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Sidcup MCC
Jason Thomas wins The sand of Kent's Canada Heights MX track was the venue for this weekend's 3rd & final round of the inaugural ACU British XC Championship. With the South East experiencing another dry summer, the ground was parched & dusty. Clerk of the Course Kurt Pringle & his Sidcup MCC team wove together an intricate 5 mile lap that was full of interesting features. Beyond the MX track, the course threaded it's way through a wood over logs before bursting out into the sunlight for a mile of stubble trouble around a mowed field & there was a rock pile with an easy & a hard route. The second half of the course was through another wooded section where the track was narrow & the surrounding vegetation held the dust in the still air. The 2 hour morning race for Clubman, Over 50s & Sportsman started at 10.00am. The leaders took full advantage of a clear run at a fallen tree in the woods that held up the rest of the field as bikes began to pile up around it. Ellis Tuckey had a flying first lap but he faded later. Cameron Harris was the best Clubman, James Muddle was 2nd & Adam Redding was 3rd. In the Over 50, Colin Cowley was 1st, Colin Brown was 2nd & Geoff Mayes was 3rd. Alan James finished 5th to secure the O50 Championship. Macej Berdysz was the best Sportsman ahead of Francis Hills & Andrew Graham was 3rd.
As the clock ticked down, the drama cranked up. Approaching the gate to start his final lap, Daryl Bolter was informed by his fiancée Katie Stokes that he was just over 1 minute ahead of Ashley Wood. Either the news or the chicane caught Daryl out & he stalled his bike. Without the de-compression lever the KTM refused to start. 30 seconds seemed like an hour as Daryl pumped the kickstart while Katie & Ashley's dad Trevor looked towards the trees for any sign of the number 22. Finally the motor of Daryl's bike fired up & he was away.
At the end of the event Sidcup's Peter Burrell presented the awards, prizes & goody bags to the winners & the series champions were announced. Daryl Bolter won the championship. Ashley Wood was the runner up & Ollie Moyce was 3rd. Ady Smith won the Vets with maximum points. Jack Twenty man was the runner up & David Salkeld was 3rd. Tyson Maytom-Jones was the best of the Experts ahead of James Burroughs & Tom Healey. Keith Jones proved that consistency wins prizes with 3 4th places he was the Best Elite Clubman ahead of Lee Hattersley & Tom Howe - with a late dash - was 3rd. Alan James won the Over 50s from Peter Neale & Gordon Macpherson. Jez Dance was the Best Clubman. James Reeve was 2nd & Cameron Harris was 3rd. Daryl Bolter said "I knew I would struggle with my breathing to keep up with Jason & Dorren so I concentrated on putting in the laps & staying ahead of Ollie & Ashley. It is probably the most tired I have felt after a race for a long time but I've done what I needed to do to win the Championship for everybody". More photos Bob Mullins & Martin Harding
RideoffroadUK hosted round two of the ACU British Cross Country Championship at Low North Park, Scarborough in what proved to be a first class event well worthy of its British Championship status. Clerk of the Course Wayne Braybrook and his team of track workers had laid on a six mile lap consisting of a little bit of everything to challenge riders ranging from Sportsman to the ultra talented Championship riders who attended. 10am saw the Clubman, Sportsman and Over50 vet's class riders on the line and ready for action. After a long time not riding competitively, Lancastrian Andy Noakley, led the clubman two stroke riders around lap one, hot on his heels were rideoffroaduk regulars Danny Clarke, Steve Watson and James Reeve. In the Clubman four stroke class it was Jez Dance who made a worth while trip north and eventually secured second spot just behind class winner Mike Slater. Jez now leads the Championship standings going into the third and final round in August. Luke Copestake overcame a shocking start to grind his way back to a very credible final podium place on the day. By far the most popular class was the Sportsman two stroke class, and with around 12 possible winners, getting the extra lap in just before the 2 hour time cut off, was always going to be the key to a good result. At the finish flag Pete Middleton took a fantastic win from second placed Sean Thompson, the vastly improved Tom Leonard is living proof that regular riding and mid week practice is paying off taking a well deserved final podium spot. In the Sportsman four stroke class competition was fierce, at the chequered flag Nick Sims took his first Hare & Hounds victory finishing one lap up on the whole Sportsman four stroke field. Karl Smith overcame a poor start when his 450 Honda refused to fire into life on the start line leaving him dead last away. Karl was over the moon taking his #451 Honda onto the podium for the first time since he converted to Hare & Hounds competition. Damian Dickinson netted a fine final podium place for his efforts.
After a short break in proceedings the main British Championship event classes were lined up and ready to go. As the start flag was lifted and ten seconds called the silence told all by standers just how serious these top flight riders were to get stuck in to the competition aspect of this official series. At the end of lap one spectators and on lookers waited to see who would thread through the final woodland section into lap scoring first. The gentle burble of a four stroke machine could be heard, Daryl Bolter had taken the lead and pulled around 30 seconds gap in one lap, he was followed by Husky Sport rider Joe Deakin, Lee Sampson and rideoffroaduk team rider Scott Austin. Gas Gas UK's Ashley Wood and Tim Foreman then filtered through around 5 seconds later. These Championship boys really were on a pace which was nothing short of breathtaking for spectators to see. After a trouble free event Daryl Bolter cruised to s superb win. Second spot after some 30 minutes of special test style pace went to the likeable Ash Wood on his Steve Plain Motorcycles Gas Gas. Third place went to Scott Austin on his rideoffroaduk sponsored KTM, Scott who surprised some, but also proved to others he really does have what it takes to be a Championship contender at the sharp end, was one happy chap at the presentation. The Expert class riders were the second row to start, Lancastrian Damian "Damo" Butler proved that he woke up when he got up and took the holeshot in front of the entire expert field. Tim Pattinson also made a lighting fast start along with Ben Howard Aaron Smith and Tom Healey. With Tyson Mason Jones and Tom Healey having a 3 lap battle within meters of each other, Tom eventually made a pass and made it stick until the finish. Aaron Smith had an unscheduled pit stop when his Moouse broke up forcing him to pit and repair the damaged part. At the finish after some very close competition Tom Healey made a very welcome return to the podium after a long spell of illness. Tyson Mason Jones took the big Midwest Racing Husaberg to a fine runner up spot, and ex trials rider James burrows just held on to third spot taking the silverware and product prizes back home to the south of England.
In the Clubman Elite Lee Hattersley took a fine win on his new Suzuki RMZ450, Lee who had previously ridden at Low North Camp in 2008 used some knowledge to gain a fantastic victory. Second place went to Robert Johnson who completed twelve laps a mere 25 seconds ahead of Adam Taylor in third. RideoffroadUK certainly rose to the challenge of running an Official British Championship Event, despite being in its first year and only being the second round of the series this format of official British Championship XC competition looks set to raise the bar ready for the 2011 season. Massive thanks to Scarborough and District Motor Club for use of this awesome venue, the ACU and John Collins for showing trust in our knowledge, Science in Sport, Dunlop, Belray and Malcolm Rathmell Sport for providing product prizes. Well done to all riders and thank you to all the helpers and officials who helped make this event happen on a truly top class scale.
Results AM Race - PM Race - Standings after 2 rounds rideoffroaduk's NEXT EVENT
Plans for Round 2 of the British Cross Country Championship this weekend, June 20th, near Scarborough, are nearing the final stages as the rideoffroaduk team prepare for their biggest event to date. With entries coming in from all around the UK for Round 2 of the British Cross Country Championship, and the usual Club members booking in too, everybody is looking forward to riding in the 2 hour morning support event or the main afternoon event of 2.5 hours. This main race sees names like KORR's Daryl Bolter, Midwest Racing's Ollie Moyce and Gas Gas Uk's Ashley Wood - all will be ready to do battle in the for the Championship event, and the scene is set for a great weekend of XC action. For anyone who has never visited Low North Camp you are in for a real treat. The camp boasts a massive Hard Standing paddock with Concrete roads into and out of the site. The track winds through five woodland areas utilizing a full size MX track, stream crossings and many woodland tracks and trails. To quote Ady Smith who travelled to compete in a club championship event back in March, "That is one of the best Hare & Hounds events I have ever ridden in". Weather forecast for the east coast is fine all week and throughout the weekend. This will allow the track building team to add even more fresh new loops to this already superb XC venue.
Gates Open Saturday 9am for track inspection and riders wishing to camp over. Gates locked at 10pm prompt. Postcode for the main gates is YO13 0LA, Low North Camp, Harwood Dale North Yorkshire. The Venue will be signed with orange arrows from the A170 at East / West Ayton, through the village of Hackness. Or follow signs for Harwood Dale from the Scarborough to Whitby road. Entries available up to 9am on event day, advise is to book in over the phone to save time on Sunday morning 07576 095137. For Event schedule visit www.rideoffroaduk.co.uk.
Midwest Racing hosted the 1st round of the 2010 ACU British XC Championship at Chavenage on the 16th May. The skies were grey with a threat of the rain but the bright yellow fields of oil seed rape shone like sun. The morning race started at 10/00am. It was 2 hours long & it was for Sportsmen, Over 50s & Clubman. There was a light shower at 9.30am but it barely soften the parched earth. The 7 mile course was in excellent condition. From the start the riders looped around a cambered field & then ran along the hedgerows to the first of 4 wooded sections. This was a smooth descend that eased it's steadily down. Between the first & the second woods there were a series of bombholes that rose & fell away suddenly to revive memories of a rushed breakfast.
The 3rd wood mirrored the 2nd with the slope on the right. A clay camber & a climb through a broken wall needed to be attacked even in dry conditions. Another breather brought the entry back to the start through the 4th wood with a last climb for the spectators (below). Dave May-Miller was going well until he hit a tree & snapped his fuel tank mounts. Clubman 2T Jason Hamblin won the AM race in a class of his own with 8 laps. He & his brother Mark - who was the 2T runner up - are from a trials background & this was only their second XC. Daniel Price was the best of the Clubman 4Ts with 7 laps. At the other end of the spectrum Dave Jarman also clocked up 7 laps to win the Over 50 Class. Rob Maller was the best 2T sportsman & Glenn Woodland won the 4Ts. They both did 7 laps. During the lunchtime break the first of the real showers arrived. The Main 2.5hr race started at 1.00pm. Lewis Belfield took the holeshot & by the time he had disappeared through the hedge he had a good 50 yards lead. Midwest Husaberg'g Tyson Maytom-Jones took the holeshot in the Experts ahead of Seb Dexter on the Suzuki. Keith Jones was the quickest of the Elite Clubman. A stone caught in Jacque Stevens chain & it snapped half a mile from the start. Jack Twentyman led off the Vets ahead of Ady Smith & Gary Baker.
At the halfway point Daryl Bolter took the lead on his KORR KTM. The rain came & went in shot sharp showers but itt did little to cool the heat of the battle for 2nd between Ollie Moyce & Ashley Wood. The lead changed & then changed back again. As the event continued the stream crossing got deeper & the marshals had to remove a couple of sandbags to lower the level of the water. At 3.15pn - with 15 minutes to go - the heavens open. The course greased up & the riders slowed down. Daryl held the lead from Ollie with Ashley Wood - on the Steve Plain GasGasUk - in 3rd & Jon Hinam in 4th. Simon Wakely had lost the washer off his fuel tank & he was being splashed with petrol. Jon Hinam came through the gate in 4th with a minute to go. His KTM was on reserve. If he pitted he could concede 4th to Simon Wakely but the flag dropped before Si reached it & Jon closed the course with the pressure off. MXer Dorran Coutts - who was the runner up at the first round of the GBXC - finished 7th but may have incurred a time penalty. Tyson Maytom-Jones was the best Expert despite picking up some rope in the rear wheel. James Burroughs was runner up. George Bayliss took full advantage of his Yamaha 125s nimbleness through the trees to win the Clubman Elites ahead of Niki Walker on a KTM 250. Ady Smith finished 14th to take the Best Over 40. Gary Baker was the runner up & Jack Twentyman was 3rd. Ben Shuttlewoth had a shocking experience in the bombholes. See You Tube later.
After the event Daryl Bolter said that he had really enjoyed the event. The last 15 minutes had been a bit stressful when the rain had made the course very slippery. Without knowing how much of a lead he had it was a judgement call on how hard he needed to push. Daryl will be contesting all three rounds on behalf of KTM. Round 2 will be hosted by RideOfftoadUk at Harwood Dale, Scarborough on the 20th June. Ady Smith described Harwood Dale as "the best XC course I have ever ridden". - Results AM Race PM Race Photos
The opening round of the '10 BXCC series will take competitors to the beautiful Chavenage Farm facility in the heart of the Cotswolds. Offering a mix of grass tracks, a vast stretch of broadleaf woodland, as well as several areas of managed coniferous woodland approx 8 miles in length and around 20 min's lap time, the flowing valley provides not only a picturesque backdrop but also great spectator viewing and has the benefit of easy access and generous parking. Details on : www.mwmcc.co.uk midwest@racingmx.fsnet.co.uk Tel:01225 791179
Owned by Scarborough and District Motor Club, Low North Park boasts a full size MX track, massive woodland areas, stream crossings and stunning scenery. The Veune is set in an ex army camp, with it's concrete access roads and hard standing paddock it makes the perfect place to stage a British Championship status event. The course for the British Cross country Championship event on June 20th will offer a variety of challenges, whilst still allowing the majority of riders a hassle free lap to compete on. Scarborough is less than 5 miles from the track, this is certainly the place to stay for those wanting to make an enjoyable weekend of XC action on the fringes of the North Yorkshire moors. Details on www.rideoffroaduk.co.uk or by calling 07802 572023 07725 161 581 Email - info@rideoffroaduk.co.uk
Many motocross riders are familiar with the Canada Heights circuit on which World and British Championships have been held for many years. The Cross Country will use all of it plus a whole lot more! Like a 17.5 acre undulating grass field, three bits of woods and the grassy car park! The Club bought the field in 2008 and last year ran its first Cross Country - the 300 riders who entered loved the six-mile lap! The British Cross Country course will be similar and the MX track will be well prepared before the day. A good road into the circuit and all the facilities will be there - catering, toilets, trade stands. Free camping from Friday to Monday - just turn up and take it easy. For everything about the Club, circuit, event, go to www.sidcupmotorcycleclub.co.uk . Cross Country appears under 'Enduro'. The Entry form will be on the site around the end of June. Send any email enquiries to pj.burrell@btinternet.com .
These experienced organisers are aiming to provide enjoyable quality courses to a standard expected of an ACU Championship and with all the associated insurance for Organisers, Riders, Marshall's and Officials correctly in place There will be no series registration fee for riders, and the Entry fee for each event will be £50 Event format will be: A 2 hr event in the morning to cater for: Sportsman ( 2T & 4T) Clubman ( 2t & 4T) and Over 50 riders A 2.5 hr event in the afternoon catering for Championship, Expert, Clubman Elite and Over 40 riders. At the end of the series, the Best Lady Award will also be presented by the ACU A prize fund of £2000 has already been established, and it is hoped that this can be increased and also product prizes presented in the various categories Any companies interested in becoming Title or supporting sponsors of the series should in the first instance contact Mary Kerr at the ACU mary@acu.org.uk , Tel 01788 566403 More details to follow in due course and Regulations will shortly be available Photo of Tyson Maytom-Jones courtesy of Martin Harding |
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The
2.5 hour main race started at 1.30pm. Jason Thomas - riding a V
Customs KTM - took the
holeshot from Ashley Wood on the Steve Plain GasGas. Ollie Moyce was 3rd on
his Midwest Husaberg but as they rounded the second corner
Ollie dropped his bike & the series leader - KORR Racing's Daryl
Bolter - collided with him. Neither rider was injured but Daryl broke his de-compression lever.
With the mayhem behind him, Jason Thomas settled back to dominate
the race from the front when Dorren Coutts (above) came from nowhere. He launched himself
off the Ski Jump & into the lead. It was a wake up call for Jason & he
re-took the lead in the trees. For the opening 3 or 4 laps these 2 riders were
locked in a race of their own as they gradually pulled away from the rest of the
field. Inevitably - with years of GNCC racing in America behind him - Jason
gradually pulled away from Dorren.
Daryl Bolter
(left) was under the weather after a week of bronchitis but he
worked his way back into 3rd to maintain his hold on the championship. Tim
Foreman was going well until he lost his rear brake. Tyson Maytom-Jones picked
up some rope in his back wheel & MIdwest team mate Jamie Paget stopped to
give him a hand. Steve Dopson's arms were pumped up like Popeye the sailor but
he kept going. Mark Gessey had a water leak & he had to keep topping up
his KTM from his Camelbak so he didn't have a drink all day. 
Jason Thomas took the overall win with 13 laps. Dorren Coutts was the runner up on 12 laps. Daryl
Bolter was 3rd, Ashley Wood was 4th & Ollie Moyce was 5th. Rich Ely on the Fast Eddy Honda was best of
the Experts from Jack Plowman. James Burroughs was 3rd, Tom Healey was 4th
& Midwest's Tyson Maytom Jones was 5th. In the Vets Ady Smith was the
winner. He clocked up 12 laps in 2 hours & 40 minutes which was the 7th
best score overall. David Salkeld was the runner up & Jack Twentyman was
3rd. The best Clubman was Tom Howe. Max Varney was 2nd & Lee Hattersley.
was 3rd. The event was sponsored by Race-FX & Freestyle Bikes. 
The time
keeping was in the safe hands of Andrea & Richard Snowden. The medical cover was
excellent.
The
Over50 vets class had the usual protagonists lined up for this growing
class structure. Alan James netted first place completing 9 laps,
finishing just over one minute up on second placed rideoffroadUK regular
Chris Gregory. Chris and his close friend Steve Burton clashed bars coming
into lap scoring on the final lap, Steve ended up third by a mere 7
seconds after the final push around the last lap. Well done men.
The
Expert Over40 class was won by the ultra professional Ady Smith. Ady is Mr
Enduro and his performance despite leaving the start behind two other
classes would have left him in forth place overall. Runner up spot went to
Jack Twentyman, and third place was bagged by the youthful northerner Dave
Salkeld on his 250 KTM.
By the time the entry had entered the second wood
the Vets had caught Sportsmen & the Clubmen had caught them. The 2nd
wood was on a camber & the lines weaved up & down criss-crossing
each other. Goggles with good peripheral vision were a distinct advantage
as bikes appeared & disappeared on all sides The climbs soon began fill with riders looking
for good line. A long open section across the fields gave all of them a
breather before dropping them down into the stream crossing The
Midwest team had introduced an interest addition to the dammed stream - a
fallen tree. Hit it too slowly & stall. Hit it hard & get launched
into the water with a plug drowning bow wave.
The Chavenage
course is in a valley & from the start the support crews can watch the
progress of their riders for the first half of the lap before the
disappear behind the wood. Daryl Bolter's distinctive Dayglo helmet
flashed amongst the leaders but - after 15 minutes - Midwest Husaberg's Ollie Moyce
was the first to emerge from the trees in the lead. The PM course was
a slightly modified version of the AM route with the additional of a
couple of loops with climbs in the 3rd block of woodland.
Third and Final Round of the British Cross Country Championship