What a weekend for the Dirt Store Kawasaki Team at Hawkstone Park. The famous circuit hosted a historic collaboration event between the Dirt Store ACU British Motocross Championship and the Fastest 40 series. A prime opportunity to build points in both championships, and our MX2 duo of Tommy Searle and Joel Rizzi certainly capitalised.
Both riders started the day in great form, sitting in the top 5 in qualifying. Joel topped the table with a 2:06 lap time, with Tommy chasing in P4.
Going into Race 1 the teammates lined up together in the centre of the gate next to fellow Kawasaki rider Jack Chambers. The pair both grabbed a good jump off the line and drag raced up the hill, going 1-2 through the first turn. Joel and Tommy dictated the pace from the front, holding off Cas Valk in third for numerous laps. The pair pushed hard until an unfortunate crash for Ben Mustoe on lap 7 called for an early red flag ending. Rizzi and Searle finished in P1 and 2 – a perfect start for the team going into the second moto.
In Race 2, Joel and Tommy opted for the same central start gates. The teammates were once again bar to bar up the hill, with veteran Tommy grabbing the holeshot. At the end of the opening lap the pair were sitting in P1 and P6. By lap 5 Searle had opened up an 8 second lead on Kawasaki rider Billy Askew, who was holding off a charging trio of Chambers, Rizzi and Valk. Joel had moved into 4th after a tip over from Valk and had his sights set on Askew. Rizzi would make a decisive pass on Askew on lap 6 to gain third position.
Over the remaining 7 laps, fans were treated to an epic battle for podium positions as Chambers, Rizzi and Valk tried to chase down Tommy Searle. Valk would eventually find his way back past Joel into P3 with 4 laps to go, but a victory for Rizzi in Race 1 was enough to secure a P2 overall with 1-4 race scores.
Despite a hard charge from the chasing pack, the experienced Searle was able to close out a brilliant victory, giving him 2-1 scores and the overall win.
A great result for the whole team, with a huge effort put in from all. Tommy and Joel have extended their lead in the Fastest 40 and have seriously closed up the points in MXGB. Rizzi is sitting in third, with Searle fourth. Just 17 points separating the Top 4 in the Championship heading into the penultimate round later this month.
We’d like to thank all of our sponsors and partners for their continued support of the team. We’re excited for these final rounds and to keep chasing more great results like these.
Words by Dirt Store Kawasaki – Images by Cult Moto
