The
opening round of this years Express Insurance BYMX Championship series kicked
into gear and how - on a crisp and gloriously sunny weekend at Comerton
Farm nr Leuchars in Fife, Scotland. The journey north may well have been
long and tiring for some folk but ultimately at the end of the day worth
every last drop of fuel with the goods being delivered in such total style
by all concerned.
Albie Wilkie started the day as a clear favourite
in the 65s and by the close of play he still looked to be the obvious
section powerhouse as he nailed three individual race wins and took an
early lead in the Championship stakes. Behind Albie strong performances
from Taylor Hammal and Keenan Hird were also good enough to secure a race
win each as Taylor finished in the runners up position on he end of day
podium with Keenan in fourth. Elsewhere in the section Tom Hume, James
McFayden and Jake Edey all got in on the act too rounding off the top
six as they did in third, fifth and sixth places respectively.
While on the subject of powerhouse performers non
looked more powerful than Oliver Osmaston as he totally cleaned up in
the SW division with all five moto wins penciled in on his race card.
It was the perfect start for Oli as the points hungry pack behind toughed
it out at close quarters. The scrap for second overall went right down
to the wire with Robert Yates just about edging out Sam Braithwaite in
a thrilling fifth and final race decider. Josh Gilbert made the long road
trip from St Austel in Cornwall very much worth while as he recorded fourth
overall with little Conrad Mewse looking right on the money at times in
fifth. Sid Evans claimed the final podium position in sixth.
The Ben and Ben show always promised to be a thriller
and it's already living up to the hype as both Watson and Howell push
their extra special talents to the limits in what is shaping up to be
one of the very best head to head encounters of recent years. Ben Watson
claimed the first round advantage with a 3-2 in race wins but with very
little to choose between the two guys, keep your eyes on this one season
long. In something of a separate race behind the Ben boys Jack Kelly hit
the deck hard in race five and had to settle for sixth overall when third
might have been a truer reflection on his weekend efforts. As it was Connor
Clark moved into third place overall with Adam Sterry in fourth and Sam
Winterburn on the gas in fifth. With Adam Sterry being the top placed
Honda rider he also took home the number one plate as series leader in
the Honda Xtreme challenge.
Saving the very best until last ! I should say
so as the youth Open class put on a show that was quite breath taking
and awe inspiring across the whole two day stretch. Messrs, Connor Walkley,
Nathan Watson, Jamie McCanney and Gary Sharp divied out the race wins
in a show that just about had the lot. At the close of play Connor had
secured two of those precious wins on a card that read 2-1-4-2-1 and that
proved to be a real winner as he now takes a six point advantage under
the new championship points scoring system to the second round at Norley.
Nathan Watson finished in second overall with youngest in the class Ryan
Houghton sparkling like a true diamond in third. Jamie McCanney picked
up fourth overall with home town boy Gary Sharp in fifth and last but
not least Luke Norris just about made the podium in sixth. But unfortunately
not on my piccy .. sincere apologies go to Luke !! News
Flash....As if by magic Luke makes an appearance on the BYMX Rostrum thanks
to the magic that is Photoshop.....see
the gallery
Round
One Preveiw
With the opening round of this years Express Insurance
sponsored British Youth Moto Cross championship series on the weekend
of March 27th/28th now fast approaching - all thoughts are gradually being
focused, and turned towards Commerton Farm near Leuchars in Fife. The
traditional Scottish venue with it's challenging deep sandy terrain has
long been a favourite on the ACU youth calendar, and this year it will
be the first stopping off point in the seven round BYMX Championship series.
The UK's premier youth MX competition will then go nationwide before it
all reaches a cracking conclusion down at Cusses Gorse in Wiltshire on
the weekend of September 11th/ 12th.
Taking
a glance at the declared runners and riders for the various youth Championship
crowns it's obvious to see that this years competition will be a fast and furious
affair right across the board - as the ACU series has once again attracted a
best quality field. The Junior 65cc section starts out with one clear cut favourite
and he is Albie Wilkie. Ten year old Albie from the London area has been in
terrific form over the winter months - particularly in SX indoor action - and
he's definitely all fired up to repeat the process out doors. Jamie Osbourne
from Stoke together with Welsh Wizard Alex Walton have also both looked to be
very strong in club competition in the run up to the national campaign, and
when added to Yorkshire's Keenan Hird they three could well represent the major
challenge if it's not to be Albie's year. From last year's ranks you can also
expect there to be be a hefty points scoring effort coming from the likes of
Tom Hume, Taylor Hammal, Jake Edey, Max Bickers, Archie Osmaston and Matthew
Pocock. Albie Wilkie photo...right
In
the first of the 85cc divisions, the Small Wheel section, Oliver Osmaston will
be out on the awesome Pro Circuit Honda 150F machine, and one thing's for certain
- he will be a really tough act to beat. If anyone is starting out as an odds
on favourite to lift a crown in 2010 it surely must be 12 year old Ollie. If
however Ollie does happen to slip up there is a gang of equally matched, talented
and speedy riders just waiting in the wings and ready to take full advantage.
Robert Yates, Josh Gilbert, Sid Evans, Conrad Mewse and Scotland's Jay Lamb
are the five most likely candidates to be the ones snapping at Ollies heels
and hustling for the chequers at round one . Behind them you can also expect
real fireworks from Jack Seabourne, Lewis Houghton, Greg Hyett, David Keet,
Henry Williams and Casey Connolly as they all jostle for position in a class
that is full of endless and intriguing possibilities.
The
Big Wheel 85cc challenge quite often turns out to be something of a Blue Ribbon
event, and in 2010 it once again has all the makings of being yet another really
classic year. Ben Howell and Ben Watson are both riding Austrian KTM machinery
and they represent the two biggest guns in the Big Wheel shootout. The head
to head between the two guys could well be so close and all engrossing that
it eventually becomes one of the standout highlights of the entire youth season.
Behind that pairing however there is a block of talent in the shape of Liam
Garland, Connor Clark, Mickey Eccles,
Josh Gilbert
Ollie Osmaston
Sid Evans
Robert
Davidson, James Harrison, Adam Sterry, Sam Winterburn, Corie Southwood, Tom
Neal, Jack Kelly and Brad Todd and they are all well capable of winning an individual
moto if they hit the right groove - and that makes this particular section mouth
watering to say the very least.
Howell
Watson
In
the Open Class youth section one thing that strikes you immediately is the shear
pedigree and class of the proven winners that are taking part in the 2010 contest.
At the very sharp end, the division is fronted up by what is without doubt the
next wave of the under 16 year old talent that will progress and feature most
prominently in the Adult professional ranks of the Maxxis competition. In Connor
Walkley, Nathan Watson, Bradley Pocock, Ryan Houghton, James Dunn, Jamie McCanney,
Jordan Godwin and Luke Norris the section boasts no fewer than eight previous
National winning youth champions. When you add to those names the likes of Scottish
flier Gary Sharp, Damon Wales, Jake Page, Jamie Houghton, Luke Newman, Harry
Noakes and Ryan Watson, It's quite obvious this division along with the three
others will be bar banging 24 carat entertainment all the way to the final flags
of the series in September.
