Talented teenager and Apico sponsorship winner Jack Grayshon took runner-up spot in his as he moved up from the 85s to the 125s in the opening Judd KTM British Youth Championship at Culham MX Park in Oxfordshire.
Grayshon, who picked up the £5000 sponsorship package for his performances in the Apico 2-Stroke Festival in 2018, was last year’s 85cc champ but has opted to move up to the bigger bikes for 2019.
The 125cc class had some hot competition throughout the weekend and it was a spectacle to see and hear the sound of 125cc machines tearing around the Oxfordshire circuit. Taking the 2019 opening round overall was Judd Orange Brigade riders Preston Williams and Louie Kessell in first and third, with Grayshon in second place. Rounding out the top six for the British 125cc Championship class was James Smith, Cullen Scott and Buster Hart.
In the all new British Rookie Championships in the Auto to Open class, where those competing in each category for the first season are awarded points for a separate series to recognise their achievements aside of the main class they are racing in, Brian Gyles, Noah Eastwood, Will Haddock, Bailey Johnston, Louie Kessell and Max Ingham were the overall winners.
In the smallest capacity Auto class there was no stopping Judd Orange Brigade rider Robbie Daly who took all five moto wins with the maximum number of points of 225 for the first round. Throughout the field there were some outstanding battles as the stage was set for the year, where Brian Glyes took second place on the podium and Lucas Lee was in third with Stanley Siebert, Elvis Totney and Malachi Allan rounding out the top six in the category.
Spectators enjoyed some incredible action throughout the five 65cc class races at Culham – in fact, it went down to the second day to determine the opening round overall winner. Taking the top spot on the podium was Dirt Bike Rider Magazine sponsored rider Max Harris. Clinching second and third positions were Noah Eastwood and Brandon Buckley, who rode superbly throughout. Archie-Jay Girdham, Reece Jones and Charlie Richmond rounded out the top six.
SJP Moto Small Wheel 85cc rider Finley Evans battled hard to take the honours for the class with just a four point advantage over second placed rider, Tyla Hooley. Judd Orange Brigade’s Ben Mustoe has had a positive winter to kick off his season with a first podium aboard his KTM. Will Haddock, Warren Clarke and Finlay Boxhall concluded the top six for the class.
The Big Wheel 85cc class provided some outstanding racing to watch across the pack with some great competitive riding to keep the spectators on their toes. After a very close finish in a number of motos SJP Moto rider Charlie Heyman took the overall victory with 219 points followed by Sam Atkinson in second with 216 points. Judd Orange Brigade rider Bailey Johnston, last year’s 85cc S/W champion, was third on the podium with 200 points. Finishing fourth was Revo Husqvarna rider Ollie Colmer, whilst Wal Beaney and Kiean Boughen, who both will be competing at a number of EMX rounds this year, were fifth and sixth.
The final class for the weekend was the Open class with Verde Sports KTM EMX250 rider Dominic Lancett taking all five moto wins. Hardcore Racing Yamaha rider Max Ingham took second place on the podium with Judd Orange Brigade rider Drew Anderson just four points behind in third position. Fourth overall went to Joseph Dent, with Finn Eady and Jack Roberts in fifth and sixth positions.
The Judd KTM British Youth Championship heads to Pontrilas near Hereford for the second round of the six event British Youth Motocross Championship on April 27 and 28.