Mansfield Double-Header Weekend

 

Rounds 4 & 5 National BMX Series

Mansfield, 17-18 May 2008

Report: Daniel Clifford - Images: Richard Robotham

 

Results: Round 4 | Round 5

Series Rankings: Riders | Clubs | Teams

 

Reports From Earlier in the Series: Rounds 1 & 2 | Round 3

Other Reports: Royston Rockets Report

 

Rounds 4 and 5 saw the BMX racing community tripping to Mansfield for a weekend of great weather, excellent organisation and incredibly exciting BMX racing! The viewing areas were limited, but Mansfield had done some excellent pre-planning to make sure everyone could get a spot to watch their favourite riders snap and flow the track.

The track was smooth, fast and with action in just about every turn the crowd were to be given a very exciting show! The event was on schedule and ran without any hiccups, some may say it was like a Millie-tary Ozz-eration!

Cruisers
George Hawker took 12 and under both days followed by Tom Novis and Anthony Trower alternating positions. Bradley Minns stormed 13-15 both days with Rockstar/Gunslinger Cameron Howard in 2 and Michael Hawker in 3. In 16-29 Dan Hodge nailed it both days with Daniel Pople in 2. Wan didn't have the best weekend but looked good in his shades trackside, nonetheless.

Cruiser 30-39 Years
Alan Hill took the win both days, but it wasn't easy for him! It's tough at the top of this game there is so much horsepower its scary! Saturday saw Flemdog take 2 and Matt Ryder fresh off the MX bike taking 3 and Andy Shaw cruiser specialist in 4. Good to see Sheffield's Dave Taylor in the mains and tearing up the corners! On Sunday TJ Baldwin nosed his way to second (SHEESH!) Flem in third and CJ Butler in fourth, Dave Taylor got the fifth spot and smiled all the way home in his camper van. Probably.

Cruiser 40 Years
The 2 mains were almost mirrors of one another! Saturday saw Talent Team Head Honcho Jez Hayes take the 1 spot ahead of Russ Hanlon, (the man who can in China) in 2 and Steve Noble in 3. Mal Gilliatt took 4 in-between Red Bull and heavy metal. On Sunday, Jon Moore took the win ahead of Anthony Fisher in 2 and John Stockwell tabling his way to third for Apache Racing, Mr consistent Mal G had more Red Bull and more heavy metal for fourth.

6 & Unders
This class is a lot of fun to watch, the pocket rockets in full factory get ups with bikes weighing as much as a bag of sugar, but they give it their full commitment! Ryan O'Loughlin did the business day one ahead of tiny-racer Ryan Brookes with Ben Warcup having a great ride in 3. Day 2 saw Ryan Brookes pull a fantastic last straight out of the bag to pull back the race and take the win ahead of speedy brother Alex Brookes (what are the parents feeding them?!) and Ryan O'Loughlin in 3. Darcie Taylor representing Profile and the girls made the main on Sunday after a great ride in her Motos and managed a 6 just behind Chesterfield's "Team Tuffs" rider Morgan Turner!

7 Years
Domination again came in the form of Preston's Finn Hall, nailing the class both days with a full rack of perfect Motos to boot! This kid is unstoppable! Lochlan Dudley and Josh Coppins took 2 and 3 both days with Sheffield's Sam Taylor taking the fourth spot on Saturday and Ross Cullen making waves in fourth on Sunday.

Male 8 Years
Great racing from the guys in this class, Gideon Orena made it another weekend of perfect racing and keeps his number one position firmly in the bag. Ethan Vernon put in 2 great days racing taking the second spot on both and Euan Hunt in third. Lewis Hipkins never showed for his final on Saturday but put in a good race on Sunday to take fourth, I may have even seen a wee smile from him on occasion!

Female 7-9 Years
Emily Green took the both days again with a perfect performance in the young girls class, Rotherham's Melissa Foster put in a great lap day 1 to take second followed by Katurah Shaw and Blaine Davis in 4. Blaine worked out the creases day 2 to take the second spot!

Male 9 Years
Its all about Peckham's Kye Whyte in this super exciting class, he's unstoppable right now and put in 2 perfect performances, laying down the power and smoothing his way to first followed by Luca Premoli and Profiles Harley Taylor on Saturday. On Sunday we saw Bulwell's Louis Gray-Blest putting his "almost local" knowledge to good use and securing the 2 spot followed by Luca and Harley again.

Male 10 Years
AWESOME class! I love it. Two of the coolest youths in British BMX go at it week in week out and are best buddies off the track afterwards too. Showing great sportsmanship, respect and positive attitudes. Paddy Sharrock and Reece Brownson exchanging wins all weekend long. Reece did the business on Saturday, just ahead of Paddy. Tom Novis and Joshua Moore took 3 & 4 respectively; these guys have amazing bike skills and have some awesome battles between themselves! On Sunday Paddy took the win by a tyre tread it was neck and neck and a photo finish was needed to separate them out, an amazing race! Tom and Joshua again in 3 & 4.

Female 10-12 Years
Isabelle Ferrada took the win on Saturday followed closely by Shamika Shaw in 2 and Sheffield's Chloe Taylor in 3. Chloe and Lauren Stack must be half the size of some of these girls but they dish it out and make things happen! On Sunday Chloe put in a sick lap to take the 1 spot ahead of Shamika Shaw in 2 and Isabelle in 3, Bethany Campbell took the 4 spot, smiling all the way.

Male 11 & 12 Years
A stacked class with quarters on Saturday to really make the riders hot under the collar! A superfast class and anyone making it to the semis should be stoked! On Saturday Quillan Isidore made it count and took the win ahead of Harry Gray-Blest and Oliver Fay. Jimmy Orena didn't have a great race and finished seventh after a bit of a tustle. On Sunday, Jimmy stepped it up and took the win after a perfect performance. Sixteen riders were dropped and it went straight to the semi finals - It was an early pack up for a few families I'm sure! Quillan Isidore took second on the Sunday followed by James Handleigh and Elliot Pateman. Relentless Dialled Bikes rider Brad Spick took a big spill whilst in a good position in Sundays final, a tough cookie though and back on his feet in a flash. Jack Clarke was going great in Saturday's racing but a big slam in his semi saw him out for the rest of the weekend.

Male 13 & 14 Years
This class has some pull for sure! 31 riders on Saturday meaning 15 dropped before semis but 37 riders on Sunday - the biggest of the entire weekend! There are some great battles all the way through qualifying in this class and I always make sure I'm trackside to catch it if possible! Jacob Roberts is flying right now and every time I see him he's grown another inch! Some great battles between Jacob and Jack Hall, it's always to the wire! Jack took the win Saturday followed closely by Jacob who unclipped earlier and clawed back 4 places! Daniel Pullen in 3 and Ryan Stack holding it down in 4. On Sunday Jacob nailed it, Jack Hall in 2 and Daniel in 3. Last year's British Champ Adam Smith took a fall along with Reiss Harper and neither rider made it back for Sunday.

Female 13-15 Years
Apologies for missing this one out last time - I did get a slapped wrist! Ashby Gibson made it happen both days with a perfect ride ahead of Georgia Rase both days but the battles were in the mid pack with Nicola Spiers taking 3rd day one and Bethan Hallett day 2. Kia Parker out of Peckham got the 4 spot both days.

Male 15-16 Years
A fantastic class with a lot of muscle, regardless of pending G.C.S.E's these guys are still going at it! Dan McBride had been on the bubble all day Saturday but first straight traffic held him up, attempting to break through it couldn't be done. Jason Fay is well and truly in the mix and shredding, he took the win on Saturday followed by Pete Lavender, Tre Whyte and Arran Shrosbree in 4. A notable mention to Thomas Elvin making the main, way to go! On Sunday McBride made it stick and took the win ahead of Jason Fay, Jordan Hayes and Tre Whyte. Abbie Taylor representing the girls also put in some solid rides in this super tough class.

Junior Men
Luke Tamblyn has styles for miles, and is uber fast too! Luke stormed it both days with a considerable lead, the talent team camps look to be paying off! Daniel Thorne was riding strong but couldn't get it past Tamblyn. Luke took it day one, Thorne in 2 followed by young lad Levi, whose back on and it's and good to see Bro! On Sunday it was all on Luke again with Bradley Watts putting in a great ride for 2 followed by rad lad trail boss Billy Luckhurst, Josh Cheetham in 4 and Levi in 5.

Junior Female
Saturday Ria Goodman took the win and lead it out start to finish, Relentless Dialled Lauren Smith held her own and got the 2 spot followed by Alans BMX Charlotte Green (fresh out of cast) in 3 and Emily James in 4. On Sunday Lauren Smith snapped and pushed her way over shutting the door on the girls and taking the win, a great lap and about time too! Goodman took the 2 spot followed by Katie

Roberts in 3 and Charlotte Green in fourth.

19 & Over
Lee Baker is back on it spinning a 41:16 - he lead his main events from start to finish. Day one saw Baker in 1, followed by Flemdog in 2, Speedy Reidy FAF in 3 and DC in 4. Reidy can corner like a God and hasn't lost it at all. The old boys showed us again how it was done. I think the average age of the final on Saturday was about 30! Current National points leader Scott Waterhouse didn't have a great main but put some more points between himself and Pinnock whose currently in the 2 spot overall. Day 2 it was Baker again spinning to winning and moving up the rankings, Flem in 2, Daz in 3 and Robbie Goodman in 4. Scott took a big fall in the main whilst battling down the first straight and looked pretty hurt - hope you're okay Brother!

Masters
CJ Butler killed it, flat hill, 45:16, he laid it down and dished it out. Day one saw Ivesy working it and making the 2 spot followed by powerhouse Jessop in the 3 spot and Mardy boy Williams in 4. Sunday was absolute carnage! Steve and Jessop cuddled up a bit down the first straight and ended up rolling in the dirt, not a happy Jessop at all! Steve took it on the chin though and his Mum will be sewing his tracksuit bottoms ready for Chesterfield. Matt Barnard took the 2 spot on Sunday followed by Dave Godfrey in 3, good to see him back and shredding the 20'! Shout to Baz D'arcy making the stacked main, gotta be stoked with that! No Dave Ives in the main on Sunday, I heard he was conserving energy for China.

Elite Men
Bloomy killed it both days, just chilling! The results were a real mixed bag and even though Mappy took a fall on the hill in the first of 3 mains he still got the 2 spot followed by Gamble in 3 and Tuffy in 4. Cal made his first A-Main and put in some sick rides! Day 2 It was Bloomy again and some crazy flat out, foot out action from everyone's favourite berm basher Tuffy. Tuffy got the 2 spot with Mapp in 3 and Dan Whyte in 4 who put in some strong laps. I think I may have seen some foot out action from him too?! Good top see Warren Bancroft back in the mix, he rode strong all things considered and managed seventh overall.