The final round of the Eastern Centre Motocross Championships was held at a wet Cadders Hill circuit on Sunday, hosted by the Norwich Vikings club, and sponsored by Bickers Lifting and Stebbings Car Superstore. All credit to the club officials, marshals, medics etc, who braved the weather, ensuring that the fifteen-race programme was completed.
The first premier class race for the experts saw Lewis Tombs setting a fast pace at the front, chased by local ace, Luke Parker, who had spent this year competing in British and European enduro events.
George Turner was involved in a fierce battle with series leader, Luke Benstead, for third place, but on lap four, both riders went missing at the top of the circuit, allowing Calum Mitchell to move into third, chased by 2018 champion, Shaun Southgate, and local ace, Declan Whittle. Tombs led all eleven laps to gain 25 points, which saw him leading the series, just three points clear of Benstead, who's retirement effectively lost him the title.
Race two saw Tombs storming to the front again and leading throughout the twenty-minute-long race. Ipswich youngster, Ryan Allison, held second place for two laps, before being passed by Benstead, who gave chase, but could not catch the on-form Tombs. Sam Nunn was battling hard on his MX2 bike, and the youngster claimed third place at the end of a gruelling race. Parker was fourth, followed by Allison and Josh Peters. Championship contender Shaun Southgate's challenge was ended when he was forced to retire on lap eight.
Tombs ensured that the 2019 title was his, by winning the third moto with ease. Parker held second place for five laps, until Benstead passed him on a strong downhill pass. Nunn and Calum Mitchell on their 250cc bikes, were having a race long battle, and both got the better of Parker, who had to settle for fifth place. Unfortunately, the race was stopped after eight laps when Josh Peters took a heavy fall, and it is hoped that the young ace recovers well from his injury.
After qualification, the fastest forty junior grade riders hotly contested the final round of their championship. In a hectic battle, Tomas Hardcastle led after lap one of the fifteen minute long race, but a chain problem ended his race, leaving Max Bickers to lead the pack, chased by local rider, Ryan Powley, and fifteen year old Eastern youth champion, Will Farrow. Farrow moved into second place on lap four, but could not catch Bickers, who had taken the championship lead by just one point at the finish. Casey Lambley rode well for third place, from Powley and Jack Youngs, who was leading the series prior to the Lyng meeting.
Farrow rode brilliantly in race two on his little 125cc KTM, leading from start to finish. Youngs was holding second place on the first lap until Lambley made a fine move to grab second place. Bickers finished in third place after a battle with Hardcastle, but on the penultimate lap, Hardcastle was forced to retire again, allowing Charlie Roper to finish in fourth place ahead of Joe Golding and Powley. Youngs was having problems on the tough circuit, and could only manage eighth place at the finish.
The third junior championship race saw Roper leading for a couple of laps until rising star, Farrow, moved to the front to claim his second win, and overall victory on the day. Hardcastle's luck turned for the better, and rode well for second place, ahead of Lambley and Roper. Bickers had a steady ride to finish in fifth place, knowing that the championship was his, with young Archie Fisher rounding out the top six.
The B group support races saw Chelmsford's Joe Salmons taking the overall win with two wins and a second place. Surrey visitor, Roger Frean, won the first leg, followed by a second and fifth place to finish in second overall from the consistent Jack Austin.
Veteran Lee Keyton won all three moto's in the C group, with Norwich rider, Scott Goodson taking second overall from Tristan Cunningham, Bradley Allen and Ed Pegram.
In the D group supports, victory went to former speedway rider, Shaun Tacey, who could only finish in tenth place in the first race, but by winning the following two races, took the overall win. Josh Warren rode well for second, ahead of youngster, Henry Cox.
Results, final round of the Bickers Lifting/Stebbings Car Superstore Eastern Championships.
Premier class overall.
1st Lewis Tombs Buildbase Honda, 2nd Luke Parker Pope Kawasaki, 3rd Sam Nunn, HCR Apico Yamaha, 4th Luke Benstead GH Husqvarna, 5th Declan Whittle Lings Husqvarna, 6th Ryan Allison GH Husqvarna.
Junior Championship overall.
1st William Farrow KTM, 2nd Casey Lambley KTM, 3rd Max Bickers Lings Husqvarna, 4th Charlie Roper Husqvarna, 5th Jack Youngs Lings Husqvarna, 6th Joseph Golding Yamaha
Support group B overall.
1st Joe Salmons KTM, 2nd Roger Frean Yamaha, 3rd Jack Austin Honda, 4th Jack Whitlam KTM, 5th Anthony Brown Yamaha, 6th Bruno Van Dyke Husqvarna.
Support group C overall.
1st Lee Keyton Yamaha, 2nd Scott Goodson Husqvarna, 3rd Tristan Cunningham Husqvarna, 4th Bradley Allen KTM, 5th Edward Pegram Husqvarna, 6th Ty Atkins Honda.
Support group D overall.
1st Shaun Tacey Kawasaki, 2nd Joshua Warren Husqvarna, 3rd Henry Cox KTM, 4th Andrew Webster KTM, 5TH Aaron Holden Honda, 6th Alfie Self KTM
2019 Champions.
Premier class Lewis Tombs
MX2 expert Calum Mitchell
Rookie expert Ryan Watts
Junior class Max Bickers
MX2 junior Max Bickers
Over 40 Matt French
Report from Charlie Ralph