Wey hey!
By Mike Wood on 18th Oct 10
Following a disastrous 2009 when the Weymouth Beach-cross was forced to be cancelled at the very last minute due to the no-show of the booked private medical services, undettered the organising Purbeck MXC ensured that it was business as usual this year.
Despite being one of, if not the smallest AMCA clubs with less than a dozen members, Purbeck MXC continue to amaze by producing a major logistical achievement with its staging of the Weymouth event and thoroughly deserve a massive pat on the back for their inspirational efforts.
Working alongside Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, the club, along with a band of volunteers, construct the circuit during Sunday morning, with practice starting at noon and racing commencing at 1pm sharp.
The format of the event is different from the forthcoming Weston Beach Race, and instead of it being just a one-off, three-hour battle, Weymouth comprises of three classes – Expert, Senior and Junior – who do battle in two extended motos apiece.
So with another massive crowd in attendance – all able to watch the action for free – the club's only ask that they consider an optional donation or programme purchase for which all funds are donated to the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club.
So it was time for the racing to start. From a dead-engine, bikes were fired into life as 85 hungry Juniors blasted down the main straight and into the expansive first turn with Andy Biles leading the charge from Lee Wren, Danny Nash, Jason Constantinous, Craig Redmond and Jonathon Cole.
After controlling the opening three-laps, Biles was eventually overhauled by Wren as Tony Revell moved up through the pack to earn an impressive third after gating in 19th.
In race two, which was curtailed early following a red flag incident, Wren again proved to be the sand-master with Biles taking a fine runners-up spot and Cole in third. Earlier in this clash, David Bowen had also briefly led the way before dropping back to fifth at the flag.
John Gill headed the opening Senior clash in the sand from start to finish, completing 11 laps in the process. After gating eighth, Luke Smith moved up to earn runners-up spot with only Damian O'Brien Jones, Christopher Gomm, Billy Woods and Nathan Tanner managing to finish on the same lap total as winner Gill.
Gomm certainly produced one of the most impressive performances in this race after being down in 41st place on lap one!
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE T+MX OCTOBER 15.
WEYMOUTH BEACH-CROSS
Weymouth (Purbeck MXC)
EXPERT (sponsored by Poole Yamaha)
MOTO ONE: 1 Scott Elderfield 2 Nick Like, 3 Rick Du-Feu, 4 Terry House, 5 Luke Mellows, 6 Daryl Bolter.
MOTO TWO: 1 Du-Feu, 2 Bolter, 3 Arran Poolman, 4 House, 5 Mellows, 6 Life.
OVERALL: 1 Du-Feu 110 points, 2 Bolter 97, 3 Life 97, 4 House 94, 5 Mellows 90, 6 Poolman 83.
SENIOR (sponsored by Richie Ryall Racing)
MOTO ONE: 1 John Gill, 2 Luke Smith, 3 Damian O'Brien Jones, 4 Chris Gomm, 5 Billy Woods, 6 Nathan Tanner.
MOTO TWO: 1 Gomm, 2 Gill, 3 Scott Sloane, 4 Craig Durston, 5 Smith, 6 Tanner
OVERALL: 1 Gill 114 points, 2 Gomm 107, 3 Tanner 102, 4 Smith 99, 5 Durston 84, 6 Woods 82.
JUNIOR (sponsored by Mr & Mrs DP Squire)
MOTO ONE: 1 Lee Wren, 2 Andy Biles, 3 Tony Revell, 4 Jonathan Cole, 5 Justin Coombes, 6 Ryan Poolman.
MOTO TWO: 1 Wren, 2 Biles, 3 Cole, 4 Michael Stock, 5 David Bowen, 6 Justin Cadman.
OVERALL: 1 Wren 120 points, 2 Biles 108, 3 Cole 97, 4 Revell 87, 5 Stock 86, 6 Lewis Scard 82.