Monday July 30, 2018 at 10:24am
The Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean headed north to Duns in the Scottish Borders on Sunday where torrential rain and low cloud brought proceedings to a premature conclusion, causing the cancellation of the second MX1 moto and the third MXY2 race.
The MX2 class did get to race twice and it was Mel Pocock (REVO Husqvarna UK) who came out on top of a dramatic three-way tie to take his first overall win since Canada Heights in 2014.
Despite crashing in the first corner of the opening moto, Pocock got his head down and amid chaotic scenes as the dreadful conditions claimed victim after victim charged up to fourth at the flag.
Conditions were even worse for race two but Pocock again rose to the occasion and a last-lap pass on his team-mate Martin Barr for third gave him the verdict after he ended the day locked together on points with Barr who ran 3-4 and Josh Spinks (M Smith KTM) who carded 2-5.
“It’s been a long, long time since I was on top of the podium,” said Pocock. “I can’t actually remember when. The second race was just mayhem. I crashed six times. I can’t believe how hard it was – I think one lap I lost four positions and one lap I gained four positions – but I’m glad to come away with the win.”
Series leader Conrad Mewse (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) suffered in the first MX2 race with a crash and an over-heating bike limiting him to 14th. Second time out he again struggled off the start but fought his way up to second at the flag behind Jay Hague (JTL Husqvarna).
Despite this Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) carved seven points out of Mewse’s championship lead. The 20-year-old Cornishman raced to a gate-to-flag win in race one – a career-first – but he had a hard time in the second moto with two crashes seeing him come home 10th for fourth overall.
The only MX1 moto was dominated by Evgeny Bobryshev (Lombard Express Suzuki with PAR Homes) who took the lead on the opening lap and powered to victory – and the overall – from Ivo Monticelli (iFly JK Racing Yamaha) and two-time champion Brad Anderson (Verde Substance KTM).
“I’m happy to win the first moto,” said Bobryshev, “and luckily they cancelled the second one as it was getting too dangerous with no visibility and the track was just full of water.”
Series leader Jake Nicholls (Buildbase Honda) ran wide around the first turn but was quickly up to third before an over-heating bike with its radiators blocked by mud forced him to slow which allowed Anderson through.
Defending champion Graeme Irwin (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) was fastest in qualification but lasted less than a lap when a collision resulted in a bent rear sprocket and chain guide that forced him out.
The result means that with three rounds to go Nicholls leads Bobryshev by just 12 points.
Joel Rizzi (RFX Crescent Yamaha) topped an abbreviated MXY2 schedule with a 1-2 scorecard from new series leader George Sim-Mutch (Manchester MC Husqvarna) who ran 4-1.
Rossi Beard (Putoline Planet Husqvarna) went 2-6 for third overall as an injured Callum Green (Buildbase Honda), who’d won the opening round at Blaxhall, could only manage fifth on the day with 3-8 finishes.
Picture © Imagerich Media