Photo: Connor Walkley MXY2 Champion and Possibly BYMX Open Champion
With the final round of this years BYMX championship series about to hit to the dirt at Cusses Gorse 11th/12th September the long wait between rounds six and seven is now over - and we will soon know the names of this years famous four premier British youth champions.
Looking back over this years Express Insurance BYMX championship series you have to say it's been a great racing spectacle in all four youth classes - and the addition of the Adult Two stroke championship series has also given the whole racing weekend a valuable extra added dimension. The 2010 series has also been without doubt the best presented and prize laden to date with much credit for that going to all concerned at the ACU, the BYMX organising committee, along with all of the championship sponsors, namely - Express Insurance, Dunlop, Honda, Monster Energy, CGH and Ipone oil.
After six quality rounds of competition Albie Wilkie, Josh Gilbert, Adam Sterry and this years brand new MXY2 champion Connor Walkley have emerged as clear favourites to win the titles this year with all four having built up something of a comfort zone - but as always it's never quite over until it's over and there are bound to be a few more dramatic twists and turns still to come in this years series .
Both Adam Sterry in the BWs and Connor Walkley in the Youth Open section have a very healthy 23 point lead over their respective opponents and they represent the two clearest of the favourites by far. In the BW division Ben Watson has a clear second place position but the three-way Honda tear up just behind between Jack Kelly, James Harrison and Liam Garland will be one to keep a very close eye on as they battle to improve their final positions. It's also still mathematically possible for Watson, Kelly,or Harrison to win the title. Like wise in the Youth Open where the runners up spot is right there for the taking with Tom Kelly, Nathan Watson and Gary Sharp being the three names in that particular mathematical frame while also representing the only title challenge to Connor.
The situation in the 65s and Small wheels is a lot closer however at the very top. Although both Albie Wilkie and Josh Gilbert have margins to play with they must both finish within the top six this weekend to be absolutely sure of going home with the championship crowns. Wilkie needs to finish in fourth place overall or higher while fifth or better will do the job nicely for Gilbert. Anywhere outside of that and it's a real nerve jangler with the titles up for grabs.
In the 65s it's only possible for second placed Keenan Hird or third man Taylor Hammal to snatch the crown from Wilkie's grasp but with the likes of James McFayden, Jake Edey and Alexander Brown all on top form it could well end up being a close run thing come race five on Sunday afternoon.
The battle in the Small Wheels is equally as interesting with possibly more candidates in the plot and all capable of filling a top six result in any kind of order. Josh Gilbert therefore could do with a repeat of something approaching the brilliant Dean Moor and Brampton form if he is to confidently elbow the challenge of his main rival's Oliver Osmaston and Robert Yates. Confidence could well be the key in this section, hold your nerve, keep your eyes firmly fixed on the prize, and you could well end up holding the ultimate number one red plate. Crunching the SW numbers it's still possible for Jay Lamb, Conrad Mewse and Sid Evans to end up with that number one plate but in reality it looks like a Gilbert, Osmaston and Yates three way shootout.
Current Championship standings:
65s 1. Wilkie 267pts, 2. Hird 254, 3. Hammal 252, 4. McFayden 212, 5. Edey 205, 6. Brown 203
SWs 1. Gilbert 253 pts, 2. Osmaston 238, 3. Yates 238, 4. Lamb 215, 5. Mewse 214, 6. Evans 213
BWs1. Sterry 270pts, 2. Watson 247, 3. Kelly 228, 4. Harrison 224, 5. Garland 218, 6. Southwood 188
Youth Open 1. Walkley 274pts, 2. Kelly 251, 3. Watson 246, 4. Sharp 238, 5. Norris 214, 6. McLean 206
Honda Xtreme 1 Adam Sterry 270 pts 2, James Harrison 224, 3 Liam Garland 218.
Two Stroke Adult 125s 1 James Dunn 178 pts, 2 Bryn Clark 174, 3 Callum Sloman 146
Two Stroke Adult 250s 1 Luke Copping 166 pts, 2 John Richardson 158, 3rd Ryan Pottenger 146.
By Mike Gurney
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