Shipton were on the moto start line, with the former rider switching to his two-stroke mount. In an early dramatic twist, Dunham crashed on lap one and dropped all the way back to 24th spot.
Shipton led the charge this time around, showing his true style and speed. He was superb from there on, leading from start to finish.
Right up to lap six, Poolman was hot on his Shipton's heels before picking up his second DNF of the day.
So, for the next eight circuits, the super smooth Life moved up to chase leader Shipton before then being relegated back to third by a hard-charging Waterman, who had started in sixth.
Circulating in an early 21st, enduro ace Wakely was again right on the gas producing another super ride and take fourth just ahead of the storming Dunham, charging relentlessly through the pack to get home in an incredible fifth.
So after two classic encounters a richly deserved Experts overall victory went to Life with AMCA riders Dunham second, Saunders fourth, Lee Truman sixth and Paul Neale ninth all in great form.
