On Sunday 15th of June, Woodbridge DMCC hosted Round 3 of the Motul ACU British Motocross Championship at Blaxhall. With heavy rain greeting the track on the days prior to the meeting, the club worked tirelessly to prepare the circuit ready for race day. With mostly sunny weather, a bumper crowd in attendance and 6 Championship class races, filled with the best of British talent alongside some top European stars, it was sure to be an afternoon not to be missed!
The RFX 125cc class opened the racing schedule with their first moto, and it was Jack Brearey who bagged the Foxwood holeshot. Right behind was Lucas Moncrieff, Charlie Richmond, Drew Stock and Hayden Statt, and these four would soon pass Brearey and pull away from the rest of the pack. Local supporters were pleased to see Alfie Gedders-Green ride well inside the top 10 for all the race on home soil. Hayden Statt made a costly mistake catching one of the track markers and fell from the battle at the front. That left Richmond and Stock to duel it out and for the remainder of the race as they put on a compelling show for the crowd, with Stock eventually making the move stick and taking the moto one win. Richmond finished in second, Statt in third and Moncrieff home in a solid fourth place.
Race two and it was the red plate holder Ryan Waggott that grabbed the Foxwood holeshot and into an early lead as the meeting endured its only and brief rain shower. Drew Stock pounced early and by the end of the first lap, he and Charlie Richmond were once again battling at the sharp end of the race. These two again locked horns providing a great display of skill on the bike while weaving their way past lapped riders. It was Drew Stock’s defensive capabilities that would see him take the race win and fend off the advances of Richmond who had to settle for second. In third was Statt who came from a poor start to eventually finish in third and an impressive ride from Harry Lee who finished in fourth.
The overall then went to Drew Stock with a 1-1, Richmond in second overall and Statt in third to round off the podium in the RFX 125cc class.
In the MX2 class, race one burst into life with Spanish hotshot Oriol Oliver powering his Gabriel SS24 KTM into the lead, and at around the same time he waved goodbye to the rest of the pack. Ollie Colmer on the Chambers KTM was in a Dirtstore Triumph sandwich, with Billy Askew in front and Tommy Searle behind, but soon lost his position as the red plate holder Searle came charging past. There were great battles happening inside the top ten as Blaxhall regular Ben Mustoe and Charlie Heyman went to battle, while local star Jake Nicholls fought his way through after a poor start to eventually finish seventh. Nobody was a match for Oliver as he cruised his way to the race victory in fine style. The crowd, however, were about to be treated to one of the ‘moments of the season’! On the final lap Searle, who had been following Askew around for the best part of 30 minutes, was reeling in his younger team mate and when both entered the final turn, suddenly they were side by side. As they crossed the line Searle had nabbed second by the margin of 0.001 in what could be the closest finish in history! Askew remarkably finished third and Colmer in fourth as Heyman and Mustoe rounded out the top six.
In race two Ollie Colmer swept round the first turn with one hand aloft, signifying even he knew he had the Foxwood holeshot bonus in the bag. Oliver was again fast out of the gate and in the flash of an eye passed Colmer to lead the race. Nicholls made a cracking start and soon ran inside the top three with long term rival Searle close behind. Even on home soil Nicholls couldn't hold off Searle as he flew past with Askew also making the move stick. Once again Oliver was silky smooth, and his consistently fluid riding style was a great watch for the spectators as he made light work of the demanding Blaxhall Circuit to claim his second race victory. Askew would get his revenge on teammate Searle as they finished second and third, while Nicholls came across the line in fourth ahead of the Dutchman Gyan Doensen who finished in fifth.
The MX2 top step going to Oriol Oliver with a dominant 1-1 ahead of Askew in second overall and the current red plate holder Tommy Searle ending his day on the third step of the podium.
In the Apico MX1 class, race one would see Chris Mills charge into an early lead but couldn't shake off the threat from behind which was being headed by the unbeaten Conrad Mewse on the Crendon Tru7 Honda, and he wasn't about to give up that record any time soon. Mewse soon led the way and that's where he would stay for the remainder of the race with all the action going on behind him. Adam Sterry (Chambers KTM) fought bravely despite rear brake issues which would see him drop back to sixth. Lexa MX Honda rider Josh Gilbert rode a solid race and kept himself out of trouble to take second place at the chequered flag. After a mediocre start Tristan Purdon on the SC Sporthomes Husqvarna impressed with good speed along with Jaime Carpenter and both were battling for a top three spot. That position would go to Purdon as he crossed the line ahead of Carpenter and Taylor Hammal who finished in fifth.
In race two it was the Frenchman Matheo Miot with a storming start and all of the big hitters were chasing him down from the first turn. Conrad Mewse judged his pass to perfection and muscled his way to the front. Adam Sterry was determined to grab some valuable points back and showed his consistent Grand Prix pace which put him in a good position. Josh Gilbert was in third and staring at a well-deserved podium until disaster struck, his bike failed him and would leave him to push the machine back to the pits and ending his race prematurely. Conrad kept ticking off the laps one by one and put on a clinic of skill and patience while passing back markers to take the race win and remain unbeaten. Sterry was home in second and Purdon again in third ahead of Hammal and Martin Barr.
The MX1 podium had Mewse on top spot with a 1-1, Purdon was second overall to round off an excellent day for the South African, and in third was Adam Sterry who ended with third overall.
The Woodbridge DMCC would like to thank all local sponsors, Talk Access and Lifting, Foxwood Trade, Steve Lumley Road Planing and Stebbings Car Superstore, the club members for their countless hours leading up to the event, medics, officials, track marshals and of course the spectators for a fantastic race meeting and look forward to welcoming you back in the near future.
Race Report by Stefan Hicks
Photos by Richard Blyth – Image Rich Media