The Wright way to do it
By TMX Archives on 18th Jun 08
DESPITE being one of the oldest, remaining National Two-day Youth Motocross events, the All British Championship again prov-ed its popularity at the weekend by attracting an entry list approaching 300 riders.The reasons why the All British has survived the years of motocross evolution and still retained its popularity though are clear for all to see. The Severn Valley club always run a slick organisation where all its working members are fully aware of their particular role for the weekend. Add to this a track which is always superbly prepared and what do you get? top class racing.
In 2008 at Brookthorpe, the event and racing again more than matched its reputation – a lesson to all potential organisers that if you get your promotion correct, you will reap the rewards!
Opening the weekend was a very competitive AMX class, featuring an entry that included Marc Gunter, Matt Gardiner, Josh Waterman and the Trueman boys, Tim and Martin. Gunter stylishly won the opening three
motos before local resident Gardiner took control. After pushing Gunter all the way in a thrilling moto two, Gardiner eventually earned second overall, just behind champion Gunter. Completing the top three overall was Waterman.
In Open AMX, former AMCA 125cc championship rider, Alan Pearce, took the first win of the weekend before Rob Lewis, son of long standing Severn Valley secretary, Linda Lewis, dominated the remainder of the proceedings. After the opening clash, Luke Redstone finished as runner-up on each occasion to earn the second place trophy ahead of Pearce.
Connor Walkley was first past the winners post in all three opening Senior clashes, chased home by Lewis Abbott. In the remaining two races, the roles were reversed with Abbott taking the moto wins ahead of Walkley. Alex Hussey eventually joined them on the podium.
In a thrilling and very unpredictable Big-Wheel 85cc class, Jake Page took the opening win ahead of Liam Wright, Dan Thornhill, Josh Bryne, Zac Allsop, Jack Timms and Luke Dean. This sextet regularly disputed the leading positions with Wright (three) and Page again taking the wins. Taking home the All British first place trophy though was Wright with Thornhill and Bryne completing the podium steps.
Small-Wheel 85cc racing saw Jordan Godwin claim the first win of the day, chased hard by Jordan Bachelor and Liam Knight. In the next three motos, Knight was first past the chequers with Cory Southwood second. Southwood, having been ultra consistent all weekend, then brilliantly wrapped up the All British crown by taking his only moto success in the final clash.
In the overall standings, Southwood was four points better than Knight who in turn was a narrow two points ahead of Bachelor.
Winning three out of the five Junior motos, Danny Lanfear was crowned All British Junior champion. Victors in the remaining two clashes were Robert Yates and Tyron Cleaver. In the overall standings, Cleaver was the eventual runner-up. However he may have even challenged Lanfear for the overall but for a second moto crash, which resulted in his exhaust then being clogged by Brookthorpe soil. Com-pleting the Junior podium was Henry Williams.
Wrapping up the thrilling action was the Auto class which, despite riding on a shortened circuit, still gave their all in the battle for the silverware. Winning four out of the five motos, a flying Harry Wichman took the eventual crown. Wichman's only defeat of the weekend came in moto three when the equally impressive Danny Trighton was first past the flag. While Trighton went on to earn the overall runners-up position, the top three was completed by Clayton Cocker.