Wednesday May 15, 2024 at 11:27am
Sunday 12th May saw Round 3 of the Stebbings Car Superstore and Norton Way Group Honda ACU Solo Eastern Motocross Championship at Wattisfield Hall. A full entry of 172 experts and juniors lined up for a 12-race programme. Considering how warm and dry it was, the event provided some great racing on a well-prepared relatively dust free track at the Diss MCC venue.
Between them, the John Banks Honda support riders had a great day with Sam Nunn Honda CRF 450 winning 2 out of the 3 Premier Legs and fellow Banks Honda rider Lewis Tombs, also on a 450 Honda achieving 3rd overall on the day. These two riders were split by the 2023 ACU Eastern Champion Luke Parker, Roger Warnes Transport and Matt Pope Motorcycles 450 Kawasaki. Parker was careful to make sure he did not further injure his knee in the deep ruts but still got the race win in the 2nd of the Premier class races. The is the first time Nunn has been beaten in the last 9 races at this venue after having taken all races at last year’s May and evening meeting in July.
Shaun Southgate – GH Motorcycles 450 Yamaha showing the power of his bike managed a great hole shot in Race 1 and held the lead for 10 laps before Sam Nunn finally took over after starting the race 17th. Who said you couldn’t overtake at Wattisfield?
In the 2nd race, Southgate gated first again but a big off at the double berm near the road put Shaun back to dead last. Somehow nursing a neck injury, he still managed to claw his way back to 10th by the finish. Parker who had gated 7th in this race, took the lead on lap 5 and retained this until the finish ahead of Nunn.
The 3rd Premier race saw Lewis Tombs take the hole shot which he kept until lap 8 when team mate Nunn passed him to take the finish flag. In the ACU Eastern Championship Expert Class standings, Sam Nunn, now leads with 202 points with Lewis Tombs on 162 points and 2023 champion Parker on 155 points.
In the Premier Junior Class Chester Hyde – Gas Gas 250 took the top honours for Tim Warnes RWT / MPM Kawasaki 250 and Jae Jefferies BWR KTM 350. Hyde was really impressive, finishing in the top 10 of the expert riders in all 3 races after a lot of overtaking. In terms of the ACU Eastern Championship, Tim Warnes is leading with 195 points, from Matt Pope in 2nd (164 points) and Chester Hyde who never rode the 1st round, in 3rd on 150 points.
In support Group A races - Vinnie Snell KTM 300 got the overall win on the day from rider 591 Harrison Fitchett - Husky 250 and Teddy Hyde - Gas Gas 250.
Group B race at Wattisfield saw Diss MCCs Wally Hubbard take a very popular 3 out of 3 wins on his Honda 450 after some great overtakes. Shaun Tacey then took the overall win in Group C.
A big thanks to all marshals and officials who made the event possible, plus thanks also to series sponsors Stebbings Car Superstore / Norton Way Group Honda and also our event sponsors Clarkes of Walsham and Steve Lumley Planings.
A date of the diary is the next event at Wattisfield Hall which is the evening motocross on Wednesday 10th July. This is the most popular event of the year attracting a big crowd with short sharp races. Entries for this open on Monday 3rd June at 7pm and riders are reminded not to delay putting their entries as it is expected to fill up very quickly.