After the excitement at Blaxhall, the SC Sporthomes Husqvarna team eagerly anticipated the next round at Foxhill. Having already raced at this iconic track earlier in the year, the team was looking forward to another strong showing. However, the round was cancelled at short notice, giving the riders some unexpected time to rest and recover before racing resumed this past weekend at the renowned Hawkstone Park. This event combined rounds of the Fastest 40 Championship and the DirtStore British Motocross Championship, allowing riders to score points in both Championships.
In MX1, Tristan Purdon and Charlie Putnam lined up as usual. Tristan, not typically known for his qualifying speed, surprised everyone by securing 3rd place. Charlie Putnam, though further down in 14th, was still within striking distance as the times were incredibly close.
Race 1 saw Tristan Purdon start strong, quickly moving up to finish in a solid 3rd place. Charlie Putnam, struggled off the gate and had to battle hard, eventually finishing in 16th place. Race 2 brought bad luck for Tristan, who went down in the first few corners and dropped to 25th. Despite his best efforts to claw back positions, two more crashes relegated him to 12th. Charlie Putnam had a better race, making up several positions to finish just behind Tristan in 13th.
Overall, Tristan finished 6th on the day and is now only 3 points away from 3rd in the British Championship standings, while also climbing to 3rd in the Fastest 40 Championship. Charlie Putnam ended the day in 15th.
In MX2, Elliott Banks-Browne made his return after recovering from a fractured wrist sustained at Blaxhall, alongside Charlie Heyman, who was also back after an earlier wrist injury. Unfortunately, the injury bug continued to plague the team, with Syd Putnam sidelined due to a fractured finger that required surgery and recovery.
Qualifying kicked off with the MX2 riders. Charlie Heyman was in good form, just a fraction of a second off the top three, and secured 5th place on the gate. Elliott Banks-Browne, still trying to shake off from his injury, managed a respectable 12th place, a solid effort given his limited time back on the bike.
Race 1 saw Elliott steadily working his way towards the top 5 before a mechanical issue forced him out of the race. Charlie Heyman, after a mid-pack start, managed to finish comfortably in 9th place. Unfortunately, Race 2 brought more misfortune for the team, as Elliott had to withdraw due to his wrist, and a mechanical issue for Charlie ended his race prematurely.
Despite the setbacks, Heyman still scored points, finishing 14th overall for the day.
The team remains optimistic and focused on the positives as they head into the final three rounds of the AMA in the USA. Tristan and Charlie Putnam, fresh off their last tour in June, are eager to see their progress, and this time, Charlie Heyman will join them as he makes his MX2 debut stateside.
Words and Images by SC Sporthomes Husqvarna
