Tru7 Honda Racing Academy racer Charlie Heyman finally got onto the podium for the first time in the MX Nationals with two gutsy rides at Hawkstone Park. After taking his CRF250R to pole position, 0.6s faster than anyone else, the teenager took fifth then third place finishes to take second overall on a track he excels at.
Words & Images: Tru7 Honda Racing Academy
With the 250cc MX2 bikes in the same race as the 450cc MX1 machines, it is always difficult for riders of the smaller bikes to match the faster machines. With a long start straight, a deep sand track and a power-sapping hill, it’s a tough environment for the MX2 racers but Heyman was strong.
In the opening moto he didn’t get a great start – something that blights all the MX2 men – but put on a solid charge through the pack. He worked his way up to fifth place and set the third fastest time in the class.
In race two he once again struggled off the gate against the 450s, but soon put on a push forward and by mid-distance was up to a fantastic third place. However, former GP rider Joel Rizzi managed to get by but second placed Billy Askew went out of the race, leaving Heyman in third place at the finish. That was good enough for second on the podium.
Heyman said: “I had a good day on a good track. It got really rough but that’s good for me as I’m a good sand rider. Sadly my starts weren’t as good as I wanted but I pulled through in both motos.
“In the first one I got through to fifth by the half way point in the race, then kept up a good pace and finished fifth. In the second race I had a really good push in the middle of the moto and got up to third place. Rizzi passed me and I hung onto him for a while and I eventually got third. So that was second overall and I’m very happy. It’s my first podium in MX Nationals and shows I’m going in the right direction.”
In the MX1 class, Callum Green’s hopes for a successful day were dashed when he went down hard in the first corner of the opening moto. He hurt his hand, shoulder and ribs. He remounted right at the back of the pack and rode through the pain despite the searing heat and rough conditions. He managed to pass five riders and make it through to 13th, setting lap times that would have put him into the top ten.
By the time the second race started, he was feeling the effects of the crash yet still fought through the discomfort and the circuit being at its roughest. Using the power of the CRF450R, Green got a rapid start in 12th place. As the race went on, it was difficult to maintain the pace but he hung on to take 12th in the class. That gave him 12th overall on the day, and meant he took 11th in the MX1 championship standings.
He said: “I went down hard in the first corner and it took me a while to get back up and get going. I was I pain with my hand, ribs and shoulder but carried on and did the best I could. It was a hot day and the track was so rough but I made it to the finish and scored in both races.”
MX Nationals championship round five, MX2 overall:
1 Dylan Walsh 50
2 Charlie Heyman Tru7 Honda Racing Academy 36
3 Dylan Woodcock 36
4 Joe Brooks 30
5 Carlton Husband 30
6 Sam Nunn 28
7 Jamie Wainwright 25
8 Joel Rizzi 22
9 Callum Mitchell 22
10 Glen McCormick 22
Final championship points:
1 Carlton Husband 156
2 Joe Brooks 154
3 Jamie Wainwright 152
4 Callum Mitchell 143
5 Charlie Cole 142
6 Charlie Heyman Tru7 Honda Racing Academy 130
7 Bailey Johnson 115
8 Dylan Walsh 100
9 Dylan Woodcock 99
10 Ben Franklin 89
MX1:
1 Conrad Mewse Crendon Fastrack Honda 47
2 Josh Gilbert Crendon Fastrack Honda 42
3 Ivo Monticelli 41
4 Tristan Purdon 36
5 Harri Kullas 36
6 Tom Grimshaw 29
7 Martin Barr 27
8 Jamie Carpenter 26
9 Liam Knight 25
10 Charlie Putnam 22
12 Callum Green Tru7 Honda Racing Academy 17
Final championship points:
1 Conrad Mewse Crendon Fastrack Honda 236
2 Josh Gilbert Crendon Fastrack Honda 221
3 Harri Kullas 198
4 Tom Grimshaw 145
5 Ivo Monticelli 121
6 Martin Barr 101
7 Tristan Purdon 98
8 Jamie Carpenter 88
9 Charlie Putnam 85
10 Stu Edmonds 85
11 Callum Green Tru7 Honda Racing Academy 83
