After three very hard fought rounds in the 2017 AMCA British Motocross Championship, it’s Luke Burton (MX1), Josh Waterman (MX2), Brad Turner (2T) and James Russell (Vets) who top the early point’s standings. This Sunday, May 28th the pace-setters and their rivals resume business when they go into battle again as Bevercotes in Nottinghamshire hosts round four of this super series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop.
Since the last action at Lower Drayton, MX1 leader Burton has suffered a nasty arm wound following a practise track crash. However the FUS FRO CPS Husqvarna pilot is expected to be back to fitness for Bevercotes, looking to maintain his very strong start to the new campaign. Defending his title, Burton has already won eight out of the nine moto’s completed and currently sits 89 points clear of his FUS teammate James Dodd. After being hampered by mechanical issues at Lower Drayton, other potential title challengers Gary Gibson and Shane Carless will both be looking to regain some lost ground on the FUS duo this weekend. Also inside the MX1 top ten at present are the very consistent John May, Paul Neale, Ryan Crowder, Luke Meredith, Ashley Thomas and Ben Saunders. Missing round two due to a knee injury, Richard Cannings bounced back at Lower Drayton to take 3rd overall. Currently sitting 12th in the standings, Cannings could certainly be a rider to watch out for!
After injuring his shoulder at Nympsfield, Ray Rowson (Apex Geartec KTM) returned in style during round three to thus take the overall MX2 win. Bagging 174 big points, Rowson is back up to 4th in the standings as defending Champion Josh Waterman (JD Racing/IDS KTM) leads the way from Luke Dean and Lewis King. So far, Waterman (4), Rowson (3) and Dean (2) have shared the moto wins with King also in great form having recorded back to back podiums aboard his fast TMC Kawasaki. In this always exciting contest, Bradley Tranter, Clinton Barrs, Jack Cox, Luke Mellows, James Wainwright and Cory McShane are all inside the early top ten and sure to be ultra-determined to make up lost ground on the current Championship top four along with Jansen Day. After starting the season with a podium at Minchinhampton, Day has had his points haul restricted in the last two rounds due to unfortunate falls.
In the 2T contest, Brad Turner (AMS IDS KTM) was back to his very best at Lower Drayton, blasting to maximum points. Whilst Turner starred, in contrast Jason Kendrick had a nightmare with a moto one DNF and a later crash. Those results saw Kendrick drop from top slot to 5th in the standings behind leader Turner on 467 points, Sam Smith 435, Bradley Doyle 395 and Tony Griffiths 392. Having finished as runner-up in the 2016 2T series, James Lane currently sits in 7th, just behind Jordan Saunders with Ashley Benniston, Sean Eckersley and Shaun Buchan rounding out the current top ten. So far this series as produced some top class action so expect more of the same on the fast, racy hillside circuit.
Former AMCA Champion James Russell has made a stunning comeback to top level racing in 2017. At present the Premier Bikes KTM ace proudly sits on top of the Vets series, 44 points clear of Simon Lane with Terry House a further 8 points in arrears. So far, Russell (7), Lane (1) and House (1) have bagged the moto wins and confirming their dominance also took the podium placings at all three completed rounds. Next best at present is Richard Chinn on the fast 2T TM machine with Martin Atherton, Gary Jones, Brian Staples, Darren Bennett, Sean Smith and Stephen Marlow also in fine form in the early clashes of the 2017 Vets contest.
The Bevercotes circuit can be found signposted from the A614 Ollerton island with a postcode of NG22 0PS. Racing should be underway by 10.30am. Words and pic by Mike Wood.