A record crowd watched the motocross action at Wattisfield Hall, in Suffolk on Wednesday evening, held in warm sunny weather. The Diss club were the hosts at the Annual GH Motorcycles sponsored event and had prepped the fast circuit to perfection, with the crowd loving the four lap race format. Several national grade riders were in action, and Elliott Banks Browne was on great form, winning all of his four races.
After winning his qualifying heat from James Cottrell and Lewis Tombs, the twenty five year old Bury St Edmunds star won both group A races with ease. Eastern champion, Luke Parker, won heat two after a fierce battle with Halstead's Jason Morland and local rider, Ben Talbot. Race one in group A saw Brendon Mayers in fine form, holding second place behind Banks Browne, with Morland, Shaun Southgate and Talbot all within inches of each other throughout the four laps. Tombs finished in sixth place on the smaller 250cc bike, with his long term rival, Ipswich's James Cottrell just behind him.
The second leg saw Banks Browne leading from the start, building up a ten second lead after lap one, leaving a hectic battle for second place between local ace, Shaun Southgate, Parker, Morland and Cottrell. The four of them thrilled the huge crowd as they battled wheel to wheel, then just before the finish, Southgate was alongside Parker and Cottrell going into the final corner, when Parker and Cottrell collided, sending Cottrell tumbling to the ground. Southgate crossed the line in second place from Parker, Morland and Ben Talbot, with Adam Day just behind them. Cottrell remounted to finish in eleventh place.
The six lap grand final saw Banks Browne in charge from the start, with Mayers again getting a good start in second place, but was soon passed by Cottrell and Tombs, who were involved in another scrap for supremacy. Considering the fact that Cottrell had retired from racing last year, he impressed the crowd with his spectacular riding, holding off Tombs until the last lap. Mayers completed a good night with fourth, from a fast finishing Parker and Southgate.
The B group of allcomers saw former expert, Ollie Stearn winning both legs for overall victory, with Adam Johnson having two second places. Former Ipswich Witches speedway rider, Shaun Tacey, was third overall with two good rides.
Making up the entry was a full line up of enduro riders, several of them just returning from the Welsh two day enduro event. Lowestoft club member, Tom Braddock was on great form, winning all of his three races, although Tim Rose challenged hard in each race for second overall. Stowmarket's Ed Pooley was third overall, with Braintree's Will Hughes fourth.
So at 9pm, with the sun setting, the crowds made their way home after witnessing some super motocross action.
Results.
Qualifying heat one. Elliott Banks Browne Geartec Husqvarna, James Cottrell Husqvarna, Lewis Tombs Lings Husvarna, Shaun Southgate Herts Mx Honda, Adam Day Herts MX Husqvarna
Heat two. Luke Parker GH Husqvarna, Jason Morland Jim Aim KTM, Ben Talbot Honda, George Ellis Southside Husqvarna, Luke Gidney KTM
Allcomers A group overall. Banks Browne, Southgate, Morland, Talbot, Parker, Tombs
Allcomers B group overall. Ollie Stearn KTM, Adam Johnson KTM, Shaun Tacey Kawasaki, Rick Gorrell KTM, Lee Kirkpatrick KTM, Gary Scarlett KTM
Enduro class overall. Tom Braddock Husqvarna, Tim Rose KTM, Ed Pooley KTM, Will Hughes KTM, Kevin Palmer Sherco, Toby Morley Husqvarna
Grand final. Banks Browne, Tombs, Cottrell, Brendon Mayers Husqvarna, Parker, Southgate, Day, Morland, Ellis, Gidney
Report from Charlie Ralph, pictures from Sophie Brinkley.