The Luton & District MCC hosted the fourth round of the 2015 MAXXIS British sidecarcross championships at their Old Park Farm circuit near Toddington today. When the teams arrived at the track on Saturday afternoon the club had prepared the track well and the recent rain looked as if dust control was not going to be an issue. Sunday’s forecast wasn’t good but the hope was for it to be wrong.
Just before the teams went out for practice the rain started gently at first but it slowly became harder as the session went on. Stuart Brown / Josh Chamberlain put up the fastest time with Nick Jarvis / Dan Chamberlain second and Brett Wilkinson / Steve Kirwin. Making a welcome return after injury to Daniel’s arm back in May were the Millard brothers, Daniel & Joe. They put up the fourth fastest time. Nearly every crew put up their fastest time on their opening lap which was a good indication of how things were going to pan out.
With the rain falling quite heavily the gate dropped for the start of the opening race. Brown took the holeshot from Bradford / Peters with Wilkinson third and Jarvis fourth. Millard didn’t get such a good start but was in fifth place by turn two.
Conditions were very quickly becoming worse and on lap three the leaders started to lap some of the slower riders who were really struggling. As the race went on the track became virtually one line and overtaking was becoming very difficult. Brown went on to take the win with Bradford second and Jarvis third. Wilkinson had been in third till nearly the end of the race when he made a mistake and Jarvis got past.
With outfits stuck around the track the Clerk of the Course had a meeting with the top five riders and it was agreed that on safety grounds the two remaining races should be cancelled. Hence Brown / Chamberlain maintain their unbeaten run and have increased their lead over Wilkinson / Kirwin to forty points with Bradford / Peters a further thirty one points behind in third place.
In the Experts class the series leaders, Grahame / Lloyd pulled out midway through the race. Horton / Connor took the win from Moulds / Gardner with Gray / Gray third. Grahame now leads by forty three points from Moulds with Pannell / Parmenter another twenty three points adrift in third.
The penultimate round of the championship is due to take place at the Halstead Clubs Little Loveney Hall circuit on 6
th September when it is hoped the weather will be kinder.