Wulfsport British Masters Motocross Championship

Throw in the ingredients of an awesome, spectacular motocross track with panoramic views of the Whitby coastline, add a big sprinkling of the countries top riders all chasing one of the largest MX prize funds in Europe and the end result is another fantastic Wulfsport British Masters event.For round three of the series in which riders of all abilities are just desperate to be involved in,over 350 competitors travelled to Skelder Bank,North Yorkshire.Whilst PAR Honda rider Martin Barr took top honours in both the Wulfsport Pro MX1 and MX2 classes, the other outstanding performances of the weekend came from Kawasaki Masters series leader Zac Stealey and Amateur Non-Qualifiers winner Jamie Ashbrook who both produced a perfect four out of four moto victories in their respective classes.

Already in the opening two rounds of the series, the Pro MX classes have wowed the watching crowd with an abundance of top quality racing, and on the technical Skelder Bank circuit that reputation was certainly maintained.In Pro MX1 race one,Stuart Edmonds led the early exchanges before being pushed back by an hard charging five rider train consisting of Scott Elderfield, Kristian Whatley, Brad Anderson, Ben LaMay and Martin Barr.Such was the pace of the PAR Honda boy’s though that the five quickly then became a three way battle until Elderfield and Anderson then endured a serious coming together!!.On the exit from a fast flowing corner, both riders were on the gas, only to meet at the same intersection point and thus crashing.Although quickly remounting, they could only watch as a surprised Barr moved through to take control followed by Whatley.Still racing wheel to wheel for the remainder of the contest, it was to be Elderfield who was to eventually get that 3^rd spot though .After starting in 13^th, Gordon Crockard got back to 5^th just ahead of a great Proppa.com Honda battle between Nathan Parker and James Noble.Local favourite Noble had made a great recovery in this moto, moving from 27^th back to 7^th whilst Jamie Skuse, LaMay and Ray Rowson rounded off the top ten.

In second Pro MX1 clash, Noble got off to a far stronger start but it was LaMay who led from gate to flag.On lap seven, Noble passed Barr for an eventual runners-up spot.Crockard also further relegated Barr to take 3^rd after initially gating 11^th.The points gained at Skelder Bank now promotes the ‘Crockstar’ to the top of the Wulfsport Pro MX1 standings.Following their moto one collision, Anderson and Elderfield again had to work hard for their points in this clash.Anderson moving from 28^th back to 8^th whilst Elderfield went from 31^st up to 11^th.

 Within one lap of the opening Wulfsport Pro MX2 clash at Whitby, Barr had passed Elderfield and there he remained all the way to the flag.After that frantic opening lap, Bryan MacKenzie had also squeezed past Whatley and up into 3^rd.Taking 5^th in this clash was David Goosen whilst Anderson moved from 11^th to earn 6^th, Ray Rowson was 7^th, Matthew Moffat 8^th, Stuart Edmonds 9^th and Jamie Smith 10^th.

 In Pro MX2 moto two, Barr made another stunning start to lead Whatley, young Sunny Thompson, Elderfield and AMCA star Lee Dunham whilst fellow AMCA racer Jack Taylor was also inside the early top ten until stalling then one corner later being t-boned by a fellow competitor.Dunham though was to uphold the AMCA honour with a very impressive performance, getting home in 8^th.Once again though, Barr was to take the win with another stylish ride as Elderfield passed Whatley for 2^nd spot on lap nine.Working hard for his prize money in this moto, Anderson went from 13^th up to 4^th, finishing just ahead of MacKenzie, Wayne Smith and Moffat.After originally holding an early top ten position, Sonny Thompson was to retire on lap seven.

Making his first appearance of the season in the Proppa.com MXY2 Masters, Luke Norris won three out of the four Whitby motos.The only moto in which he failed to be first past the post was race two on Saturday when Christian Taylor took the victory from James Dunn,Ryan Williams,Dan Thornhill and Andrew Smart with Norris in 6^th spot.Whilst Norris was the star at Whitby, the ride of the weekend though surely belonged to eventual runner-up Dunn.After falling on the first turn in moto two, Dunn then blasted from last all the way to 2nd, a truly great effort!!.Taking 3^rd overall on the weekend was Dunn’s Suzuki GB teamate Dan Thornhill with Ryan Williams 4^th, Damon Wales 5^th and Alexander Hussey 6th.It is though the super consistent Hussey who still leads the chase for the 2011 250F machine and race gear, just a slender two points ahead of Thornhill another rider who very rarely fails to finish outside the top six places during each moto.

 As the saying goes, ‘a championship is decided over the season and not just one round’.Well that maybe true but, current Moto-Pro Suspension BW85cc leader Sam Winterburn may have produced the one defining performance in his particular title quest during the final Whitby moto.Falling in lap one, Sam was a distant last before blasting back to 7^th and thus earn himself 37 very vital points.Throughout the weekend, Winterburn was also the only rider to defeat the very impressive overall winner Adam Sterry.In winning three out of four motos, Sterry topped the podium ahead of Adam Darbyshire and Thomas Davies.

In the SW85cc contest, Casey Connelly(2), Gradie Featherstone and Tyron Cleaver all enjoyed the honour of being the first rider home in each clash.In the overall placings at Whitby, the current Championship top three of Connelly, Cleaver and Charlie Hamlet also filled the podium places.

 As previously mentioned, Kawasaki Masters top honours went to current championship leader Zac Stealey who reeled off four brilliant moto wins.On all four occasions, Tom Watts chased him home and these two lads are now beginning to seriously stamp their authority on this class with Stealey 20 points ahead of Watts and a massive 119 points clear of Daniel Hill in 3^rd.Hill had to settle for 4^th overall at Whitby behind Edward Briscoe.After being in Championship contention, Luke Spence crashed out in moto one and was unable to compete in the remainder of the meeting whilst Ryan Pottenger suffered an indifferent weekend,picking up a 3/24/0/3 scorecard.

Having his first Masters outing of the season, expierenced AMCA Championship campaigner Aaron Crowder took the overall Amateur MX1 win at Whitby.On day one, Crowder chased home Alistair Clarke with Matthew Williamson and Richard Collins in close company.After then starting with a 4^th place in Sunday’s opener, Clarke was well on course for a podium placing until disappearing from proceedings on lap three of the final moto.Winning both of Sunday’s thrilling clashes was Crowder despite the close attention of young Williamson who was to take 2^nd overall with Collins in 3^rd.Championship leader Scott Beevers took 7^th overall at Whitby and is now just three points ahead of Williamson.Early pacesetter in this class, Jamie Dobson unfortunately crashed out in the opening moto of the weekend.

In the GSP Race Products Amateur MX2 class, Daniel Brough has been overhauled at the top of the Championship standings by Darren Carter.With Brough 6^th overall at Whitby, Carter took the win with a 1/2/8/1 scorecard.Brough did gain some reward though by taking the moto two win on Saturday, the other race victor over the weekend being Ricky Lethaby.Indeed,Lethaby went onto also earn the overall runners-up slot with Stuart Holsten 3^rd, Richard McDermott 4^th and Aled Bellis 5^th.

 Overall winner of Michelin Masters MX1 William Foster would have gone home with a perfect maximum points haul but for a fall in moto three.Taking that tumble enabled current series leader Shaun Scrivens to be first past the winning post on that particular occasion.However on the day, Scrivens had to settle for 4^th overall behind Foster,Aaron Lowe and Jamie Wilson.Over in Michelin Masters MX2,series leader Scott Smith incredibly suffered his first defeat of the Championship so far, and guess what?, the victor was to be his brother Sam.Making it though another super Masters for the Smith family, Scott took the overall win from Sam in 2^nd, Marc Roe 3^rd, Jack Jones 4^th, Adam Savage 5^th and Tom Smith 6^th.

 Making up for the disappointment of not making the cut in the main Amateur races, Jamie Ashbrook won all four Non-Qualifiers clashes to earn the overall ahead of Thomas Card and Matthew Perkins.Well done Jamie, another great performance in what is an outstanding motocross series!!,next stop the famous Foxhill Moto Parc on June 5^th/6^th.