It was a mixed weekend up at Dean Moor for the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2022 West Cumbria Motocross championship as a determined track started Saturday, but the skies opened halfway through the day, making the track seriously wet and slippery, making it a challenge for the riders.
Report by Arran Murphy – Feature Image courtesy of Peter Bell
The Autos were first out, and young Brydon Wheldon showed he was good in all conditions as he went on to take three wins and the overall honours ahead of runner-up on the day Oliver Lee. Daniel Morris finished the day third overall.
In the Junior 65 class, Brooklyn Tinkler made the most of his nearest rivals not being there and took his fifth overall victory of the year from his now nearest challenger in the standings Jenson Branney. Casey Davey rounded out the top three in third.
It was Connor Thompson who was the dominant force in the Small Wheel 85 category as he went on to claim three wins from three starts as he took maximum points from Reuben Trew who capitalised on Kian Harkness having last race issues to claim runner-up overall, while, after a pair of runner ups to start the day, Harkness had to settle for third this time around due to a final race ninth.
Zachary Pearson took a brace of wins in the Big Wheel 85 class on his way to the overall honours, closely followed by Joe Dakin, who had to settle for runner up on the day after coming close to a moto win in race 2 missing out by just 0.055 of a second. Jay Jackson took home third place.
In the Youth Open category, it was business as usual for Robbie Park as he claimed three victories and the overall victory aboard his KTM. Liam Johnston took the runner up spot overall, while Thomas Carruthers rounded off the podium in third.
In the Adult C Under 30 class, Liam Kelly proved to be the top dog as he took two wins and a second to easily claim the overall by 14 points. George Leech finished runner-up on the day, while points leader Mike Moore took a final race victory to help him to third overall.
Mark Blacklock took a dominant overall victory with three race wins in the Adult C Over 30s category, while Shawn Williamson took the series lead with runner-up on the day. JD Leake finished the day standing on the lower step of the rostrum.
After a DNF at the previous round, it was back to business as usual for Joe Khamouli as he took three race wins in the Adult B class extending his points lead further. Two seconds and a third were enough for Aiden Murphy to claim the runner-up on the day, while Todd Ingram finished the day third overall.
In the Adult A category Frazer Clark claimed three easy race wins as he dominated the day. Max Griffin finished the day runner up and Arran Murphy took home third.
After the monsoon of Saturday, Sunday was a lot better weather-wise, and with the track being left after day one, things soon dried up, and the track became perfect come the middle of the day.
As always, the Auto pilots were first out and this time around, it was Oliver Lee who managed to turn the tables and claim maximum points and the overall honours, while points leader and Saturday winner Brydon Wheldon had to settle for runner-up this time around. Daniel Morris stood on the podium once again in third.
In the Junior 65 class Brooklyn Tinkler put one hand on the title as he took yet another maximum points haul and kept his 100% overall record alive dominating the day. Jenson Branney followed him home for a brace of runner-up spots, while Max Charlton rounded out the top three in third.
Connor Thompson took another overall win in the Small Wheel 85 category with two wins and a second ahead of Harry Cartmel, who had to settle for an eventual runner-up after taking the first moto win. Kian Harkness finished the weekend with third overall.
In the Big Wheel 85 class, Zachary Pearson backed up his day one performance by taking maximum points on Sunday, and the number 1 spot on the podium from Finley Easton, who managed to fend off Joe Dakin for the runner-up spot after the pair went into the final moto tied on points.
Robbie Park made it a full house of 6 out of 6 wins in the Youth Open category after another dominant day. Liam Johnston took his familiar runner-up spot after some intense battles with Thomas Carruthers, who took home third.
The Adult C Under 30s, were next up, and Liam Kelly took another overall victory on board his Honda as he swept the class taking three wins. Mike Moore extended his points lead in the championship further by taking home the runner-up position, while George Leech finished the weekend third overall.
In the Adult C Over 30s category David Cowsill went home with a 3-1-1 scorecard to claim the overall victory ahead of Mark Blacklock, who took home a bag of runner-ups for second overall on the day, while Ben Southward took the first race win to help him take third place.
Joe Khamouli continued his dominant run in the Adult B class as he took two wins and a second to walk home with the honours ahead of first-race winner Todd Ingram who took home second, and Aiden Murphy rounded out the top three in third.
It was a battle royale in the Adult A class as series leader Frazer Clark had Rob Clitheroe to deal with this time around. Clark managed to fend off the Kawasaki man, however, to take maximum points for his efforts, while Clitheroe had to settle for second, and Max Griffin finished the day with third.
Results
Saturday
Auto: 1 Brydon Wheldon, 2 Oliver Lee, 3 Daniel Morris, 4 Paddy Lees, 5 Archie Armstrong, 6 Leon Spriggs.
Junior 65: 1 Brooklyn Tinkler, 2 Jenson Branney, 3 Casey Davey, 4 Max Charlton, 5 Shai Rome, 6 Taylor Dodd.
Small Wheel 85: 1 Connor Thompson, 2 Reuben Trew, 3 Kian Harkness, 4 Sam Morris, 5 Harry Cartmel, 6 Riley Butterworth.
Big Wheel 85: 1 Zachary Pearson, 2 Joe Dakin, 3 Jay Jackson, 4 Zac E, 5 Harry Park, 6 Aaron Dodd.
Youth Open: 1 Robbie Park, 2 Liam Johnston, 3 Thomas Carruthers, 4 Jack Murray, 5 Jacob Hayes, 6 Jordan Acton.
Adult C Under 30: 1 Liam Kelly, 2 George Leech, 3 Mike Moore, 4 Daniel Logan, 5 Nathan Speirs, 6 Jake Ritchie.
Adult C Over 30: 1 Mark Blacklock, 2 Shawn Williamson, 3 JD Leake, 4 Aaron Whitfield, 5 Mike Johnston, 6 Adam Ross.
Adult B: 1 Joe Khamouli, 2 Aiden Murphy, 3 Todd Ingram, 4 James Johnston.
Adult A: 1 Frazer Clark, 2 Max Griffin, 3 Arran Murphy, 4 Duncan Bell.
Sunday
Auto: 1 Oliver Lee, 2 Brydon Wheldon, 3 Daniel Morris, 4 Leon Spriggs, 5 Archie Armstrong, 6 Olly McLean.
Junior 65: 1 Brooklyn Tinkler, 2 Jenson Branney, 3 Max Charlton, 4 Shai Rome, 5 Taylor Dodd.
Small Wheel 85: 1 Connor Thompson, 2 Harry Cartmel, 3 Kian Harkness, 4 Declan Cook, 5 Ruben Trew, 6 Sam Morris.
Big Wheel 85: 1 Zachary Pearson, 2 Finley Easton, 3 Joe Dakin, 4 Ebony Brown, 5 Harry Park, 6 Wilfie Reed.
Youth Open: 1 Robbie Park, 2 Liam Johnston, 3 Thomas Carruthers, 4 Jordan Acton, 5 Jack Murray, 6 Jacob Hayes.
Adult C Under 30: 1 Liam Kelly, 2 Mike Moore, 3 George Leech, 4 Daniel Logan, 5 Nathan Speirs, 6 Jordan K.
Adult C Over 30: 1 David Cowsill, 2 Mark Blacklock, 3 Ben Southward, 4 Mike Johnston, 5 Shawn Williamson, 6 John Branney.
Adult B: 1 Joe Khamouli, 2 Todd Ingram,3 Aiden Murphy.
Adult A: 1 Frazer Clark, 2 Rob Clitheroe, 3 Max Griffin, 4 Dale O’Connor, 5 Arran Murphy.
