In what were difficult and testing conditions the opening round of the 2011 BYMX season got off to a flying but muddy start at Brampton. Following the cancellation at Mepal the East Cumbria MX club were the weekend hosts at very short notice - and at the end of the day it was a case off hats off to them for the delivery of a successful meeting. Much thanks must also go to the plucky band of track-side helpers who all worked their socks off in an amazing effort to keep the round one show on the road. Also following what appeared to be quite serious accidents sustained by Oliver Osmaston and Jamie Carpenter - best wishes from all at BYMX for a speedy recovery.
Track specialist Aleaxander Brown and Manxman Jed Etchells dominated the junior 65cc show with Scotsman Brown taking an early championship lead courtesy of his four terrific heat wins. Etchells claimed the other race victory for second overall with Harry Kimber on the Twisted 7 Kawasaki battling his way into third overall going 3-6-6-4-4. Colin Scott, Callum Meara and Adam Dunn rounded out the top six in that order with all three guys creditably nailing a least one third place finish.
In the SW 85cc division a three way tear up at the pointy end as Conrad Mewse, Sid Evans and Jay Hague all went bar to bar. At the close of play Mewse took the major plaudits after getting the better of Hague in a thrilling last race decider. Mewse totalled with three race wins. Hague took the other brace, but Evans can count himself unlucky with a sixth place finish after his rear sprocket went walk about in heat four. David Keet claimed third overall with a consistent weekend performance - likewise Taylor Hamal impressive as the top section rookie in fourth and Alfie Mountford also sparkled in fifth. Elsewhere in the section Keenan Hird caught the eye but two unlucky DNF's kept him off the podium.
Two stroke fliers Liam Knight and Tom Neal, ably prompted by Suzuki ace Stuart Fee, plus Nathan Dixon on the KTM - young Scots tear away Jay Lamb - local heros Brad Todd and Matty Callaghan plus Irishman Jason Meara were the major names to conjure with in the BW 85cc division. Ultimately Knight and Neal looking a class apart won out quite convincingly in the speed stakes with Knight putting a 3-2 win over Neal in the record books. Consistency and guile over the two day piece elevated Dixon into third overall and Todd in fourth as Meara and Robert Yates filled the end of day podium. Both Lamb and Callaghan were super quick on the four stroke Honda's but bang out of luck - likewise Fee following five blistering starts and an overall performance worthy of much more than his twelth place finish - that following a cruel last race DNF.
It was also one piece of cruel opening round luck that surely robbed Ryan Houghton of glory when the chain snapped on the HM Plant Red Bull KTM in his very first race. Following that Houghton took the meeting by the scruff of the neck to comprehensively win the remaining four four heats and claim third overall. Nathan Watson also on the HM Plant Red Bull KTM team took second overall with his spirited 8-3-2-2-2 card. The overall winner and championship leader was also KTM mounted - but this time on the two stroke and it was an absolutely awesome show from young James Dunn as he went 1-2-3-5-3 in cavalier and entertaining style. Jamie McCanney and Jake Page battled furiously taking fourth and fifth overall respectively as Jake Millward nailed sixth with another typically gutsy show. Bradley Pocock on the Yamaha started the season on day one as if he meant business going 2-6-4, but day two tuned into a nightmare as he finished in fifteenth overall. New to the section in 2011 both Adam Sterry and Connor Clark showed much promise.
In the British Two-stroke championship TMs Stuart Edmonds claimed the overall 250cc honours while the 125cc class went to Luke Remmer with Ben Howell on the money in second place.
The British Ladies championship also had its first round of the season and Natalie Kane found herself on top of the podium once more before jetting off to Holland for the Dutch Championship.
Report and Image by David Milano