MX Nationals - Round 5 - Wakes Colne - 2016

Not as stacked a class as usual with many Pro riders injured as the season is coming to a close.  But still 22 Pro’s lined up, 12 MX2 and 10 MX1.  The track had been watered so it was wet for the first few laps of qualifying.  It was also a stony track with lots of the little beggars getting in the wrong places.

MX 2 – Jake got a stone stuck in his foot peg which preyed on his mind for a good few laps.  As the track started to dry out, he freed it and managed to hang on to the back of Anderson and Irwin, slotting in a good time in this 12^th lap.  This gave him 5^th fastest MX1 and 11^th gate pick in the mixed class.

MX 1 – Brad too found the small stones get getting stuck everywhere but he soon got into the swing of things.  He moved into 1^st place early on and slotted his fasted time in lap 10.  But unfortunately Elliot Banks Browne got an excellent time in minutes later and pushed Brad down to 2^nd gate pick.  He was content with that.

Race 1:

MX 2 – Not a fantastic start for Jake, mid pack but 4^th MX2.  He found some good lines and was smooth as usual over the jumps but he got held up by an MX1 rider for the first few laps.  It was a narrow track and difficult to pass.  He has lost a lot of time whilst stuck and the three riders in front, Barr, Knight and Thombs were now getting away.  Lewis Thombs started to tire and Jake started to gain.  Then on the last lap, Brad Todd pushed hard and managed to pass Jake and pushed him back into 5^th place MX2 to finish Moto 1.

MX 1 – A great start to the race.  4^th MX1 rider out the gate.  Jake Shipton got away and led the majority of the race.  Greame Irwin started to tire from injuries sustained the week before, so Brad moved into 3^rd.  Then Elliot had a big off and Brad moved into a comfortable second.  There wasn’t enough to time to catch Jake who had now got away, so Brad settled for a comfortable 2^nd place finish.  All he needed now was a good start to take the overall in race 2.

Race 2:

MX 2 – Jake got a terrible jump out the gate and was right at the back of the mixed pack.  He pushed hard in the first lap and moved up 9 places, passing 6 other MX2 riders including Liam Knight, Rob Davidson and Jordan Divall.  But the rest had got away with the MX1 riders and try as he might, Jake just couldn’t catch the pack ahead.  As he took the last jump he had managed to close up on Carlton Husbands but just couldn’t make the pass in time before the chequered flag.  So Jake finished 6^th place MX2 in Moto 2.