Maxxis ACU British Championship Round 3 - Cancada Heights - 2017

MX2:

Jake got an excellent jump out the gate and scooted up the hill in the top 5. There was a big pile up on the 2^nd bend and Jake got caught up in it and put him back towards the back.  Jake gave it his all and pulled through from something like 25^th into 14^th place.  He was really on form and then his brake pedal caught on a down hiller and broke clean off, obviously weakened from the initial pile up.  The track was very rough and Jake had little control without his brake on a track like this and he had no option to finish the race in a very disappointing 32^nd place, with no points when he desperately needed some.

MX1:

Brad came round the first corner in 2^nd and then shot up the hill on the Verde KTM ahead of Irwin on the Buildbase Honda.  Irwin then round a way through, closely followed by Elliot Banks-Browne, Lenoir and Krestinov, which left Brad to battle it out with Whatley for 5^th.  Soon after Whatley went through he hit a bad line which threw him from the bike, resulting in a red flag situation, a very unfortunate Kristian Whatley and the race been called final after just half way through.  This left Brad with 5^th place position for Race 2.

Race 2:

MX2:

Another excellent start for Millward 303, fast out the gate and round the 2^nd bend in 3^rd.  It was a fast race.  The track has become like a speedway with sharp edges.  Jake’s shoulders ached as he held on tight on this tough track.  His speed started to slow but he was still strong and he finished 9^th in Moto 2.

MX1:

It was all about the starts for the Verde KTM’s this weekend and Brad’s second race was no exception.  Ando hole shot and held on to his 1^st place for a good few laps. Krestinov was on form this weekend and he managed to push past as soon as he found a gap.  Brad managed to repeatedly block out Lenoir but the nippy French man finally passed, followed shortly by Elliot Banks-Browne.  Brad was not for letter Elliot get away and he pressurised him hard throughout the whole race.  Lots of yellow flags made it difficult to race at full speed and limited passing opportunity but it was a good fair race and Brad came home in 4^th place in Moto 2.

Overall:

MX2:

Despite excellent starts Jake just didn’t achieve the results that he so desperately needed, after round 2.  His unfortunate brake damage in race one resulted in a no point finish and race 2 just didn’t go to plan.  So a 32 – 9, giving Jake a 16^th overall does not show the ability that this rider is capable of.  This leaves Jake going into Round 4 at Hawkstone Park on the 14^th May, sitting in 13^th place in the Championship.  Jake rides well at Hawkstone so hopefully he will recover enough points there to take him back into the top 10.

MX1:

Brad finally had some excellent starts this weekend and had two good consistent rides.  With a 5-4, finishing 4^th overall, this leaves Brad sitting in 4^th in the Championship, 6 points ahead of Elliot Banks-Browne but still 12 points behind 3^rd place.  Hawkstone however, is also one of Brad’s favourite tracks so if things go to plan , Brad will close the gap on that 3^rd place finish at the next round.

Quote from Jake Millward:

Gutted about my brake lever snapping in the first race.  I had pushed so hard to come from the back.  I was chuffed with my starts today but the track took it out of me today and I really ached in race 2 making it hard to hang on.

Quote form Brad Anderson:

Good starts today made racing a lot easier.  I had two solid results with a 5 – 4 giving me 4^th overall.  With Whatley and Nicholls out for most of the season it is going to be a close battle between 5 of us to get those top 3 championship places which are up for grabs.