Snowcross motocross at Canada Heights
March 24, 2008
With temperatures hitting freezing point and snow blizzards to match the second round of the Maxxis British championship at Canada Heights will be one to remember in years to come. Many were saying the event should be cancelled but the Sidcup club who organised the event did a grand job and all systems were go at 9am for the first of the snow covered timed practise sessions.
The crowd was certainly down on recent years but the hardcore fans that did show weren’t disappointed with the action on offer.
Shaun Simpson in the MX2 class was head and shoulders above the rest, Shaun put in two glorious rides to his quest for this year’s British title. The young scot and KTM UK rider has stepped up to the mark so far this season and will no doubt be looking to take this form into the world championship first round in two weeks.
Another rider who is looking good to go is UTAG Yamaha’s Martin Barr, Martin finished in second overall just ahead of Molson Kawasaki’s Stephen Sword, both riders battled throughout the day but it was Sword who put in a remarkable ride in moto two from dead last to fourth.
The remaining top ten were Dougan, Leuret, Bradshaw, Browne, Campano, Whatley and Nunn all had their own personal battles in both races, Mike Brown had a disaster in moto one and had to withdraw with bike problems and that put him way out of a top ten finish.
In the MX1 class it was all going off, James Noble was suffering with illness, Billy Mackenzie rode to yet another maximum and little whipper snapper Scott Elderfiled put the wind up some very experienced riders with a mind blowing fifth in race one on a two -stroke!
There’s no two ways about it Billy Mac is looking a class above everyone else in MX1, Mark Jones and Brad Anderson did their best to stay on his tail but the Monster Energy CAS Honda star didn’t put a foot peg wrong all day.
Billy showing the young pretender a clean pair of heels
Jones and Anderson swapped places in both races and finished on the podium but Gunderson and Church did their best to split the two podium finishers to finish fourth and fifth.
It was a tough event for everyone involved and hats off to the race fans for turning up on such a dreadful day, a few plus points are the number of young riders who are putting it to the more established racers who have been campaigning at this level for a few years – Elderfield in MX1 is one that stood out but its only one race and the kid has a long way to go yet, Kristian Whaley is another who is getting quicker and smoother every time he rides his bike and Mel Pocock who is running alongside regular GP stars.
Neville Bradshaw is my rider of the day; Nev is not riding for any of the big teams this year and is showing what he is capable of as a total privateer with a brilliant third in race two and sixth overall on the day – ROCK ON NEV!
Full results can be found at http://www.mylaps.com
Report and images by Ray Chuss
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