On Sunday the 8th of September, the Halstead DMCC hosted round 5 of the ACU Eastern Centre MX championship, backed by sponsors Stebbings car superstore and the Norton way Honda group. This was the clubs final meeting of the 2024 season, and it was sure to be one not to miss.
There was drama from the get-go in the expert qualifying session, as Sam Nunn (John Banks Honda) had some mechanical issues and would not set a single lap, meaning he would have the last choice gate pick, advantage to the rest of the pack….
In the premier class race 1, Lewis Tombs (John Banks Honda) shot out of the gate and into an early lead with fellow top 3 championship rival Luke Parker (MPM Kawasaki) a close second. Both GH Motorcycle team riders Ben Cole and Shaun Southgate would have torrid times of it on the opening laps, with Cole ending up not finishing the race. Nunn battled through the likes of Dec Whittle (Lings KTM) and Scott Aldridge but could only watch on, as the front two went bar-to-bar all race. In a drag race to the finish line, Tombs would finish first and only 0.5 of a second ahead of Parker in second and Nunn in third.
Premier class race 2 would see a much better start for Shaun Southgate as all the big hitters were towards the front early on. Joe Leeks carried on his fine 2024 form and would look comfortable with the pace of the top 10. Luke Parker started to tumble out of the top 5 after a couple of mid-race mistakes and would cost him some valuable points in the championship. Up stepped Sam Nunn to capitalise on this, and it was he who would take the race win ahead of Tombs and Southgate with Alldridge coming home in a solid 4th.
In the final Premier class race of the day, it was again Southgate and Tombs with storming starts but the pace came from behind, as Alldridge looked to throw a spanner in the works of this year’s championship, breezing up to the rear wheel of Tombs and making it a three-way battle for the lead. This in turn would allow Nunn to close the gap but at first sight looked to be unable to make the pass. He then turned on the style and swiftly made 3 exquisite passes in succession and into the lead. Tombs gave everything to try and bounce back but it was too late, and Nunn would take his second win of the day, Tombs over the line in second and Alldridge would finish in third, his best result of the day.
The expert overall going to Nunn a point better off than Tombs in second and Alldridge (riding in his first Eastern Centre meeting) in third. The Junior class overall would go to Tim Warnes, in second was Jae Jeffries and Justin Whyatt in third.
In support A it was Lee Kirkpatrick who would take the honours with a 1-12-1 ahead of Joe Henthorn with a 3-1-13. In third was Jack Whitlam with a 11-7-2 finish.
The support B overall was won by Mark Relland with a 3-1-1 ahead of Mark Gardner with a 1-2-2, and Adam Pain in third with a 2-3-3.
In support C it was Richard Ingram who would win with a 1-1-3 finish ahead of Jason Ramsey with a 3-2-2 and Ethan Johnson in third with a 2-8-1.
The Halstead DMCC thank you for your support and look forward to welcoming you back to Wakes Colne in 2025!
Race Report from Stefan Hicks
Images courtesy of Narna Media/Max Leveridge