British Masters head north
April 29, 2008
With the second round of the Wulfsport British Masters moving North to the Dean Moor track we were welcomed with brilliant sunshine for two days of great racing.
First to come to the line for qualifying were the SW85cc Class and it was Ben Howell on his KTM who took pole position from second place rider Sam Winterburn (Colin Appleyard (KTM), rounding out the top three with Adam Sterry. As Race 1 came to the line it was Jay Thomas (KTM/KJ Services), who took first place after a great battle with Ben Howell, followed home by a very confident Callan Cooper in third place on his KTM. It was a KTM one/two/three white-wash for Race 1.
Race 2 then came to the line and saw a brilliant contest between three riders with only four seconds separating the top three with Ben Howell taking the glory from second place rider James Dunn (Relentless Suzuki/Feehilly Motocross). Third place went to Jay Thomas. There was another great battle mid-pack between Rickie Roderick, Adam Sterry and Callan Cooper for 4th/5th and 6th places.
The next day in Race 2 saw Adam Sterry who took fifth place the day before taking the first win with Callan Cooper in second place followed closely by third place man Ben Howell. As the last race of the day came to the line it was Adam Sterry who took the honours after a four way battle between second place rider Ben Howell, third place rider Callan Cooper and fourth placed rider Rickie Roderick (Motopross Racing/ Honda). With three different winners over the weekend we should have some great racing in Round 3 at Landrake. The 1st/2nd/3rd places for the day were Jay Thomas in third place, Adam Sterry in second place and Ben Howell in first.
Next on the line for qualifying were the BW85cc Class with less than four seconds separating the top six riders there was bound to be fireworks. Luke Hawkings (PAR Homes Honda), took the No: 1 spot, in second place was Cameron Pendreich (Motone/Sage Access), and in third place Anthony Reville (TRM/Fox/NMA/No-Toll/Ultimate Pursuits), fourth place went to Bradley Pocock (MGP Steel Erectors), in fifth place James Rutter (Spectrum Hose/Honda) and in sixth place Rob Muscat (Hooper Properties).
As Race 1 came to the line any one of the top ten riders could take the lead but it was fast-starter Luke Hawkins who took the first win after a close battle with second place rider Bradley Pocock. After a tremendous battle for third place between James Rutter, Cameron Pendreich, Jansen Day and Rob Muscat it was James Rutter who took third place. As Race 2 came to the line Luke Hawkins took first place followed home in second place by Rob Muscat and Jansen Day (L & M Racing). When Sunday morning came the track had been fully graded and heavily watered throughout the evening by track owner Brian Fulton. When Race 3 began it was again Luke Hawkins who was out in front with another great performance, followed home in second place by Bradley Pocock after a great battle with third place rider Jansen Day.
With Race 4 on the line it was Luke Hawkins with the first maximum of the day giving a fantastic performance, this kid is one to watch in the future. In second place was hard-charging Bradley Pocock and in third place Rob Muscat. The overalls for the day were first place Luke Hawkins with maximum points, in second place was Bradley Pocock and in third place Rob Muscat.
Next to take to the line was the Youth 125cc Class with only six seconds separating the top ten making this race the one to watch. It was Mel Pocock (Utag Dixon/Yamaha) in pole position followed by Joe Gregory (Danger UK/Honda) in second place and Christian Taylor (Golden Tyre) in third place. Mel Pocock took the first win with Gavin Foulston (Danger UK/Moggstar/Honda), in second place and Joe Gregory taking third after a hard fought battle, fourth place went to Vytaylas Bucas (ARB Tuning).
As Race 2 came to the line it was Mel Pocock who took the second win from second place rider Joe Gregory after a four-way battle between Gavin Foulston, Christian Taylor and Marc Dean. When Sunday morning arrived we all looked forward to an exciting race. Pocock again took the win in fantastic style with Joe Gregory second and Vytaylas Bucas in third, Christian Taylor in fourth place and Robert Devonald-Batt gave a good steady ride on his KTM to gain fifth place.
It had to be the second maximum man of the day Mel Pocock who took his fourth win of the weekend but we should keep an eye on second place man Vytaylas Bucas followed home by a consistent Joe Gregory. The one/two/three for the day were first Mel Pocock, second Joe Gregory and in third place Vytaylas Bucas.
Then it came the turn of the Amateur 125cc Class. In pole position was Jack Taylor (TW Racing), in second place was Nathan Rooks on his KTM with less than half a second and in third place Ricky Lethaby, (NTS UK). Race 1 saw a great contest between first place rider Nathan Rooks and second place rider David Wall, (One11MX/Yamaha). In third place was last years Champion James Shaw, (Delkevic/DK Off Road/Kawasaki).
As Race 2 began we had a change of winner, this time with a great win from Jack Taylor and after a battle between David Wall and James Shaw, this settle the top three places.
Race 3 on Sunday had a new race winner with a great performance from James Shaw, followed home by Jack Taylor and David Wall. In 4th, 5th and 6th places after a great battle between Ricky Lethaby, Richard Gray and Alex Smith (Bavin/Full Travel/Kawasaki).
As the last race of the weekend came to the line many of the five riders could walk away with the top place and this was one race not to be missed as a tremendous competition took place between David Wall, Ricky Lethaby and Jack Taylor. With less than three second separating these three top riders it was to be David Wall who came out on top followed by Ricky Lethaby and Jack Taylor. With four different winners on the day and Race 1 winner Nathan Rooks sitting out Races 3 and 4 following an injury it was David Wall who took the overall, in second place was James Shaw and Ricky Lethaby in third place.
Moving on to the Amateur Open Class for qualifying with Thomas Batty sitting in pole position followed closely by Barry Teasdale and in third place with just over a second was Paul Coward. As Race 1 came to the gate it was Thomas Batty who took the lead and cleared the way after a hard fought battle with Paul Coward and Steven Bailey (SCCD Sandbach Scrap Metal/Honda). Also in the mix was Alex Hornsby (MX Motohome/Kawasaki).
Race 2 then came to the line with Thomas Batty taking another win from second place rider Paul Coward and third place Alex Hornsby, followed home closely in fourth place by Steven Bailey. There was a great battle for tenth place between Lee Buck (Rocket Centre/Yamaha) and Martin Steeton.
Race 3 on Sunday saw a different winner with Paul Coward after a battle with Alex Hornsby and Steven Bailey. Thomas Batty finished in fourth place. The final race for the Amateurs on Sunday had Thomas Batty back in first place followed by Paul Coward and a great last race from Chris Neesam (Delkevic/Kawasaki). The one/two/three for the weekend were first Thomas Batty, second Paul Coward and third Steven Bailey all chasing hard for the overall bonus at the end of the year.
Next on the line were the non-qualifiers from Saturday and in Race 1 we had Ben Singleton (Robinson of Rochdale/KTM), take first place followed by Mike Payne and in third place Richard Atkins (TM)
Race 2 of the non-qualifiers came to the line with a change to the leaders after a great battle between Darren Brassington (BRB Transport/Yamaha) and Stuart Smith on his Honda with Darren coming out on top. In third place was Ben Singleton.
On Sunday Race 3 came to the line and saw another new name in the lead with Warwick French, a non-qualifier from the Pro Class. In first place from the Amateurs was Stuart Smith, in second place just one and a half seconds behind was Darren Brassington and in third place Ben Singleton.
The last race of the day gave us another new name with four different winners over the weekend, it was Richard Atkinson in first, second was Ben Singleton and in third Darren Brassington. The one/two/three overall were Ben Singleton in first, Darren Brassington in second and in third place Richard Atkins.
The race the crown had all been waiting for was the qualification time for the MX2 on Saturday afternoon. In pole position was Shane Carless (PAR Home Honda), in second place was South African Neville Bradshaw (BD Racing/Honda) and in third place was Ashley Greedy (PAR Homes Honda). With only three seconds separating the top ten riders. Next to the line for qualifying were the Pro Open and in pole position was Jordan Rose (PAR Homes Honda, in second place was Wayne Smith (Pioneer/Emberson/Yamaha) and in third place Mark Jones (ARB Tuning/Kawasaki). The presentation now took place in the Marquee for the first round at Culham and it was a great pleasure to welcome Suzanne Potts the Senior Administration Manager of the AMCA to present the trophies. Suzanne spent the weekend at the Masters and thoroughly enjoyed the event.
On Sunday we had brilliant sunshine and the first race of the MX2 Class. Young Joe Gregory (Danger UK/Honda) who took the hole-shot but was soon passed by Neville Bradshaw and he led the race for nine laps only to be hunted down by the “Welsh Wizard” Mark Jones. A name to watch for the future is Shane Carless who had a marvellous race to take third place. The first three riders were separated by only five seconds. Mark Jones took the eventual win. The top three AMCA licence holders in the Pro Class were first Owen Delaney, second Lee Dunham and third Sean Frayne who will all receive bonus money for each race and an overall Championship bonus at the end of the season.
Race 2 came to the line and the hole-shot was claimed by Richard-Mike Jones (LPC Servo/KTM) who held Neville Bradshaw for one lap. On lap 4 Neville was passed by Mark Jones with a good battle going on for third place between Shane Carless and fourth place rider Kristian Whatley (Nigel Arnold Racing/KTM). AMCA licence holders who finished in this race were Owen Delany in 16th place (TW Racing/Yamaha), 18th place to Lee Dunham (Moto Xtreme/Kawasaki) and 20th place to Sean Frayne.
Now it was time for Race 1 of the Pro Open Class and it was Jordan Rose who took the hole-shot and led the race for nine laps hounded all the way by Wayne Smith (Emberson/Yamaha), who finally took the lead. Mark Jones entered two classes over the weekend and eventually passed Wayne Smith on a near photo-finish race. In first place of Race 1 were Mark Jones, second place to Wayne Smith and third place to Jordan Rose. The AMCA licence holders in the Pro groups saw an excellent ride from David Campbell who finished in 9th place, in 16th place was Paul Coward.
Race 2 then came to the line and Jim Murro (STR Honda) took the hole-shot but it was Mark Jones who took over the lead after lap one and was chased all the way by Cumbrian rider Wayne Smith (Emberson/Yamaha) but finally took first place. Further down the field a battle for third place was taking place between Jordan Rose, Neville Bradshaw and Danny Smyth (Wiseco Pistons). Jordan finally came out on top. In first place was Mark Jones, Wayne Smith in second place and Jordan Rose in third place. The AMCA runners in this class were David Campbell in 8th place, Paul Coward in 16th place and Luke Chessell in 18th place.
We are looking forward to some great racing at Landrake on the 10th and 11th May and hope to see you all there for the third round of the British Masters.
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