12:59On Sunday May 1st the Phoenix Tools Premier motocross Championship made its first visit to Little Silver Moto Parc, Exeter for round 3 in the series which incorporated round 2 of the Evo/Super Evo Championship. Water had been put down the night before as well as early morning to put the track nigh on perfect for racing. There was many wildcards not just in the Experts, but also in the other classes which included MOTO GP rider Scott Redding who was in the juniors.
In the Expert Championship it was wildcard Liam Garland on the G M Electrical / MBO Sport KTM who had set the fastest time in qualifying, but it was the Tony Maunders Racing Yamaha of Kelvin Townsend who was to get the holeshot in the opening race from Garland with Dan Thornhill (Pictured No 95) on the Cab Screens / LiuGong Husqvarna tucked in 3rd. Thornhill was in a real hurry on the opening lap and soon got pass Garland then took Townsend to take the lead. Garland was soon to move in to 2nd on lap 2 and was giving his all to stay in touching distance of Thornhill which he did for most of the race, but it was Thornhill who held strong to take the win with Liam Knight on the Dyer & Butler coming through to take 3rd. In the second moto it was Garland this time that emerged at the front out of the first corner with Thornhill giving chase. Garland really had the throttle wound back in this one and with a clear track in front of him started to get away and was to lead Thornhill by 3 seconds after 5 laps, but Thornhill then started to gain on Garland and within 2 more laps he was breathing all over Garland pressing for the lead which he took 2 laps from the end and went on to take the Chequered flag ahead of Garland with fellow wildcard Lewis Trickett on the Buildbase Honda taking a well deserved 3rd. In the last moto it was Garland again who had the early lead from Trickett with Thornhill in 3rd who was soon up in to 2nd after getting pass Trickett within a couple of corners. Garland looked determined in this one and was to give his all at the front and maintained a cushion for most of the race and was to take the win from Thornhill with Trickett taking 3rd.
In the over 35’s the day could of started bad for Championship leader Wayne Shimell on the Tyremarks Husqvarna as he had a problem with his forks as he was a bout to go to the pit box, luckily for him he was quickly lent a bike. The gate dropped for the opening race and it was the Cheddar MX / M D Racing Honda of Ben Harmon who had the early lead from James Price on the Ace Comfort Cooling Kawasaki with Shimell all over Price in 3rd. Harmon was soon to have Shimell all over him as he had got the better of Price on the opening lap and was pressing Harmon for the lead, but it wasn’t until lap 4 that Shimell found away pass and from there went on to take the win with Harmon 2nd and Price a distant 3rd. Moto 2 saw Harmon at his best taking the holeshot from Shimell and Jonathan Morrissey with Harmon soon in a rhythm at the front and easing away. Shimell was to keep Harmon in his sights and with half the race completed Shimell was to close right up on Harmon and with just 2 laps remaining took the lead and from there went on untroubled to take the win, Harmon 2nd with Price eventually passing Morrissey to take 3rd again. The last race saw Harmon lead for the opening lap, but Shimell was out to make it a hat trick of wins and to increase his Championship lead which he did as he soon got pass Harmon and was to go on to take the win from Harmon with Morrissey this time taking 3rd.
In the Over 40’s again as with previous rounds it was well supported and was to produce some really fast racing, but at the end of the day there was no stopping Championship leader Stuart Rawlings who increased his Championship lead with a convincing hat trick of wins as did David Ford on the Projuice KTM in the Over 50’s class who kept up his 100% record winning all 3 races.
The Junior Championship class saw the Bridgestone KTM of Harry Linton increase his Championship lead, but it wasn’t all plain sailing as Tyron Cleaver took the win in the second race and did push Linton in the last one.
Some of the best racing on the day was seen in the Junior B class which included a guest appearance from MOTO GP rider Scott Redding (Pictured No 451) who told me that he loves Motocross as well as road racing and he was to show his talent taking wins in race 1 and 3 and with a 5th in race 2 was to take the overall on the day.
In the Junior C Class there was no stopping wildcard Matthew Cole who took a comfortable hat trick of wins.
In the Evo class the Championship lead was to change at the end of the day and that was to now be Andrew Williams (Pictured No 7) as he notched up a clean sweep of wins. Championship leader going in to round 2 was Ricky Brown who was leading the opening race before he had a problem with his bike which was later revealed as a crack in his engine casing and with it put him out for the rest of the day.
Report and Photos by Dave Rich