Monday July 22, 2019 at 3:59pm
Shaun Simpson (RFX KTM powered by PAR Homes) put the disappointment of a double technical DNF last time out behind him to race to a commanding maximum at round six of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean at Hawkstone Park on Sunday.
In MX2 killer Kiwi Dylan Walsh (REVO Husqvarna UK) also doubled up with a maximum score of his own to extend his title advantage over team-mate Alvin Ostlund to 12 points.
The super-swift Scot is always at home in the sand and after topping MX1 qualification by over one-and-a-half seconds he smashed out a pair of moto wins, his first by over 37 seconds before coming home almost 26 seconds clear in race two.
“All-in-all it’s been a good day,” said Simpson. “I couldn’t have honestly hoped for any better – it was exactly what I planned. Pole in qualifying was what I needed to send the message that I was there to do a job.
“I didn’t get either of the holeshots today which I was very disappointed about but I was second twice and Harri [Kullas] let me past at the end of the first lap on both occasions so that was fine.”
Series leader Tommy Searle (BOS Kawasaki) chased him home in both motos and with two rounds to go has a 49-point advantage at the top of the table.
Despite racing with a broken shoulder blade, Estonian Harri Kullas (Cab Screens Deos Group Racing) took both holeshots and toughed it out for a 3-4 card and third overall ahead of Jake Nicholls (Buildbase Honda) who, on his return to Maxxis action following last year’s season-ending injury, had to pick himself off the deck in turn two of race one to take eighth.
In moto two Nicholls stayed upright off the start and after a few passes settled into third at half-distance which he held to the flag.
Jake Millward (Chambers Racing Husqvarna) consolidated his third place in the championship in fifth with a 5-5 card after winning a tie-break with Mel Pocock (ASA United KTM).
Walsh replicated Simpson’s performance in MX2, comfortably topping qualification and then winning both races from Ostlund.
“Today has been absolutely perfect,” he said. “I qualified first and took two holeshots and two moto wins. I like it at Hawkstone but it was very fast today and a bit sketchy. There were sandy parts and hard parts but it suited me.
“I’m looking forward to the final two rounds at Foxhill and Landrake – I’m more of a hard-pack rider so I can’t wait! I’m really happy – it couldn’t have gone better.”
Ostlund’s 2-2 scorecard gives him a 22-point buffer over Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda) who ran 3-3 for third with Martin Barr (Crescent Yamaha) going 4-4 to move past the injured Bas Vaessen (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee) into fourth in the championship.
Picture © Nuno Laranjeira