Hill and co storm Cotley at the Badgers Bash! Somerset Scamble Club Badgers Bash – Race Report & Results

Back on the weekend of August 20th & 21st the Somerset Scramble Club hosted their second meeting of the year at Cotley Nr Chard in Somerset which was called the Badgers Bash which also included rounds 4 & 5 of the Under & Over 40’s Evo Championships with two blocks of racing on the Saturday plus a Badgers Bash race with three blocks of racing on the Sunday.

Race Report and Images courtesy of Dave Rich

In the Classic class on the Saturday, it was Martin Stephens on his 250 Honda who took the win in the opening race with Mitch Yorke winning the second moto on his Cz 380 just ahead of Stephens which gave Stephens the overall ahead of Yorke with Philip Nicholls also on a Cz 380 taking third overall after taking third in both races. Sunday saw Luke Sturgeon having a go on a replica of Brian Goss’s 1966 250 Husqvarna which had kindly been loaned by one of Brian’s close friends for Luke to ride and he did it proud and took 7th overall at the end of the day. Also taking part on the Sunday after not riding the day before was Marcus Denham who dominated all three races on his 380 Cz with Stephens as with Saturday’s racing involved in a battle with Yorke, with them tied on points going into the last race, but it was Stephens who took second in the last race just a head of Yorke which gave Stephens second overall and Yorke took third overall.

Jordan Watts turning the power on in the Evo Under 40’s class

In the Under 40’s Evo Championship class on Saturday it was Ryan Harris on his RM 250 Suzuki who took the win in the opening race, but he could only manage a 12th place finish in the second moto which was won by Finley Evans on his little 125 Cr Honda and with a third-place finish in the opening race Evans took the overall from Matt Holcombe and James Sansom who ended up third overall. Sunday saw a few extra s lining up including Jake Shipton who for sure would be one to watch but that wasn’t the case in the opening race as he went down on the second corner and was later to pull out. Allen Waring was to win the opening race and in the second race it looked as if it was going to be a win for Ryan Harris who was dominant at the front for a couple of laps before one of his engine bolts came out and wedged against his gear change and he had to stop and rectify it and through came Shipton in this one who once he hit the front he was to pull away as he did in the last race and took the win from Harris by some five seconds. Harris though took the overall from Keirran Genge by two points with Evans Saturdays winner taking third overall.

No 119 Nick Lane & No 6 Ben Masters battling it out in the Evo Over 40’s class

The Over 40’s Evo Championship class on the Saturday saw Ben Masters on his Cr 250 Honda win the opening race by literally a whisker from Nick Lane with Kevin Edwards on the big Cr 500 Honda taking third. Going into the second moto Masters had a one-point advantage with both Edwards and Lane just two points behind tied on points so it was set for a nail-biting finish, and it proved good for Masters who took the win which gave him the overall and taking second overall was Edwards who finished second in the last race with Lane finishing third to give him third overall.

No 11 Matt Holcombe & No 781 Tom Paulley giving there all in the Evo Under 40’s class

In the Twinshock A class on Saturday there was a battle royal between Lewis Trickett on his 545 PDS Triumph and Luke Hill on the Cr 500 Honda with Terry House back riding after a four week break on his 490 Fasthouse/Butler Racing Maico also giving his all. Trickett and Hill were at it straight from the off with House having to keep in touch on the opening lap, but a mistake from House on the second lap saw him stall his bike which dropped him down the field. Trickett was put under a lot of pressure from Hill mid race, but Trickett held strong and took the win with House coming back from his earlier mistake to take third. In the second moto there was real drama off the line with House nearly flipping his Maico twice, but it was Hill who led from Trickett with Joel Hughes on his 510 Husqvarna with a better start in this one tucked in third with House there in fourth, but House was to come off and had it all to do. Hill was powering away at the front and was to take a comfortable win from Trickett who was pushed all the way to the line by Hughes. Hill and Trickett ended the day tied on points but by virtue of the last race result Hill took the overall from Trickett with Hughes taking third overall.

No 214 Lewis Trickett and No 500 Luke Hill battling it out in the Twinshock A class

On the Sunday there was no House in attendance, and it was again Trickett and Hill who were battling it out and it looked as if Trickett had the opening race in the bag until two corners from the end when he picked up a rear wheel puncture which hampered him and Hill was to take the win with Trickett just making it across the line for second with Hughes a close third. In the second race this time it was Hill from the start ahead of Hughes with Trickett there in third, but not for long as Trickett’s day racing was to come to a halt with an engine problem and up in to third came the big 500 Hickie Racing BSA of Tim Dallaway. Hill had to be at his best at the front as Hughes was right with him and was ready to pounce on any mistakes if Hill made any, but Hill had a cool head and took the win from Hughes with Dallaway taking third. In the last race again, it was Hill who led from the off with Hughes who was out on his spare bike right in Hills wheel marks which was where Hughes was to stay all through the race looking to get pass Hill, but it was Hill who made it a clean sweep of wins with Hughes a close second and coming home in third was Joshua Roddick. Hill took the overall from Hughes with Dallaway taking third overall with three consistant results.

In the Twinshock B class on the Saturday there was a win each for Mark Slade on his 490 Yz Yamaha with the 490 Maico of Dan Ridge winning the other one which gave Ridge the overall from Slade with Paul Bennett on his 500 Husqvarna taking third overall whereas on the Sunday Slade won the opening race with Bennett winning race two which left Slade with a two points advantage going in to the last race which Bennett knew he had to beat Slade if he was going to take the overall and that was exactly what Bennett did he took the win from Slade with Graham Challis on his 490 Maico taking third which meant Bennett took the overall by one point from Slade with Challis a commendable third overall.

Graham Challis took third overall on the Sunday in the Twinshock B class

In the Twinshock C class on the Saturday there were wins for both Jason Broomfield and James Sawatzki but with two second place finishes the overall went to Mark Lapham on his Cr 480 Honda by one point from Broomfield with Sawatzki third overall whereas on the Sunday we had three different winners in the shape of Kelvin Day, Lapham, and Daniel Morley but the overall was to go to Shaun Atkins with a 2-2-2 scorecard with Day second overall and Lapham third.

In the Twinshock D class on Saturday Paul Huntley had a win and a third to take the overall from James Fugett who had a 4th and a win and taking third overall was Robert Coleman whereas on the Sunday there was no stopping Fugett who took a hattrick of wins to give him the overall Adam Wyatt was second overall and third overall went to Barry Anstis.

Luke Hill winner of the Badgers Bash Race

Also on the Saturday the club ran a one off race of four laps which was called the Badgers Bash race which was a thrilling race especially in the early stages as Luke Hill had led from the off but right with him was Terry House who was all over Hill like a rash looking for an opportunity to get past, but unfortunately for House a stone was to jam in his front wheel and his front brake was to stay on and this was to let Hill get away and that was exactly what he did as he raced away to win the Badgers Bash Trophy from Finlay Evans and Matt Holcombe.

Results

Saturday

Sunday