On Sunday 7th of April, the Halstead & district mcc hosted the first round of the ACU Eastern Centre Motocross Championship. Backed by sponsors, Stebbings Car Superstore and Norton Way Group, the 2024 season burst into life at the well-prepared Wakes Colne circuit.
The sunny but windy conditions made the track a completely different prospect from the start of the day compared to the end. A stacked expert class headed out for their practice/qualifying session, and it was Apico Honda rider Tom Grimshaw who edged out Sam Nunn (John Banks Honda) to head to the start gate first, ready for race 1.
The first premier class race of the day saw Shaun Southgate aboard his GH Motorcycles Yamaha take the holeshot ahead of the chasing pack, with Lewis Tombs and Tom Grimshaw close behind. Sam Nunn didn’t get the best of jumps out of the gate, but certainly made up for that by making his way through traffic and onto the rear wheel of Grimshaw by the end of the first lap. Nunn then made the move on Grimshaw and Tombs, and while the top 5 were fighting amongst each other, Nunn created a comfortable gap that he could maintain to the finish. Tombs held on for second place ahead of Grimshaw in third.
In the second premier race, reigning champion Luke Parker (MPM Kawasaki) came out of the gate quickest but was unable to hold onto the lead as Nunn and Grimshaw once again came to the front and had a fantastic battle for the win in front of the eagerly anticipating spectators. The lead swapping hands multiple times before a costly mistake on the last lap from Nunn, allowed Grimshaw to power his Honda home in first place. Nunn settled for second and Tombs third.
The third and final premier class race once again saw Parker take the holeshot, and Nunn having to battle through the top 10 on the opening laps. Lewis Tombs then stormed to the front early on but was unable to match the pace of Nunn and Grimshaw, who were both on fine form all afternoon long. After another battle at the front, it was Grimshaw who again stole the race win from Nunn’s hands on the penultimate lap, and in turn took the overall expert victory. Nunn took second overall and Tombs third. In the junior class, Tim Warnes took the overall win, ahead of Matthew Pope and Jamie Cox.
Support A class overall was taken by Jack Whitlam with a 2-1-10, ahead of Gareth Lane and Charlie Roper in third.
Support B class was won by Edward Jary with results of 1-2-2 ahead of James Taylor in second and Ethan Hayward in third.
Finally, the support C class honours was taken by Harry Sobkowiak with results of 4-1-1 ahead of second place Katie Stock and in third Sam Whittred.
Words by Stefan Hicks
Images courtesy of Max Leveridge – Narna Media