The Bridgestone Championship visited Culham for round four at the weekend. The Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki team needed a little pick-me-up after a few teething issues, some recent mechanical, and a drop in confidence, not just for the riders but also for the team support staff, who put in hours of tireless work to make it happen. This weekend did not disappoint, and an epic bounce back provided a double podium for the team.
A weekend like this makes the blood, sweat and tears worth it.
Qualifying is combined with MX2 and MX1, so 250s and 450s are counted together. British Championship regulars like Dylan Walsh, Charlie Heyman, Tom Grimshaw, Josh Spinks, and round three winner Christopher Mills would make the racing tough, especially for Cole’s 250. Carlton would post the third fastest time of the day, and Charlie would post the seventh fastest.
Experts Race One: Carlton ripped out the start in race one and took the lead, with Dylan Walsh in second and following closely behind. Putting down the hammer in the opening four laps, Carlton was able to pull a gap of four seconds, but with Walsh putting on the pressure, it was important to focus and not make mistakes. Walsh responded and upped the pace on lap five, but Carlton responded by once again upping the pace and creating space for Walsh by a further four seconds over the next four laps. This was by far one of the cleanest and most textbook rides Carlton has produced on the Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki. Walsh would give everything in the last few laps to close the gap; however, a mistake from pushing too hard would leave Carlton to coast home on the last lap for the victory. It would be the battle of the Charlies, Heyman and Cole in the same race. Charlie gated well in seventh against the 450s, but it wouldn’t be until lap four that his race really came to life when Heyman passed him. Cole would follow Heyman closely over the next few laps, matching like-for-like lap times before taking his opportunity after new lines, and a greater fitness would help Cole claw back nine seconds over the next four laps, putting him on the rear wheel and making the pass. Cole would come across the line in fourth and only twelve seconds behind his teammate at the finish.
Experts Race Two: After the exhilaration of race one, race two was just as fast-paced for the team but with a little less excitement. Carlton gated well again and was just behind Walsh, and Cole was in eighth. Carlton would keep Walsh honest throughout the moto and rode another faultless race to come home second and take the podium’s top step, much to the team’s delight. Charlie would pass Spinks, Williams and Heyman in the first three laps to go fifth. Charlie would make another pass on Woodcock before spending the remainder of the race battling with Mills aboard a 450. Charlie managed the pass after a small mistake from Mills and would come home in fourth, third overall on the day and giving the team a double podium.
Barry Moore – Team Owner
“What a weekend, what day! This is what it’s all about. Carlton looked so comfortable on the bike all day. It was a great first race with so much raw speed. In race two, Carlton did precisely what he needed to do to take the overall, and I was so pleased with how he went about it. Chris, our mechanic, worked so hard on the 450 to get it working reliably. Hopefully, we are over our issues now. Charlie’s positive performance was a highlight, riding well and securing a top 250 in third overall, with good starts and everything very positive.”
Carlton Husband – MX1
“What a weekend. It was great to have a weekend where the bike was working great. We had a blast and P1 overall! Can’t thank the team enough, Barry and Chris and all the support we have.”
Words and Images by Phoenix Even Strokes Kawasaki
