Maxxis ACU British Championship Round 3 - Hawkstone Park 2016

JAKE MILLARD MOVES UP TO 4^th PLACE IN THE ACU MAXXIS BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

This weekend we have been racing at the Iconic Hawkstone Park in Shropshire, the home of British Motocross, for the 3^rd Round of the ACU Maxxis British Championship.  The weather forecast torrential rain and on the Saturday evening it put a fair bit down.  However, come Sunday, the track dried out by the time qualification was finished, leaving it pretty rough and rutted, but the sun came out which helped to make an enjoyable days racing.  Plenty of GP riders lined up against a good few former British Champions; what more could a spectator ask for!

Qualifying:

The track was still a bit sloppy for the qualification session, which was unusual for this Iconic track.  But it was the same for everyone.

MX 2 – A full line of top riders including Pocock, Clarke, McKenzie and Dunn.  Jake Millward struggled to slot in a quick lap and was sitting down in 18^th until the last lap when he took advantage of a relatively clear run and managed to slot in a decent time, which secured him 11^th gate pick.

MX 1 – Brad also struggled to get a good clear run amongst the pack of GP riders such as Simpson, Searle, Nicholls and Leok.  In the 4^th lap he got a relatively good rhythm going but was slowed down by a yellow flag just as he approached the finish line.  So Brad got a 7^th gate pick for the rest of the days racing.

Race 1:

MX 2 – Jake didn’t get a good start in this first race, getting out the gate way back in 14^th place.  However, by the end of lap one, Jake had soon settled into 10^th position.   Pocock came off in the first lap but soon pulled through, pushing Jake back to 11^th.  Trickett then appeared to be having bike issues and dropped back a place, leaving Jake once again in 10^th place.  Jakes throttle had stuck on, making it a pretty sketchy ride with a few dodgy moments but he managed to secure a solid 10^th place, giving him 11 valuable points towards the championship.

MX 1 – Brad’s start wasn’t the best, with a mid-pack gate jump but he still rounded the first bend in 10^th place.  By the end of lap one he had moved up to a comfortable 8^th place.  He fought hard and managed to pick off Elliot Banks Browne and then Tanol Leok.  Now in 6^th with just two laps to go, Brad started to catch 5^th place Kristian Whatley, closing the gap between them rapidly.  There just wasn’t enough time and Whatley pipped him to the post.  So Brad finished Race 1 in 6^th place with 15 points scored.

Race 2:

MX 2 – An excellent start this time for Jake Millward.  He looked like he was mid pack but rounded the first bend in 2^nd, battled a bit with Sterry and then settled into a very comfortable 4^th place, behind Pocock, Barr and Sterry.  Then Pocock made a mistake, and Jake moved into 3^rd place with a massive gap behind him.  He looked smooth and comfortable and kept up the pace, but Steven Clarke was busy making his way through the pack.  With just 2 laps to go, Clarkey started to slowly catch Jake and with just one lap to go he made his move. Jake didn’t give up.  He was spent.  He was knackered but he wasn’t for letting Clarkey get away and he was hot on his tail right till the chequered flat.  But Jake just couldn’t find the extra energy to make a final pass back.  So Jake finished an excellent 4^th place, giving him 5^th overall for the day - his best overall finish in the British so far.

MX 1 – Not a bad start for Brad this time, out of the gate and round the first bend in 6^th place, alongside Graeme Irwin.  Graeme got a good rhythm going and Leok soon made a pass which left Brad sitting in 8^th position.  Elliot then had a mechanical which took him out of the race, pushing Brad into 7^th.  Brad then seamed to find his own rhythm and speed and started to close on Whatley once again.  With just 2 laps to go, Brad made a pass and moved into 6^th place, giving him another 6^th place finish and 6^th overall for the day.

Overall:

Overall it was an excellent days racing for the team with consistency across the board and excellent finishes from both riders.

MX2 – Jake finished 5^th overall for the day and moved into 4^th place in the ACU British Motocross Championship.  Just 16 points now to catch Bryn MacKenzie who currently sits in 3^rd Place.

MX 1 – Brad finished 6^th overall today and moved up a position in the Championship, so now sits in 8^th place, just 2 points behind Krestinov and only 13 points behind Leok, Nicholls and Whatley, who all tie in 4^th place.  Ando however needs 25 points to catch Irwin who sits in 3^rd place.

Quote from Brad Anderson:

Tough days racing today.  Bad start in race 1.  Just couldn’t get going in race 2 till half way through the race, so just missed out on a 5^th place finish.  Track was rough and gnarly.

Quote from Jake Millward:

Pekin.

Quote from Team Manager, Adrian Kirk:

An excellent days racing from both riders.  Brad was consistent and moved up a place in the Championship table.  Jake showed everyone what we know he is capable of.  He just needs to believe in himself now.  Fourth place in the MX2 ACU Maxxis British Championship, by round 3, is a pretty good start to the season!