Relentless National BMX Series 2007 - Rounds 3 & 4
Peterborough, 16-17 June 2007
Images: Richard Robotham
Round 3 Results | Round 4 Results
Rider_Ranking | Team_Ranking | Club_Ranking
Rounds 3 & 4 took place with the Peterborough Phantoms on the 16th & 17th of June '07. A re-vamped track and a national race taking place from late Saturday afternoon into the evening was a new concept and one that personally I was looking forward to.
With negative words flying around the internet forums regarding the weather, the flat start hill, the double header etc, you'd think a few people were hating BMX.. But Peterborough Phantoms are one of the most determined clubs I know of. They slave into the night and from the crack of dawn to make sure the national experience is as good as possible, so the negative comments beforehand were a little spurious, I feel.
It turned out Saturday was to bear the brunt of a few passing showers, shall we say. The biggest issue with the extra water was the incredibly slippy pad on the start hill (even in the dry!), it was fine for everyone up until the age of about 14 when any kind of power transmittance resulted in a big old wheel spin.. My first gate of practise almost sent me over the bars as I snapped and thrust forward only to wheel spin.. I have no idea how I managed to save it! A lot of people, it seemed, were having the same problem.
Practise went well and it looked like most riders were getting the track on point.. After a slightly dragged out "Twirlettes" display and the flag raise, the racing got underway.. There were a few showers to contend with, but us hardy British love a bit of rain. Don't we?!
We were given the blessing of great weather for the Sunday and the track dried out super quick and with all hands on deck it was running great in no time - a sterling effort from the Phantoms (et al).
6 & Unders..
The pocket rockets were in full affect this weekend and with almost 20 riders in the class it's looking bright for the future of British BMX! These guys give their heart around the track and on day one Lochlan Dudley took the win from the incredibly determined Joshua Coppins and Ryan Brookes. Also, Jayden Martin had a great ride on day 1 & 2 in the Motos and stormed the semi to an impressive 2nd but it didn't come together final time for the lad who finished 8th and 5th respectively. A great ride from these guys, lots of looking about, and plenty of applause from the crowd - Go rockets! I also want a personal shout out to Sam Taylor, you're one rad kid, keep it up you'll be pulling them in, in no time!
Male 7 years.
After his double at Cheddar he was on point again to obliterate the completion in this class. Gideon Orena rode 2 perfect days yet again.. A machine on a bike. The battle continued from Cheddar between Ethan Vernon and James-Norris Still alternating positions Saturday and Sunday, both giving it there all. Great rides also from Daniel Blanche & Tian Isidore in this class.
Female 7-9
Chloe Taylor, another champ straight off the Taylor production line had 2 awesome days again, keeping with tradition and perfecting both days, just ahead of the Factory Crupi rider Lauren Stack, he had the grit between her teeth but it wasn't enough to catch Sheffield's Chloe Taylor.
Male 8 Years.
An action packed class with thrills and spills, this time NOT from Harley Taylor he managed 2 great days riding and managed to stay upright on his blinged out ride. He took 2nd both Days. Luca was flying on Day 1 and took the win ahead of Harley, the coolest of looking dudes Bob Devereux got the 4th spot just behind Eddie Moore both days. But come day 2 poor Luca took a tumble whilst leading out the race which let Ben Turner through to take the win, a massive improvement on his 7th spot finish on day 1 - Awesome!
Male 9 Years:
Paddy Sharrock - Awesome dude! The practise the previous Sunday must've paid off, he rode an awesome day and managed to take the win from Factory Crupi Youth Reece Brownson for round 3, he must've been super stoked! Reece made it count for round 4 taking the 1 spot, but Paddy rode fantastic to get the 2nd. Kye Whyte put in two great performances, as did Tom Novis getting the 3 & 4 positions respectively both days! Tyler Day made the main both days too, looking good in his Urbanair team strip, it must've made him go faster!
Male 10 Years:
Jack Clarke must've been putting the sprints in before this race as he was flying on Saturday taking the win from Jimmy Orena. Eliot Pateman and Jake Power hunted them to the line and secured the 3 and 4 spots, Local lad Nathan Hastings didn't have the best days racing he felt the squeeze and finished the day in 7th. Day 2 saw the tables turn and Jimmy Orena take the win in a very close race, Jack Clarke gave it everything but settled for 2nd, Daniel Butterfield and Nathan rode much better and secured the 3 and 4 spots. I'm sure Nathan's Dad must've given him a pep talk Saturday evening!
Female 10-12 Years:
Local lass and Twirlette superstar Bethany Campbell took the win on day one ahead of the more experienced Isabelle Ferrada, even after a super hard crash and ensuing pile up, Bethany returned to form to take the win very convincingly, ahead of the E5 of Bethan Hallett and last years national number 3 Emma Coles. Isabelle must've had a super carb dinner as she wasn't having any of it on day 2. She took the win start to finish, but Bethany hunted her down all the way to the line to secure the 2nd spot.. A fantastic race!
Male 11 & 12 Years:
A HUGE class! Always exciting to watch as these lads want it so bad! Jacob Roberts put in 2 amazing days almost perfecting both, he took the win both days in this stacked class! Daniel Pullen rode fantastic day 1 shutting down "Our Bradley" and taking the 2nd spot but this must've fuelled a fire beneath Brad, as he stormed to a 2nd on day 2 with Daniel settling for 3rd. Dylan Foster was throwing all sorts of shapes out on the track, he always looks like he's having so much fun, and a consistent main maker. This is an intense class with a massive pool. And much less drama than 19+! A massive shout to Devan Pope, a Sheffield local who rocked up at his first national, misses practise day one, yet makes the semi, leaves it wide open in the final turn and gets 5th, then forgets about his B final whilst playing with his dog.. Only to rock it up day 2 and make the main! Awesome Devan, keep it up son! One to watch for sure!
Male 13 & 14 Years
Another super fast class with some skilful dudes in the mix! Daniel McBride put in the groundwork and pulled the wins both days, the youth has some serious track craft and can work the rhythm! A great performance from this guy, Local rider Jonathon Hastings after having a little mishap in Practise on Saturday and potentially hurting his ankle gritted his teeth and rode a 3rd on day one and an awesome 2nd for day 2! Nice one! Not sure what happened to rad lad Ben Clarkson day one but he was back in the mix day 2 for a 4th in the main, a pleasure to watch on the track whipping it all over the shop! Matty Kirk rode awesome day 1 and got the 2nd spot behind McBride, but a mishap in his quarter saw him cross the line in an undesirable 6th position, he must've been fuming! Next time fella. Also mixing it with the lads was Abbie Taylor, she looked strong and this was her first appearance this year on the National circuit, she's far too Euro now, you see. She didn't make the main either day but stormed the B final day one to a 1st and a 3rd on day 2,. You go girl!
Female 13-15 Years:
Only 4 girls in this class but Charlotte Green had the minerals to do as she had at Cheddar and storm the field, jumping the step up on the first straight smooth as you like to lead it out and perfect both days. Ashby Gibson put in a great ride to get the 2nd spot for both days. Some good battles between Ashby and new comer Jessica Rooke, more to come of her I'm sure.
Male 15 & 16 Years
Matty Masterson. What can I say? He was on fire! He has some skill on a bike I can tell you, and he dragged the other riders down the first straight both days in his mains, absolute quality. Aaron Curry was looking hot both days with a 2nd and 3rd respectively, a going battle going on with Bradley Watts chasing down Matty on the final straight but settled for the 2nd spot, but man, was he smiling! He's been working hard, and mixing it with the big guns on a regional level to toughen him up and I think it's paid off, a sound youth, with the skills to pay them bills. Good on ya' Brad. Farran Afflick returning from injury made the main both days although not ranking highly, just to get in there is pretty awesome in this stacked class. Another rider worthy of a mention was local Eddie Spain. He made it to the semis on day one, and had a really good ride. Lee Crowther has been training like a dog over the winter and rides as much as he can, there is more to come from this lad I'm certain.
Cruiser 16-29 Years:
Fast racing from Daniel Thorne, he doubled over the weekend, with a mix bag behind him, message board Wan had a good day on Sunday taking 3rd behind Jake Cheetham. Ryan Vinyard had 2 consistent days on the cruiser making the main and getting the 4th spot both days.
Junior Men
Fast Fast and Fast is about all I can say! And possibly desperate. These guys want it so bad they have little to no self regard for themselves, or each other.. It makes for serious racing though! It's like their lives depend on them winning. I suppose at the end of the day they haven't got to get up for work the next morning!
Daniel Price didn't quite do the business as maybe he ought to have here. Dan Whyte was the boy to look out for, and he just doesn't give a damn, he'll throw himself into anything or anyone that's in his way.. Unfortunately Pricey couldn't take the heat and fell back both days.. Daniel Thorne, the kid with the spin, gave Dan Whyte a run for his money on day 2 and took the win, although it was to the wire! Pricey got an elbow or 10 and fell back to finish in 7th. Andrew Dysiewicz had an awesome ride on Sunday pulling a 4th in the semi and making the a main and getting 4th, he must've been over the moon, he's been away for a good while so I'm sure this will boost his confidence! No Deakin in the main on day 2, a move for 4th in the final turn saw him kissing the tarmac and B-finalled, he went for glory though, and took the win.
Junior Female:
Lauren Smith nailed it. She perfected both days ahead of all the girls, Lucy Hale and Rebecca Vaughn put in a great ride on the Saturday but it wasn't enough to catch the Urbanair rider Lauren smith. Day 2 was much of the same but with Ria Goodman, the current series leader in attendance it was going to be that bit tougher. Come final time Lauren jumped the big step up neck and neck with Ria, who also showed she has the minerals with a big boost. Lauren took the inside into turn one and lead it from there on. Taking the national round, and moving into the top spot in the series. Katie Roberts had a better ride day 2 and took the 3rd spot followed by Lucy Hale in 4th. It's tight at the top!
Ladies 25+
Abi Hill nailed it both days but coming out of lane 2 in Saturdays main to cross over almost to 6 was a bit odd, she shut down the other ladies! Boom! Nicola Spiers and Gail Aspen had their own battle securing the 2nd and 3rd positions, then alternating on day 2.
19+
Sheesh. I love it. So much drama pre-race.. It wouldn't be 19+ without though, would it?! The main gossip was Jon Hibbert, would he even show, would he win everything like it was 2005? Would he pull everyone to Kingdom come and leave us choking on dust. Yes. No. No and No. I'm not sure what he was expecting, but he didn't get it I'm sure. He still got beat by a 40 year old flatster and a 17 year old superhuman youth.. Just like the rest of us. I shouldn't laugh really.
Jon can pull though, and he made the A main both days but ex-elite Scott Waterhouse put in a sick ride to take his first national win in a while, I think he was buzzing off it! The flemdog got the 3 spot. Wayne Richardson pulled hard but couldn't get the result he had last year and settled for 4th. Johnny Roberts in 5 and myself in 6th.
Tuffy had been leading out the race and just missed out on the holeshot, but he took a serious crash over the step, step down into the 2nd turn and finished dead last, he's a tough pup and was back on his feet in no time.
The talent pool is deep in 19+ and the results are so mixed up you can't odds it! Scott Waterhouse won the main on day one only to get B finalled day 2.. He took the win in that.. Calum pulled hard and took the win on day 2 (after his B final victory day one!).
Tuffy was leading start to finish and collected the ?50 holeshot money for his troubles, but Calum's legs had the bang juice on the final straight and he took it. Just. Boom Boom Bromfield made his first A main and got 3rd, I'm sure he was stoked with that. Hibbert made the main again, just, only to feel the elbow of Ben Godfrey, a textbook move that saw him put over the final turn.. Someone should close that door eh?! Awesome racing.
Masters:
A wicked class with plenty of talent and pulling power.. Day one saw David Ives in a fresh race kit and a freshly painted ride storm to the 1 spot. The masters group has some of the best snappers in the game, and Dave. So for him to pull it out and take the win was awesome, and definitely great to see after the heinous move pulled on him at Cheddar in Moto 1.
Jessop, the machine, the power house, the unit took the 2nd spot. But vengeance will be his. Steve Williams got the 3 spot, I'm sure I saw him smile. Good to see Neil Stewart in the mix too, even with a cold he proved he has the muscle.
Day 2 saw Jessop lead it out and take win from under factory Ives, Mike Pardon pulled in the 3 spot with a great ride. Jason Mills is on point right now, one of the nicest guys in BMX and getting the job done too. Nigel Whyte has definitely stepped it up in the Masters class!
Cruiser 30-39
These guys are fast, and they give me hope as I venture further into old(er) age! Free Agent's Ian Sharp was on a flyer this weekend he managed to take the win both days ahead of some very tough competition, Pete Power and CJ Butler had some tight racing with Pete getting a 3rd on day one and a 2nd on Sunday alternating with CJ. Wayne Orrah had a better day Sunday securing the 4th spot in the main. Local top bloke Mark Leach didn't have enough in the tank to make the main either day but did well in his B finals ahead of some still very serious competition.
Cruiser 40+
Mike Pardon took the win day 1 even with a dodgy chain! He stormed ahead of Shaun Calvert to take the win. Come Sunday he focussed on 20" and this allowed Tony Slater to secure the win ahead of Calvert in 2.
Elite:
The elite class was simply awesome at the Peterborough national, Jamie Staff (SIS) - pictured right - was in the place and this guy has some incredible first straight pull. Also in attendance was American GT Bicycles rider Joey Bradford, this youth is serious. I've never seen a pull up manual done at such speed, the new step up, step down section on the 2nd straight is tall, deep and peaky and he did it like it was nothing. Amazing. But what really impressed me this weekend was FreeAgent's Kelvin Batey's ability to fight his way from the back of the pack. He either hit the gate, or wheel span on the pad which put him at the back of the pack, but his pull, track craft and skill would get him from dead last to 3rd. Simply brilliant. Jamie took the win overall on Saturday evening with 4 points after the 3 elite mains, he was absolutely storming. Kelvin worked incredibly hard and got the 2nd spot, pulling Jamie down the 3rd and 4th straights and gaining ground every second. Joey Bradford wasn't even snapping and he got the 4th position overall behind the super fast for '07 Laurence Mapp.
Luke Gamble rode incredibly well and made the A main on his flat pedals, on Peterborough track that's no mean feat! He had an awesome day.
Day 2 saw a drier track and a less slippy pad, this was better for a lot of people, noticeably Kelvin. He was snapping and pulling hard, Jamie secured the holeshot but Kelvin would find his way through to 3 perfect main wins. Awesome to watch. Joey Bradford seemed to have more confidence in the gate and was snapping hard; he got the 2nd spot for the day behind Kelvin, and Jamie Staff in 3rd. Warren Bancroft was throwing down his usual speed and finesses and picked up 4th overall. Laurence had a bad crash in main 2, but he got back on it for his 3rd main, only to hit the deck again in turn 3. Hope he's alright, it wasn't to be his day. Chris Jackson made another elite A main, and was having a better day, he managed 5th overall ahead of Ashley Davis and Liam Batey. It just gets faster and faster.
See you at Coppull! Complaints, and abuse to Roger at BC please. ;)
- Round 1 & 2: 5-7 May, Cheddar: Results | Results | Rankings
- Round 3 & 4: 16-17 June, Peterborough Results | Results | Rider_Ranking | Team_Ranking | Club_Ranking
- Round 5: 30 June-1 July North Region National at Mid Lancs (www.northregionbmx.co.uk)
- Round 6: 11-12 August Dragon National at Tredegar (www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk)
