Tuesday March 6, 2012 at 4:25pm
Last Sunday saw the opening round of the 2012 Phoenix Tools Premier Motocross Championship get underway at Landrake Moto Parc in Cornwall. A lot of rain had fallen overnight which had made things a bit slippery in the morning and it was bitterly cold, but never the less there was a bumper entry and many spectators were there in attendance to witness some top quality racing.
In the Expert open class it was a pretty consistant day for the Phoenix Tools rider Jackson Evans who opened his 2012 Championship campaign with some really consistant riding by taking two 5th’s and a win to give him the overall on the day and Championship leader. It was Luke Hill who had set the fastest time in Qualifying, but it was the Belgium star Maarten Cremers who led the first race from the off ahead of Hill and these two were to have a real tussle straight away. It wasn’t the best of starts for G P Star Nicolas Aubin who was expected to shine as he was well down the field and a further mistake on the opening lap put him further back.
Cremers was to hold off Hill until lap 4 and moving up all the time was defending Champion John May who was chasing hard. Cremers had damaged his front disc and two laps later was to retire after going down and breaking his radiator. May was soon to hit the front and Ross Keyworth was having a brilliant ride in 2nd, but it was May who took the win with Hill 3rd. In the second moto this time it was Hill with the early lead, but Cremers soon hit the front on the opening lap and was to ease away.
Again not the best of starts for Aubin down in 13th by the end of the opening lap, but he was to show what a talent he is and was soon in to a rhythm and was flying up through the field at a rapid rate and by the end of lap 6 he was up in to 2nd giving Cremers a hard time for the lead which he took a lap later and from there stormed away to take a convincing win with Jordan Booker taking 3rd. In the last moto again it was Hill with the best start from Evans who seemed to be in a real hurry and was eager to pass Hill which he did on the opening lap and was powering away and soon had a comfortable lead.
Cremers was to get pass Hill as did Booker and it wasn’t long before Booker got pass Cremers up in to 2nd, but all eyes were on Aubin who again was flying up through the field and was to catch and pass both of them mid-race and was closing all the time on Evans at the front, but the Chequered flag came to e rescue Evans, but taking 3rd was May after a absolutely brilliant final lap passing both Cremers and Booker.
In the Over 35 Championship class there was some excellent racing especially between John Lock and Jason Fraser. Lock was at the end of the day to take 2 wins with Mark Wilde taking the other win, but the name that leads the Championship after the opening round is Jason Fraser as he was consistant all day finishing 2nd in all three races. In the over 40’class it was Cornishman Johnny Hawkins who was to dominate all three races with a hat trick of wins and in the over 50’s there was two wins for Tom Lowe with Dave Charrett winning the other one.
In the Newly named Tyremarks junior Championship class there was great expectation as there were many new names and up and coming youngster who were on show for the first time in the Championship, but at the end of the day all three races were won by wildcard entry who had travelled down from Derbyshire Damon Brooks.
Report and Image by Dave Rich