The Tru7 Honda Racing Academy squad of Charlie Heyman and Callum Green tackled the rough Lyng track in the second round of the ACU British championship on Sunday, with teenager Heyman taking a great fourth place finish in the tough, rain-lashed MX2 finale.
It was only Heyman’s second British championship round for the team on the Honda CRF250R in the MX2 class, and he arrived at the track nursing an injury after a big crash in testing the day before. He battled through qualifying for 12thplace, and in the opening lap of the dry first race he was 13th.
The 17-year-old worked his way into the top ten after four laps but was not comfortable on the bike so made a pitstop to have it checked. He went back out and came home 21st, just one place out of the points.
Going out on his second bike in rainy race two, he got a great start and was in fifth place on the opening lap, right behind experienced racer Carlton Husband. Heyman stayed right on his tail and when his rival made a small mistake, he stuck to his line and went through to fourth. He held a fast pace and was looking comfortable until the race was red-flagged. But he was safe in fourth place, which gave him 11th overall and he moved up to 16th in the championship.
Heyman said: “The day didn’t start that well as I was 12th in qualifying when I didn’t get many fast laps in. Then in race one I was running tenth but my injured arm and was nagging at me. I thought there was a problem with the bike so I pulled in then went back out and was 21st.
“In race two I was fifth then I overtook Carlton Husband when he made a mistake and went over a berm, That’s what happens – everyone makes mistakes. So I was fourth then the race was red flagged. So I’m leaving on a high with fourth. Two fourths would have been nice though!”
In the MX1 class, Green continues to get more comfortable on the CRF450R in his return to high-level racing after several seasons off due to injuries.
The 23-year-old found it difficult in qualifying on a track that was very different conditions to when he last raced there in 2018. So a poor gate pick meant he didn’t get a great start in the opener, then he crashed. He remounted near the back and overtook six riders as he came back to 26th position.
The second race saw him have a better start but this charge was slowed when he clashed with another rider on the first lap. He regrouped and pushed on for the same thing to happen on lap three. But he kept a steady head and despite the wet condition, made a determined effort and came home 20th to pick up another championship point to add to the eight he had from the first round.
Green said: “I didn’t have as good results as the first round. In qualifying I messed up – I think one of my laps wasn’t recorded. That made it hard work as I didn’t get the best gate pick.
“In the first race I was mid pack then fell so dropped back but got back to 26th. Everyone is so good in the class, fighting hard for positions. In the second race I got a lot better start, collided with someone on first lap and again on the third lap but got 20th.”
Team manager, triple world 500 champ Dave Thorpe said: “Charlie is coming back from an injury. He crashed on Saturday at Mildenhall when he went over a jump and another rider had crashed and he hit the wreckage He had a big crash and hurt his elbow. In the first race he was frustrated so in the second we told him just to go out and have some fun. He was definitely having fun as he took fourth.
“Callum also had a frustrating first race. It’s always difficult here if you don’t get good starts – it’s a tough track. In the second he had a better start, kept pushing forward and dealing with other riders. A much better ride.”
Words: Press Release | Photo: Adam Duckworth
