This weekend saw the Chambers Racing Team head to the Cadders Hill circuit at Lyng near Norwich for the third round of the Revo ACU British Motocross Championship fuelled by Gulf Race Fuels. After narrowly missing the podium at the previous round and victory at last weekend’s MX Nationals, the team were hopefully for more strong results.
Images courtesy of ImageRich Media
In the morning qualifying session Tom Grimshaw posted the fourth fastest lap time in MX2, while Alfie Jones secured 12th fastest with Ben Putnam 14th fastest after returning to the MX2 class on the 250 2-stroke. In the MX1 class Glenn McCormick finished 22nd fastest while Aaron McCarroll made his return to British Championship action after 18 months of injuries and finished 33rd fastest.
Following the lunch break it was time of the opening MX2 race and as the gate dropped Tom made a good start and rounded the opening lap in 7th with Ben Putnam in 9th. Tom quickly moved forward into 5th where he would remain for the duration of the moto. For Ben a small mistake would see him slip back to 14th behind working his way forward to 10th at the finish. Unfortunately, Alfie suffered an electrical issue which putting him out of the race.
The second MX2 race saw Ben and Tom round the first corner in 3rd and 5th places with Alfie around the top 15. On the second lap Tom moved past Ben into fourth and began hunting down Jamie Law for third, as race progressed Tom was unable to make the move on Law and claimed 4th at the flag. After his great start Ben rode well to finish in 10th once again just ahead of Alfie in 11th as he claimed his best British result. Tom’s 5-4 results gave him 4th overall, while Ben’s pair of 10ths gave him 8th overall and Alife’s single point scoring ride gave him 16th overall.
In the opening MX1 race Glenn made a strong start and was inside the top 10 early on and remained there for the first half of the race before finishing in 11th place. For Aaron a bad start and early race crash saw a tough race on his return, but Aaron settled into the race to gain bike time and finished 29th. The second race would see a big first corner crash take Glenn down and after being dead last the Irishman dug deep to recover to 20th at the finish in claim the final point and 17th overall on the weekend. For Aaron it was another chance to gain race time on the bike and after a steady race, he finished 25th.
The team now prepare for the next round of the Revo ACU British Motocross Championship fuelled by Gulf Race Fuels at Canada Heights on May 22nd.
Tom Grimshaw – It has been another really good day and I’ll take that with a 5th and 4th. I proved at the last round that I have the speed and can run up at the front, but I had yet to prove that I can back it up and I am glad to be able to do that today. My riding was consistent in both races on a track that I sometimes struggle with so I cannot ask for any better, so I’m happy with the day and will prepare for the next round now.
Ben Putnam – This weekend was my first weekend back on the 250 2-stroke in the MX2 class and qualifying was ok with 14th fastest. I didn’t get a bad start in the first race and was inside the top 10 but I dropped back a bit due to the intensity and that is something I need to build upon, but I recovered to finish 10th. In the second race I got out of the gate in 3rd and I couldn’t believe it and held it there for a few laps before slipping back to 10th again but that will all improve with bike fitness.
Alfie Jones – Unfortunately I had an electrical problem in the first race which put me out of the points. In the second race I got a mid-pack start and was riding good in 10th and then suffered some arm pump and slipped back to 11th, but I was riding well and it was my best result so far in the British so I’m happy with that.
Glenn McCormick – It has been a tough day, I went 22nd in qualifying and then in the first race I got a good start and just struggled to get going and finished in 11th which wasn’t too bad. Then in the second race I got caught up in the first turn crash and had to come from dead last which was tough going and I managed to get up to 20th to round off a tough day.
Aaron McCarroll – I knew this was going to be tough as it was my first British Championship event for nearly 2 years due to injuries. In the first race I went down at the start and then just rode it home and then the second moto was a bit better, but my bike fitness is not where it needs to be now, but it will only get better.
Tim Chambers – Team Manager – It has been a good day of a rough and fast track that didn’t have many places to make passes. Tom had another good day after qualifying well and came through to take 5th in the first race and then in the second race he got a good start and pushed early to get into 4th and tried to pass Jamie Law but could not make it happen. Alfie had an electrical problem in the first race but rode hard after getting it sorted and then in the second race had a good ride for 11th. Ben Putnam was back on the 2-stroke and rode well in both motos to claim two 10ths. In the MX1 class Glenn got a good 11th in the first race and then was involved in the start crash in the second race and came from last to 20th in tough conditions. Aaron McCarroll made his return to the team after nearly two years of the bike and rode well to get two moto finishes.
