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Your chance to be a part of the return of Foxhill |
 Sunday 27th July will see the 2008 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship make a much overdue return to one of the country’s most famous and favourite circuits.
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Smith and Simpson rule at Desertmartin |
The strong winds that blew across the Desertmartin circuit in Northern Ireland for the fifth round of eight in the 2008 Maxxis ACU British Championship also forced a change of direction in the results of the series. Pioneer Emberson Yamaha’s Wayne Smith benefitted from reigning champion Billy Mackenzie’s absence to obtain his first victory in the MX1 class while KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson dominated both motos to secure his second triumph of the year and the red plate as leader of the category.
Despite inclement conditions – the gusts also delivering copious amounts of rainfall – the Porter’s Pit terrain stood up well and the track was kept in good shape, even boasting a new rhythm section and bomb-hole to test the best off-road riders in the country.
The MX1 division had been in the firm grip of CAS Honda’s Billy Mackenzie who had swept every moto and each overall victory of the four previous events. With a 65 point lead the Scot was able to sit out the visit to Northern Ireland in the wake of his crash and right shoulder injury last week at the Grand Prix of France. The 24 year old still heads the standings by 23 points over James Noble. With the path free for a new 2008 winner an interesting set of races occurred. Par Honda’s Ray Rowson – who narrowly missed out on qualification at the French round of the World championship the previous weekend – claimed his maiden MX1 chequered flag in the first moto since moving up to the class last year. The former Under-21 British Champion was not able to repeat the feat in the second outing and with 5th place took the final podium place. Smith controlled the second moto for a deserved overall win and was fittingly emotional on the top step of the rostrum. Runner-up was KTM UK’s Noble, who with 3rd and 2nd confirmed his second silverware of 2008.
MX2 belonged firmly in the hands of title protagonist Shaun Simpson. The 20 year old Scot deflected attention from local hope Martin Barr in the first of the two motos, but disappeared from the pack in the second outing. Simpson now has accumulated 5 race wins and 2 ‘overalls’.
“I knew I had a good chance coming into this weekend and the result could not have been better,” he said. “The track was more technical and to my liking in the second moto so there was less pressure. I’m in the lead now with three rounds to go, so things are looking good.”
Utag Yamaha.com’s Barr, only just coming back to speed after recently breaking his collarbone, was runner-up again and satisfied with second spot on the podium. It was the second appearance this season in the top three for the youngster. Also making his second rostrum celebration of 2008 was Suso Suzuki’s Carl Nunn, who with third and fourth positions, rounded out the top three. MX2 ‘red plate’ holder Stephen Sword was also walking wounded after the seventh round of the world championship in France. The former multi-British Champ competed with heavy strapping on his damaged shoulder and with teeth firmly clenched salvaged points with 11th and 12th. His efforts however could not prevent Simpson from cutting a 22 point deficit before the weekend to leapfrog over Sword and into first place by 9 points.
Round six will take place at Foxhill near Swindon on July 27th
MX1 Moto One: 1: Rowson 2: Smith 3: Noble 4: Church 5: Jones
MX1 Moto Two: 1: Smith 2: Noble 3: Anderson 4: Jones 5: Rowson
MX1 Overall: 1: Smith 47 2: Noble 42 3: Rowson 41
Championship to-date: 1: MacKenzie 200 2: Noble 177 3: Anderson 166
MX2 Moto One: 1: Simpson 2: Barr 3: Nunn 4: Dougan 5: Irwin
MX2 Moto Two: 1: Simpson 2: Barr 3: Bradshaw 4: Nunn 5: Dougan
MX2 Overall: 1: Simpson 50 2: Barr 44 3: Nunn 38
Championship to date: 1: Simpson 207 2: Sword 198 3: Barr 181
Click here for full results
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