BMX Hots Shots Brave the Burham Freezer

 

Rounds 1 & 2 National BMX Series

Burnham-on-Sea, 22-23 March 2008

Images: Richard Robotham - Report: Rich Eames

Series Links: Dates & Venues | Schedule & Regs

 

Event Results & Series Rankings

Rd 1 Results | Rd 2 Results | Rider Ranking | Club Ranking | Team Ranking

Well, the national series has started early this year with a trip to Burnham, although 'burn' was the last thing you were likely to do this weekend. It was absolutely baltic!! I can't actually remember the last time I was that cold at a race. People walking round wrapped up like eskimos, I thought BMX was a summer sport....

Anyway, onto the action; 12 and under cruiser saw George Hawker double up with 2 wins and Tom Novis take 2 second places. Third was split between Anthony Trower and Owen Baxter (mini daddy)

13-15 Cruiser was all Ben Clarkson on Saturday and Cameron Howard on Sunday whilst Ben could only get 4th on day 2. Has Ben broken some ribs? If so, get well soon! Brad Minns sneaked in a couple of good finishes too.

16-29 Cruiser; What can I say? Wan was killing it in the motos winning them left and right, then the pressure got to him in the mains and he blew it, twice! I'm sure he'll be back up there as the season goes on. Josh Hanlon took the win Saturday and Dan Pople on Sunday.

30-39 Cruiser; This class just gets harder and harder, I might go back to a 20 inch at this rate! The race was basically between Hilly, Flem and TJ Baldwin (mad power) even though TJ nearly took a header over the bars on Sunday. In the end though Hilly took it both days from Flem. It was two races in one with the front three, then a gap, then everyone else. Honourable mentions for Sutty, Andy Restall (lookin' factory!) and Shane Trotter for good rides too.

40+ Cruiser; These guys may be no spring chickens but they really do go for it. John Moore was the man both days with Ady Warden being the next most consistent with John Stockwell and Anthony Fisher in close contention. Nice to see Steve Keech in there too, even though he's a baby in comparison having just turned 40!!

25+ Ladies; Just five ladies in this one with Gail Aspden winning both days Nikki Spiers took 2nd place on day one and Jane Keating took 2nd on day two.

6 and under; Don't you just love the pocket rockets? The fastest of the weekend was Ryan Brookes with two wins and his mum running up and down trackside going absolutely nuts. Darcie Taylor had a stellar weekend with two great rides. Harry Restall and Ryan O'Loughin both took a second place. On a side note the younger guys were having terrible trouble with the wind making the first straight a test of endurance and riders falling left and right, or not getting over the jumps in some cases. Still, its great entertainment and I'm sure they loved it.

7's; Finn Hall was the man on Sunday after his 3rd place on Saturday which was won by Josh Coppin. Lochlan Dudley and Josh Peters were in the mix too and I can see all these guys swapping wins as the series goes on.

8's; Ethan Vernon took the win both days from Gideon Orena and Obadiah Hagan. Hopefully, these guys will swap and change wins through the season and keep us all guessing.

 

Girls; In the 7-9 class Emily Green was looking solid all weekend with two wins, Blaine Ridge Davies and Katurah Davidson swapped 2nd and 3rds with Olivia Howard 4th. 10-12 saw Isabelle Ferrada win Saturday with Angelica Orena coming back from a crash to win Sunday. In 13-15 Ashby Gibson was unstoppable on Sunday but Amelia Silvestre had the win on Saturday before a trip to hospital sidelined her for Sunday. Get well soon Amelia!

9's; This class is stacked! Kye White took his Supercross to two wins but there are a whole group of guys such as Harley Taylor, Luca Premoli, Ben Turner and Aaron Dalleywater chasing him down. This should be even more exciting as the year progresses.

10's; Paddy Sharrock showed what a full winter of riding can do for you with a win on Saturday, he's got such a laidback, easy style of riding which is great to watch. Reece Brownson returned from illness to win on Sunday but Paddy was on him like a rash. Expect this one to go on all year with Josh Moore and Tom Novis in contention too.

11-12; James Handleigh look 'Fly' in his new EA Racing kit to win Saturday But Jimmy Orena was your winner on Sunday with Jack Clark not that far behind. Oliver Fay was looking rapid in the motos but couldn't convert it to a main event win.

13-14; Adam Smith was going fast on Saturday to cross the line ahead of Ben Clarkson and Jacob Roberts but Sunday was a different story as Jacob snapped everyone to take his win with Cameron Howard in 2nd place and Adam in 3rd.

15-16; This class is unbeliveable! Dan McBride was on fire this weekend looking super smooth and rode the second straight like it wasn't even there. I think we have a future pro here if he continues like this. Saturday was all his but some push and shove on Sunday meant an 8th for Dan. Jason Fay kept it consistent with a 2nd and a 1st whilst Jonathan Hastings took two solid 3rds.

19+ is just...rock hard! Trying to predict a winner is like trying push water uphill ie impossible. Marco Del Isola turned up with his usual factory style and a boot full of bargains then followed it up with a win. Has Marco been (dare I say it?) training? Rumours abound of Marco being super serious about his trip to China, I guess he doesn't want to waste his air fare! Michael Pinnock literally scraped through a run off to make the semi on Saturday then took a third, followed by a second on Sunday. How Oggy does a night on the doors then drives hundreds of miles to race and take a third is beyond me, and he's given up smoking too! Blogging superstar Dan Clifford took a 4th and a 6th after the Sunday carnage in the second turn then went home and had a blog post up before he got some hot chocolate and pro sleep.
Lee Baker returned from injury and looked quick, he'll be a winner before the year is out for sure. We also saw the return of Tom Palmer after about 5 years out of BMX, good to see him back. Finally, Scott Waterhouse took his Dialled bike to a win on Sunday.

Masters; BB Ives had the weekend of dreams with a double win, again showing the value of a full winter on the bike. Mark Astley was flying early on but couldn't convert having to settle for a 2nd and a 4th. Pimp move of the weekend was Jason Lewis in full camo gear on Matt Barnard when he served up a large portion of elbow in turn two sending Matt over the berm, its a long way down from the top of that turn I can tell you. Jason Jessop warms up for races by sitting his little lad on his shoulders to do squats (not really) but got top 5 both days. Miles Kirby had a weekend of run offs and B final wins but had a smile on his face all the while. Conspicuous by his absence was Neil 'The Warlock' Stewart, where are you Warlock? Masters is mental, and I love it!

Junior Female saw the introduction of Charlotte Green to the class and what an introduction it was with a 3rd and a win. Ria Goodman told me she'd done no training over winter yet still took the honours on Saturday and a 2nd on Sunday. Lauren Smith was 'Miss Consistent' with a 2nd and a 3rd, lets see what what happens when we get to a jumpy track and Lauren can test her skills, a win maybe?

Bradley Watts stepped up and took Junior Male on Saturday but a semi crash on Sunday put him out of contention. Daniel Thorne followed his second place with a win on day two with Levi Ashley taking a third and a fourth. Don't forget Messrs Tamblyn, Sewell and Brazil either. This class will go the wire, guaranteed.

Finally, Elite Men. Only 13 in this class but they have the speed of 26! What has Laurence Mapp been doing over winter? He was flying and looked really comfortable on the bike. Chalk up a 1st and 2nd for him. I reckon Bloomy could have won both days but a harsh crash put paid to that. Nice to see Scott Beaumont out there taking a second on Saturday with World Cup MTB competitor Dan Atherton doing it lumberjack style and in the main both days. Lewis Lacey was flying as well and after a failed move in the second turn entertained us all by manualling the entire last straight...awesome! Props as well to Cal Strickland for moving up from 19+ although it s a bit harder for him now! Clips and training Cal? Probably not....

So that's Burnham done and dusted, we are back there again later in the year. Hopefully it should be a bit warmer!!

 

Event Results & Series Rankings

Rd 1 Results | Rd 2 Results | Rider Ranking | Club Ranking | Team Ranking