| Images Free copies of hi-res digital image files available (not prints) via email - email pressoffice@britishcycling.org.uk and quote: gallery number, row, column and (if visible) rider number Race Report | The first round of the 2006 4-Cross NPS visited Sheffield's indoor track, which produced its usual mix of atmosphere and close racing. The track is tight for 4-Cross and very technically demanding and the smooth technicians were generally the ones to prosper. This is what happened in the various categories. Full Results >>>> | |  12-17 Novices
Mitchell Brooks (pictured) totally dominated the 12-17 novices category, going through the whole day unbeaten. After nailing all four of his Motos, he went on to beat Simon Booth into second in both the Semi and the final. Booth won two Motos himself, whilst Jonny Wilson took a clean sweep of his four Motos and his semi final, but found himself powered out of it in the final, where he finished fourth, behind Greg Sussek. Matt Singleton won the B final. | |  18 plus Novices
Tom Shaw (pictured) showed a clean pair of heels to the opposition in the 18 plus Novices, winning all of his Motos and cruising the final. Martin Doorn was second after a steady afternoon. The B final produced one of the big dramas of the afternoon when Matt Tricklebank and Gaz Dommett crashed when contesting the lead, leaving the race wide open for Tom Hine, who just held off Jason Richardson for the win.
| |  Juveniles
The fast-starting Joshua West (pictured) , who won all his Motos and the final with some ease, blew a small but talented Juvenile field away. Tom Knight finished second in the final after earlier claiming two Moto wins, whist Abbie Taylor took a Moto win and third in the final. The B final went to Jake Cornwell.
| |  Seniors
The senior category is always a big, tightly contested field and from the outset it soon became clear that Ryan Poolman (pictured) and Jason Jessop were on a collision course. Both had a clean sweep of Moto wins and blitzed their semis. Behind them James Norton also made the final on the basis of two Moto wins, whilst Lee White came through to join him via a second in his semi after a win in his run-off against James Wilson. The final was quick and exciting, with Poolman just having too much for his opponents, as Jessop took second and Norton third. Tom Burch won the B final.
| |  Masters
The Masters is always a hard category to call. Jeff Dovey (pictured) made his way to the semis in style with four wins, but the rest of the field were involved in a titanic scrap which often got pretty physical. Paddy Baker was his usual larger than life self and scraped through to the semis thanks to a run-off win over Simon Paton. Darren Howarth looked good all afternoon but was out of luck in his semi when he clashed with Bishop whilst contesting the lead and crashed out. Ian Hopkins won two of his Motos and his semi to get to the final where he found himself up against Dovey, Aidan Bishop - who made it through without a win, though he was second in his semi - and Baker. The final was all action, despite Dovey clearing off to claim the win. Behind him chaos ensued as Baker knocked Hopkins off the track on his way to third with Bishop just escaping into second. Dominic Bent won the B Final from Howarth.
| |  Junior
The juniors are so quick and fearless! All afternoon it was Chris Jackson (pictured) doing the business and winning all his heats. Behind him Lewis Lacey, Pat Campbell and Matt Watterson were all going well and cleaning up in the other heats. Jackson found himself up against Watterson in his semi, but had the measure of his rival as he cruised into the final. In the other semi, Lacey beat Campbell to mark himself down as the rider most likely to upset Jackson's winning streak. However, Jackson had other ideas and after a very tight first straight, he came through to win, looking very smooth and technically accomplished. Lacey was second, with Campbell and Watterson taking third and fourth. Darrell Upton won the B final.
| |  Elite
The Elite category was the hardest to call of all, with Martin Ogden, Scott Beaumont, Matej Vitko and Rich Batey all looking classy as they shared out the majority of the Moto wins. Gee Atherton was showing well as well, with his gating noticeably sharp and it came as a big surprise when he went out in his semi - a rare poor gate leaving him with too much to do as Scott Beaumont motored clear to win from Rich Batey. The other semi went to Martin Ogden (pictured) from Vitko. The final was a cracker with all four riders going into the first turn together, but Ogden then really turned on the gas to pull clear down the second straight with an impressive burst of acceleration, leaving Scott Beaumont to scrap for second, just holding off Vitko on the line. Steve Taylor won the B final.
Full Results >>>> |
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