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KTM dominate muddy Maxxis opener

Following a challenging week battling the elements in preparation for this weekend’s British Motocross Festival, a day of fantastic racing at Culham MX Park saw Graeme Irwin and Conrad Mewse take the honours in the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship, with Mike Kras earning the overall victory in the ACU British Two-stroke series yesterday.

While the weather had proven challenging for the organisers in the lead up-to the weekend, the bumper crowd were not disappointed as track conditions proved tough yet exciting for the day’s proceedings.

In the Maxxis ACU British MX1 Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean Graeme Irwin picked up where he left off last season, with a pole position in qualifying, while Elliott Banks-Browne was second and Jake Nicholls rounding out the top three. In the opening moto, local-hero Kristian Whatley took to the front, but a charging Brad Anderson had clinched the lead by lap three. It would be short-lived, as Irwin hunted down Anderson to take charge of the race on lap four of the 25-minute plus two-lap moto, and was closely followed by a hard-battling Nicholls, who pushed the Irishman to the chequered flag for the runner-up spot. Anderson was third and Evgeny Bobryshev recovered from a first lap incident, in which he was out of the top 15, for fourth place with Whatley in fifth.

In the second moto of the day Banks-Browne took the early lead, with Ivo Monticelli putting the pressure on, while the battle behind them ensued. Bobryshev gave the spectators a real show to climb the order and with two laps to go the popular Russian star took to the front to take the moto win, with Banks-Browne in second and Irwin third. Overall Irwin took the victory honours and takes home the series’ red plate, with Bobryshev second and Nicholls in third position. Anderson was fourth, and Whatley was fifth.

Graeme Irwin said:  “The goal for yesterday was to hold onto the red plate and we achieved it. It wasn’t the easiest of days, we didn’t get the best start in the first one and then we got to the front with a little gap. I knew Jake was there behind me towards the end and we had to manage that, but he did come close and fair play to him for that, as I know he had an issue. In the second one I struggled to find the flow in the beginning and Bobby (Bobryshev) came by me, but I sat back for a lap or two and managed to get a pass back, but straight away he had a good line in that bottom bit and got me back. I could match his speed and knew he was going fast, but I got caught up with some of the riders and took third in the end. It’s been a good day and a nice way to start the championship. The track was in good shape, and we’ve come away with the result we wanted, so I’m happy.”

Mewse was in incredible form
Mewse was in incredible form

In the Maxxis ACU British MX2 class supported by Pro-Clean Hitachi KTM UK ASA Scaffolding’s Conrad Mewse put on a class performance to take both moto wins. The 18-year-old from Shepton Mallet topped all sessions, and after gating third in the opening moto the KTM-ace took control of the race and with it the win by 29 seconds.  Honda mounted Josh Gilbert led the opening part of the moto, and took a well-earned second position with some fantastic riding, while Mel Pocock made the most of a good start to take third position at the chequered flag.

Although Mewse did not clinch the best start in moto two, with Josiah Natzke blasting to the front aboard his Buildbase Honda, the youngster went from eighth to the lead by the end of lap four and controlled the race from the front, again winning by nearly 30 seconds. Gilbert put on another strong performance from fourth at the end of lap one to take the runner-up spot and a superb podium second overall, with Liam Knight in third for fourth overall.  Pocock’s fourth position in moto two gave him the final podium spot for Revo Husqvarna in third place.

Conrad Mewse said: “I came into this weekend not knowing what to expect. We’ve had a good start to the season and it’s been nice to get the British Championship underway. We had a perfect day, winning every session we had on track and by a considerable margin, so I’m really happy. The team has done a great job, and Graeme also did a good job in the MX1 class. It’s been a fantastic weekend and I’m happy with where I’m at. I thought the track was going to be a lot wetter than it turned out – we thought it might have even been waterlogged, but the organisers have done a fantastic job. There were plenty of lines out there, it was really technical and it made for some great racing. I had my work cut out in the last one, as I had to come through, but it was technical and that helped me. The event was amazing – I always love racing in the UK, and especially in the British Championship. It’s my first year doing it and we’ve had a great start.”

Mike Kraws dominated the smokers
Mike Kraws dominated the smokers

In the ACU British Two-Stroke championship the battle was on with Mike Kras taking both moto wins, while Ashley Wilde took a runner-up spot double. Neville Bradshaw went 6-3 for the final podium position.

 

MX1 Overall

1             1                            Graeme Irwin     45           25           20

2             777                       Evgeny Bobryshev            43           18           25

3             45                          Jake Nicholls       40           22           18

4             60                          Brad Anderson   35           20           15

5             227                       Kristian Whatley               30           16           14

6             119                       Ryan Houghton  28           15           13

7             44                          Elliott Banks-Browne       25           3             22

8             95                          Daniel Thornhill 25           13           12

9             153                       James Harrison  25           14           11

10           41                          Erki Kahro           18           10           8

11           57                          Tony Craig          18           11           7

12           128                       Ivo Monticelli     16           –              16

13           37                          Gert Krestinov    12           12           –

14           25                          Jamie Law           11           2             9

15           162                       Stuart Edmonds 10           –              10

MX2 Overall

1             426                       Conrad Mewse  50           25           25

2             3                            Joshua Gilbert    44           22           22

3             119                       Mel Pocock         38           20           18

4             134                       Liam Knight         36           16           20

5             115                       Ashton-Lee Dickinson     30           18           12

6             41                          Alexander Brown             28           15           13

7             33                          Josiah Natzke     27           11           16

8             148                       Michael Eccles   22           8             14

9             66                          Lewis Tombs      20           13           7

10           331                       Jordan Eccles     17           6             11

11           180                       Josh Spinks          15           –              15

12           50                          Martin Barr         14           14           –

13           171                       Dexter Douglas  13           9             4

14           98                          Todd Kellett        12           12           –

15           303                       Jake Millward     10           –              10

 

 

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