Cumbernauld Centurions hosted the final rounds of the HSBC UK | National BMX Series, where 620 entries made the biggest race of the year for the riders to battle it out for the national titles.
The weekend opened with the local pipers bringing some culture to the event before the racing got underway. When the gate dropped, the racing across all classes was top notch.
Round 5
With just seven riders in the Championship women class, it was all races to count for the overall and it went down to the last race for the overall. Markella Houli had a flyer from the gate with Eleana Stafford heading tight on her inside. As they headed through the second straight, Emily Hutt made her move and battled it out with Houli to take the win by less than 0.3 of a second.
Oliver Cope wrapped up the Junior Men class title with his fifth national round win of the year. Mackenzie Rennison had the drop from the gate, but Cope reeled him in for a pass in the second turn to take control. Cumbernauld local, Cameron Reid claimed his first class podium in 3rd place after some strong laps through the day.
In the Superclass, Quillan Isidore was the sole representative for the Great Britain Cycling Team and after a week of hitting PBs in training he went unbeaten on his way to the class win. Callum Strickland gave chase through the lap, but Matt Hutt had awesome track speed and reeled him in down the last straight to claim 2nd place on the line.
Championship Women
1st Emily Hutt
2nd Markella Houli
3rd Elena Stafford
Junior Men
1st Oliver Cope
2nd Mackenzie Rennison
3rd Cameron Reid
Superclass
1st Quillan Isidore
2nd Matt Hutt
3rd Cal Strickland
Round 6
The final round of the series is always like a pressure cooker with titles on the line and points to rack up. Many classes were going down to the wire and the action was fast and furious all day.
The top steps of the Championship Women’s Podium went the same as day one with Hutt and Houli claiming 1st and 2nd. Houli had a great comeback in the fourth moto after a cash earlier in the day and took the final race win by 0.012 seconds as Hutt chased her down. Back in the pack after a couple of years away was Ellie Featherstone who kept consistent through the day to take 3rd.
The Junior men’s class is always a treat to watch and there weren’t many more popular wins over the weekend than Cumbernauld’s own Cameron Reid as he took his first Junior class win in front of the home club supporters. Mackenzie Rennison had another great days racing on his way to 2nd on the day and 3rd overall with Jos Marnham rounding out the podium in 3rd.
Bringing the curtain down on the series was the Superclass final and the snipers were out in the first turn as four riders went down. Quillan Isidore got the drop from the gate and headed for home. Meanwhile, Matt Hutt charged into the first berm, bar to bar with Callum Strickland and Tyreese Bradshaw. There was only room for one rider and the trio went down, collecting Dean Reeves on the way. In the scrabble of bikes and bodies, Matthew Gilston kept a clean line and had a great lap in 2nd with Joel Clarke chasing him down in 3rd.
Summing up the weekend, Isidore said “I’m absolutely buzzing from racing today. I really enjoyed putting down some solid laps for my Worlds prep. The track was running really fast and the weather held up. Props to everyone up here who made it happen.”
Championship Women
1st Emily Hutt
2nd Markella Houli
3rd Ellie Featherstone
Junior Men
1st Cameron Reid
2nd Mackenzie Rennison
3rd Jos Marnham
Superclass
1st Quillan Isidore
2nd Matthew Gilston
3rd Joel Clarke
