The 2019 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean kicked off on Sunday at FatCat Motoparc where gale-force winds and torrential rain combined to make the notoriously tough Yorkshire sand track even tougher!
In MX1 the expected battle between former champions Shaun Simpson (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) and Tommy Searle (BOS Kawasaki) left nobody disappointed with the Scot’s 1-2 finishes handing him a narrow early advantage compared to Searle’s 3-1 scorecard, even after he was forced to pit in race two.
“Coming into the first turn in race two I must have been hit by a stone on my rear brake pedal because when I went to use it all the free play had gone,” said Simpson. “I kept racing but I could feel it start to bind on and sap the power.
“I managed to get into the lead and felt like I was controlling the race well but the longer it went on the more the brake was binding and I think if I’d continued it would have eventually locked up which would have been a disaster so I had to come into pit lane and get the brake line cut just to release the pressure.
“Luckily I managed to pass Jake Millward for second and with it get the overall which was the main goal of the day but I’m quite disappointed because I feel like it should have been two wins.”
MX1 class newbie Lewis Tombs (Buildbase Honda) survived a qualification crash to podium on his 450 championship debut with 5-4 scores earning him the third step ahead of local hero Jake Millward (Chambers Racing Husqvarna) and Ryan Houghton (RHR Yamaha).
Estonia’s Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Deos Group Racing Honda) was second in the opening race but suffered a mechanical DNF in race two while running second.
In MX2 the Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee team boss Roger Magee had a big smile on his face after riders Bas Vaessen and Conrad Mewse traded wins, running 2-1 and 1-2 to fill the top two steps on the podium.
“I had to do my best,” said Vaessen. “I had a pretty decent qualifying which I translated to a good start in the first moto. I was leading but had a little crash when Conrad passed me – I managed to pull him back by the end but finished second.
“For the second moto I knew I was quick so I was going for the win. I made a really good start and went into the lead, built up a comfortable gap then for the last two laps I was just cruising. Track conditions had deteriorated so I played it safe for the win.”
Swift Swede Alvin Ostlund (REVO Husqvarna UK) ran 3-3 for third overall ahead of his team-mate and fastest qualifier Dylan Walsh and tough Irishman Martin Barr (Crescent Yamaha).
In the new MX2 Youth class Joel Rizzi (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) doubled up for a comfortable win ahead of Dominic Lancett (Verde Substance KTM) and Kyle McNicol (Manchester Motorcycles Husqvarna).
Picture © Imagerich Media
