The Battle in the Sand season Finale at Route44 Haverigg was blessed with a sunny but chilly weekend on the Cumbrian Coast. With big prize money up for grabs alongside other awards, the weekend was set to be a cracker.
Report and Images by Peter Bell Photography
A different race format over the weekend saw 5 races over the 2 days with a presentation to follow, and the Autos were first up for their 3 races on Saturday.
Scotlands Ricky Barrack was again in sensational form in the Autos taking maximum points back up the road on Sunday afternoon. The battle behind was a tight one, with Freddie Box only beating Alfie Pitcher to second in the final moto on Sunday.
Another Maximum points were taken by Joel Winstanley Dawson in the 65cc class to cap a very impressive season. After having to settle for top 3 finishes previously the win was one which has been coming for a while. Local lad Finley Pickering took his Yamaha to second over with Lucas Lee completing the podium.
The 85s were up next and firstly the Small Wheels, Saturday only racer Ryan Waggott continued his brilliant season for going 1-1-1 however, missing Sunday meant only a 10th Overall. Another rider whos has been solid all season and the eventual weekend winner was the #181 of Owen Kenningley, Dylan Davidson solid all weekend and a Moto5 win took second with Finley Easton completing the podium. A mention must go to local lad Jamie Keith who was on for the overall win but unfortunately had a big crash on Sunday, thankfully all seems well.
Liam Johnston has had some fantastic results in the Big Wheel class this year, behind some of the countries best young talent, which has maybe hidden these results, however, this weekend was to be a well-deserved one for Liam taking a maximum 225 points. Lewis Proud was the overall runner up and Ryan Lowes completing the podium in third.
A stacked class of Rookies were next up, with several moving up for the B/Ws or returning, and a special mention of which must go to Jake Sharkey who has had an awful year returning from a broken femur last year at Hawkstone, great to see him back on a bike. The overall went down to a final race shootout between Corey Collins and Koby Newbould, Collins took the moto win and the overall with Newbould only managing a 6th. Scotlands Oliver Barr completed the podium on a return to racing after some months off.
Cody Everill-Jankowiak was the Under 30 C class winner despite a moto5 4th spoiling his perfect scorecard. Jack Ratcliffe was the Moto5 winner. Local Samuel Carruthers continued his recent good form to complete the top 3.
The Over 30 Vets class was a tight run affair with North East based Scott Murray going 1-1-1-1-2 for the overall ahead of the returning Daniel Park in second and Gavin Shaun in third.
There was some serious speed in the B class especially with prize money up for grabs, it was 2 #91 bikes in the top 2 with Brad Harrison only slipping up in moto4 going 1-1-1-2-1 ahead of Michael Graham. Adam Pierce made the trip up to Cumbria and went home with a third overall. Although missing the podium Mark Reed Brough had another solid weekend in 4th, completing an impressive and consistent season at Haverigg.
A stacked A class as has become the norm at Route44 this year, tore up the sand with £500 on offer for the winner. It was again a final moto shootout for the win with Gavin Stevenson just piping Callum Mitchell by 2 points to take the overall, Brad Anderson took the moto5 win and 3rd overall before very kindly offering to distribute the trophies.
A very successful season now complete during the most difficult times, let’s hope next season is a bit easier and equally as stacked, and hopefully, the TB44 weekend will back on.
Results
Autos 1 Ricky Barrack 2 Freddie Box 3 Alfie Pincher 4 Leo Whittle 5 Jimmy Wilson
65s 1; Joel Winstanley Dawson 2 Finley Pickering 3 Lucan Lee 4 Finley Cowie 5 Corey Hull
85 SW 1 Owen Kenningley 2 Dylan Davidson 3 Finley Easton 4 Jay Jackson 5 Jamie Keith
85 BW 1 Liam Johnston 2 Lewis Proud 3 Ryan Lowes 4 Karl Harris 5 Jacob Hayes
Rookies 1 Corey Collins 2 Koby Newbould 3 Oliver Barr 4 Robbie Park 5 Aaron Brown
C Under 1 Cody Everill-Jankowiak 2 Jack Ratcliffe 3 Samuel Carruthers 4 Jack Sutcliffe 5 Ross Johns
C Over 1 1 Scott Murray 2 Daniel Park 3 Gavin Shaun 4 Mark Blacklock 5 Gavin Southward
B 1 Brad Harrison 2 Michael Graham 3 Adam Pierce 4 Mark Reed Brough 5 Richard Miller
A 1 Gavin Stevenson 2 Callum Mitchell 3 Brad Anderson 4 Lewis Hall 5 Jake Preston