Newton le Willows MXC

Motocross at St Michael’s

Sunday 29th September

Report by John Radcliff

130 riders in seven groups set out on a cold September morning to enjoy a track perfect but for a thirty yard stretch of watery mud left by rain during the previous week. Practice and the first block of racing went smoothly but by the time of the first Auto race the watery mud had become a dark brown skating rink on which all but the very best of our youngest riders foundered. Some went down with grace and style others just stopped and fell off. Yet more fell and rose several times and some appeared to take the dive just for the fun of it but all overcame and continued to race the end. If only we had a video camera to capture it.  Mud wrestling with a motor bike. The film would have been worth a fortune.

The Adult classes combined to lead the way and once more produced some spectacular racing from the front runners. Richard Blakeman, Gary Cookson and Alan Gibson claimed 125 honours with Keith Boyle, Jack Yates and Sean Radcliff on top in the Open class.

The absence of many of the notables who were racing at the team event at Polesworth gave a different look to the results in the younger classes. Simon Ashe won the schoolboy 125 followed by an ever-improving Adam Turner and Shane Horridge.

In the Big Wheel 85s Kevin Wells took the crown without having to take part in the usual scrap with Danny Bamber and Nathan Parker. Sam Gilston and Guy Prince were second and third after some high speed battling.

In the Small Wheel 85s Chris Smith took his first win of the season from Glen Baron with his second successive second place. Bradley Harrison rounded off the top three. Ryan Shepherd continued his good form in the Juniors with a win, chased home by Daniel Brown and John Dixon.

Results

Adult Open

1.      Keith Boyle, 2. Jack Yates, 3. Sean Radcliff, 4. Mark Swift, 5. Steve Turner

Adult 125

1.      Richard Blakeman, 2. Gary Cookson, 3. Alan Gibson, 4. Chris Nevinson, 5. Andrew Dewhurst

S/B 125

1.      Simon Ashe, 2. Adam Turner, 3. Shane Horridge,  4. Colin Gibson, 5. Chris Morrison

BW 85

1.      Kevin Wells, 2. Sam Gilston, 3. Guy Prince, 4. Jordan Rigby, 5. Ryan Fear

S/W 85

1.      Chris Smith, 2. Glen Barron, 3. Brad Harrison, 4. Joe Manion, 5. Lee Harrison

Juniors

1.      Ryan Shepherd, 2. Daniel Brown, 3. John Dixon, 4. Kyle Evans, 5. James Madegan

Auto

1.      Chelsea Gowland, 2. Malachi Thomas, 3. Wesley Smallshaw, 4. Callum Grant, 5. Daniel Wright