20:49Last Sunday the Phoenix Tools Ifly Premier motocross Championship made its way to the ever popular Cusses Gorse track at Winterborne Gunner in Wiltshire. Ausual the track had been prepped to a high standard and with rain on the Saturday evening the track was in perfect condition to produce some top quality racing for the first block of racing, but as the day progresed rain was to fall which made the track a bit slipperry and extra care was needed.
In the Pro Expert class it was the Phoenix Tools Ifly Husqvarna of James Harrison again who had set the fastest time in qualifying and it was he who had the holeshot in the opening race ahead of Championship leader Shane Carless on the Oakleaf Motorsport Honda and fellow Phoenix Tools Ifly Husqvarna rider Alex Snow (Pictured No 31). Harrison was in a real hurry at the front in this one and was geting away from Carless who on lap 2 was under huge pressure from Snow with them touching as they went in to a slow lefthander which left Carless stranded and thrustrated as it took him a further lap to restart his bike which put him well down the field. Snow was to gradually close in on Harrison mid race and was right with him on lap 7 and was soon to take the lead as Harrison was to go down exiting a fast right hander. Snow was to go on to take the win, but taking 2nd was wildcard Kayne Lamont from New Zealand on the Mx-Zone/Turvey Yamaha who was to get the better of Harrison 2 laps from the end. In the second moto this time it was Carless with the best start from Harrison and Snow which was to turn in to a battle royal for the first couple of laps until both Harrison and Snow found away pass on lap 3. These two were really giving it there all for the remainder of the race with Snow desperatley trying to find away pass, but Harrison was to hold strong and took the chequered flag with Carless coming home a distant 3rd behind Snow. The last moto turned in to the best race of the day with Carless yet again leading the race for the first couple of laps before Harrison edged his way to the front on lap 3 with Snow getting the better of Carless a lap later as did yet another Phoenix Tools Ifly rider Alfie Smith who was shining in this one. Both Snow and Smith were to catch and pass Harrison on lap 6 with Snow starting to pull away at the front, but with just 3 laps remaining Smith dug in deep and closed right up on Snow and on the last lap was giving his all to find away pas, but it was to no avail as Snow took the win from a close Smith with Harrison some 14 seconds adrift coming home in 3rd.
In the Expert class Championship leader Charlie Putnam had his lead cut to just 13 points at the last round by David keet on the Danger UK Husqvarna with this Championship set to go down right to the wire. In the opening race it was wildcard Lougas Maggio who had the early lead from fellow wildcard Robert Yates who eventually mid race found away pass Maggio to take the lead and from there went on to take the win with Maggio 2nd and the D S C Cornwall Kawasaki of Ben Butler 3rd. In race 2 this time it was Yates from the off and he was soon in to his rythm and was to totally storm away to take his second win of the day with Joe jefferies taking 2nd and Butler yet again 3rd. The last moto agin it was Yates who led and soon eased away on the opening lap, but a mistake towards the end of lap 2 put him totally last and up in to the lead had come Putnam, but his lead was short lived as Jefferies was to catch and pass him a lap later and was soon off in the distance and raced away to take the win with Yates after his earlier mistake coming back to take 2nd ahead of Butler who made it a hat trick of 3rds and top registered rider.
In the combined Over 35, Over 40 and Over 50’s races there was agood performance from defending Over 35 Champion and current Championship leader Nick Life on the Gibbs Performance/ St Blazey Yamaha who notched up yet another hat trick of wins and increased his Championship lead over the Readypower KTM of Rick Hanson who had been quickest in qualifying who also rode well on the day and finished 2nd to Life in all three races with Chris Brown (Pictured No 971) who had switched from a Cheddar Mx Store Honda to a Kawasaki taking 3rd in all three races, but this was a good result for Brown as he is a Over 40’s rider and has now taken the lead as Championship leader Terry House was a non starter. Mark Gleadhill was to yet again dominate the Over 50’s class with a hat trick of wins.
In the Junior Championship as with other rounds there was no stopping one of the countries up and coming young stars 16 year old Jamie Carpenter who showed his class by taking yet another hat trick of wins.
Report & Photos by Dave Rich