Last Sunday round 2 of the Phoenix Tools Premier Motocross Championships took place at Phoenix Moto Parc, Kingsteignton. As with the opening round there was a big entry and with rain falling overnight the track was in prime condition in the morning and was to produce some top quality racing.
In the Phoenix Tools Expert Open Class it was the Belgium Rider Maarten Cremers who had set the fastest time in qualifying just a head of teammate and Championship leader after the opening round Jackson Evans, but it was Darren Shears who had the best start in the opening race from Ryan Houghton and Cremers, but not the best for Evans who was well down the field. Shears was flying on the opening lap, as was Cremers who saw Shears was getting away and he was soon to pass Haughton and was closing in on Shears at a rapid rate and was soon to be breathing all over him pushing to get to the front which he did dropping down the deer park hill. Tommy Alba was now in 4th, but was soon to be put under pressure from Jordan Booker, but the youngster just 15 year old was to hold on for a further 4 laps before a slight mistake on a slow right hander was enough to let Booker through. By the end of lap 7 Cremers had a 5 second lead, but Shears who was now being closed in by Booker had stepped up a gear and was giving his all until the last lap when Booker edged his way pass and snatched 2nd behind Cremers. In the second moto Evans was out to make amends for his disappointing opening race and did so with a blistering start in to the first corner from Luke Hill, but not the best of starts for neither Booker nor race one winner Cremers who was even further back. Evans was soon in to a rhythm and started to ease away at the front and Houghton was all over Hill desperately looking to get pass which he eventually did on lap 5 and now Hill had Booker and John May breathing down his neck. Booker moved up in to 3rd on lap 7 with May now in 4th. Jamie Skuse was a man in a hurry mid race making up for not the best of starts and he was soon to pass May who had picked up a rear wheel puncture much to his disgust. Evans was to cruise to take the win from Booker with Skuse taking an excellent 3rd. In the last moto it was Wayne Shimell with the best start from Evans, but Shimell’s lead was short lived as he went down on a tight right hander on the opening lap which left Evans with a clear track in front of him which he was to use to great advantage and eased away at the front. Booker was to move up in to 2nd on lap 2, but he had Cremers all over him like a rash with Cremers passing him on the very next lap and now desperately trying to get away from Booker, but it was a mission and a half as Booker stuck with him and joining in the battle was soon to be Alba. Evans was to go on to take a comfortable win with both Booker and Alba managing to pass Cremers on the last lap to take 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the M D Racing Over 35 class this was to produce some of the best racing of the day with some really fast and exciting racing which thrilled the spectators. In the opening race it was last years Champion Martyn Tucker who had the best start from John Lock, but with just 4 corners negotiated Lock had hit the front and was to set off at a rapid speed and soon had a cushion over Tucker who was put under a lot of pressure from Mark Wilde in the early stages, but it was to no avail. Lock took the win from Tucker with Wilde taking 3rd. In the second race it was a disasterous start for Lock as he stalled his Kawasaki off the line and was last away. Wilde was to hit the front from the off with Tucker tucked in behind him, Locke was on a charge, but he was to go down on the opening lap trying to pass a slower rider when he clipped the back wheel on a canvered right hander. Wilde and Tucker were to ease away at the front and were to have a real good tussle for a couple of laps until Tucker got his nose in front and was to keep his concentration and went on to take the chequered flag from Wilde with Jason Fraser taking 3rd. In the last race it was tucker with the best start from Wilde, but Lock was well back and by the end of the opening lap he was still back in 8th, but was picking them off one by one. Wilde was all over Tucker on the first couple of laps and was eager to hit the front and did so on lap 3 passing Tucker down the deer park hill. Lock was absolutely flying up through the field and had plenty of support cheering him on. Fraser was to get the better of Tucker on lap 5 and was also to pass Wilde a lap later to take the lead as they entered the last lap. Lock was there in 3rd all over Wilde who he got pass and was then closing in on Fraser and with just two corners remain Lock gave it his all and stormed a round the outside of Fraser to much applause and took the win with Wilde coming home in 3rd.
In the Over 40’s class there was some brilliant racing and it was to produce three different winners. In the opening race it was Justin Hawkins who was to take the honours, but in race 2 it was Justin’s Brother Johnny Hawkins who took the win with Paul Ayres notching up his first win in his 2012 campaign winning the last race.
In the Over 50’s there was no stopping Dave Charrett who was to take a hat trick of wins from Tom Lowe who finished second in all three races with Steve Palmer notching up a hat trick of thirds.
In the Tyremarks Junior a class this was also very competitive and was really good to watch. In the opening race it was Ryan Blee who had the best start and was looking good, but as he entered the tight right hander who found a rut and was catapulted over the handlebars and through came James Buckingham who wasted no time with a clear track and soon eased away. Wildcard entry Zac Allsopp was a man on a mission in this one and was powering his way up through the field and was soon up in to 3rd closing on Leon Burt. Buckingham’s lead was gradually being eated away at and by the end of lap 8 it was just three seconds the deficit. Allsopp was to get pass Burt on the penultimate lap, but just couldn’t get any closer to Buckingham who was to take the win. In the second moto Blee made no mistakes this time after taking the holeshot and was to demonstrate that he will be a big threat in this years Championship as her went on to take the win with Buckingham after not the best of starts taking 2nd from Allsopp a close 3rd. In the last moto it was Josh Taylor who had the best start and held the lead for the first couple of laps, but on lap 4 Buckingham hit the front and was to go on untroubled to take the chequered flag and with it now leads the Championship with Taylor taking 2nd and Blee 3rd.
OVERALL RESULTS
Phoenix Tools Expert Open Championship
1st Jordan Booker (250f Buildbase Honda) 2nd John May (450f St Blazey Honda) 3rd Jamie Skuse (250f MX-Zone Honda) 4th Tommy Alba (250f Oakleaf Kawasaki) 5th Jackson Evans (450f Phoenix Tools Honda) 6th Luke Hill (450f HPR/DirtbikeXpress Honda)
M D Racing Over 35’s Championship
1st Martyn Tucker (450f Suzuki) 2nd Mark Wilde (450f S J Hodder Kawasaki) 3rd John Lock (450f Albion Kawasaki) 4th Jason Fraser (250 Gibbs Performance KTM) 5th Keith Hanson (450f Hanson Garage Honda) 6th Rob Lewis (450f Maunders Racing Honda)
M D Racing Over 40’s Championship
1st David Ford (250f Projuice KTM) 2nd Paul Ayres (450f Yamaha) 3rd Kevin Edwards (450f Albion Honda) 4th John Tarr (250 KTM) 5th Alan Packer (250 Yamaha) 6th Paul Ford (250f Projuice KTM)
M D Racing Over 50’s Championship
1st Dave Charrett (250f KTM) 2nd Tom Lowe (250f Honda) 3rd Steve Palmer (350f KTM)
Tyremarks Junior A
1st James Buckingham (450f Quay Garage Honda) 2nd Zac Allsopp (????) 3rd Ben Sansom (250f Honda) 4th Josh Taylor (250f Suzuki) 5th Aaron Austin (450f Maunders Racing Honda) 6th Ryan Blee (250f Spar/Albion Kawasaki)
Tyremarks Junior B
1st Kieran McLelland (450f Suzuki) 2nd Riley Lowe (350f KTM) 3rd Jack Stevens (250f Kawasaki) 4th Joseph Tucker ((450f Tucker & Co MX Honda) 5th Chester Blair (250 KTM) 6th Jack Hicken (250 Kawasaki)
Tyremarks Junior C
1st Richard Grills (450f Yamaha) 2nd Richard Tapscott (250f KTM) 3rd Luke Wyatt (450f Wyatt Fencing Kawasaki) 4th Anthony Carrington (125 Yamaha) 5th Ben Bowden (????) 6th Dan Foster (250f Kawasaki)
Junior Support
1st Anthony Scrace (125 Suzuki) 2nd Ryan Hayes (450f Suzuki) 3rd Rose Wyatt (250f Wyatt Fencing Kawasaki) 4th Mike Cox (125 Honda) 5th Caryl Rowlinson (????) 6th Trevor Whiteway (????)