After a dry start to proceedings, rain, sleet and then snow faced competitors in the opening round at FatCat today. Elliott Banks-Browne (HM Plant KTM UK) Tommy Searle, CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki and John Adamson (AAA Bikesport KTM) stood on the top spot in a difficult days racing.
In the Race Direction at 8am this morning, a Wet Race schedule was announced which added up to two races each for the MX1 and MX2 classes, whilst the MXY2 Youths had one race. Whilst the first pair of races were held in slight drizzle, the snow fell ahead of the final two motos which made conditions very difficult in the worstening conditions.
After two hard fought motos Banks Browne recorded 1-2 results to lead the championship which he won last year and was only beaten by his arch friend and rival Mel Pocock (Yamaha) whose machine expired early in the opening moto which effectively put him out of contention for a good overall position. Steven Lenoir (Evotech Stevens KTM) returned 2-4 positions for second overall whilst Graeme Irwin gave the new Heads and All Threads Suzuki Team the lower spot on the podium in their first competitive event.
Wildcard rider, Tommy Searle dominated the MX1 class, riding very smoothly in the difficult conditions to record two easy victories. However, Searle is unlikely to contest the whole series, so it was Team STR KTM new signing, Jonathan Barragan who scored strong 2-3 finishes to effectively lead the championship. Kristian Whatley (MBO Sport Yamaha) returned to to take the lower step on the podium with a third and fourth places.
For the all important MXY2 class, obviously the overall was decided on the single moto results which fell to Adamson whilst the morning polesitter Robert Davidson (MJW Kawasaki) trailed by fourteen seconds with Oliver Osmaston (MXW Racing Honda) claiming third.
With a busy schedule of three events within a four week period, round two takes place next weekend at the famous Canada Heights, Kent circuit before the deep sand of Lyng just two weeks later.
MX2 Overall: 1. Elliott Banks-Browne (HM Plant KTM UK), 2. Steven Lenoir (Evotech Stevens KTM), 3. Graeme Irwin (Heads + All Threads Suzuki), 4. Nathan Watson (HM Plant KTM UK), 5. Neville Bradshaw (Putoline Honda), 6. James Cottrell (Putoline Honda), 7. Arminas Jasikonis (Route77energy Honda), 8. Mel Pocock (Monster Energy Yamaha), 9. Adam Sterry (STR KTM), 10. Martin Barr (VMX KTM)
MX1 Overall: 1. Tommy Searle (CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki), 2. Jonathan Barragán (STR KTM), 3. Kristian Whatley (MBO Sport Yamaha), 4. Tanel Leok (Route77energy Honda), 5. Steve Ramon (Buildbase Honda Racing), 6. Nicolas Aubin (Buildbase Honda Racing), 7. Stuart Edmonds (CCR TM), 8. Nathan Parker (Revo Talon Kawasaki), 9. Ross Rutherford (Pendrich Kawasaki), 10. Gert Krestinov (Apico ANSA Racing Kawasaki)
MXY2 Overall: 1. John Adamson (AAA Bikesport KTM), 2. Robert Davidson (MJW Kawasaki), 3. Ollie Osmaston (MXW Racing Honda), 4. Mathew Callaghan (Honda), 5. Brad Todd (KTM), 6. Ben Putnam (iFly Lanes Kawasaki), 7. Liam Knight (KTM), 8. Corie Southwood (St Blazey MX Suzuki), 9. Joe Bamfield (Evotech Stevens Honda), 10. Will Keogh (MJW Kawasaki)