Two in the bank for Kieran! 2021 AMCA British Motocross Championship Rounds 2 & 3 – Race Report & Results

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Thrills, spills, dramatic moments, close racing and challenging track conditions, the first AMCA British Motocross Championship ‘Double Header’ at Warmingham Lane, Cheshire had it all!

Report and Images by Mike Wood

On day one of the weekend, clear blue skies and soaring temperatures quickly dried the going out thus creating dust clouds which the organising Middlewich MXC had to battle with and attempt to put the lid on. Watering the track when and where possible, it meant that several very wet and muddy patches were then created at various points around the circuit, an element which was to certainly catch a few riders out as the meeting progressed, more of that later!! After working hard on Saturday night to soak the track, additional aid was then provided by some natural watering from that big can in the sky. With welcome cooler temperatures and cloud cover also prevailing on day two it meant conditions were dust free and just about ideal, the Middlewich MXC crew had won their fight!

Phil Mercer(200) leading the charge in a Vets moto

In the battle out on track for Championship points, Ashley Greedy(LHRT Kawasaki) still leads MX1 and Phil Mercer(FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna) continues to be the boss in the Vets class. But it’s all change in the remaining classes with Henry Williams(Apex GasGas UK), Kieran Banks(Meredith MX Fantic) and Oliver Rigby(Tom Arnold/Lucas Oils KTM) now in control of the respective MX2, 125cc and Youth 85cc Championship classes.

MX1

Five races over the weekend was to create two separate overall results for round 2 and round 3 of the 2021 AMCA series powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop. Opening proceeding for the weekend was a big MX1 clash and right from the off there was to be major drama as Luke Burton the defending Champion found himself the innocent victim of a first turn collision. After being run over by several riders, Burton was a distant last as the pack disappeared led by Jamie Skuse. On the opening lap though, Skuse was to be a victim of one of the heavily watered patches. Form here onwards it was Josh Waterman taking control before blasting to a super stylish win ahead of Greedy, Luke Hawkins, James Dodd, Adam Chatfield, Mark Young and James Mackrel. Following his early off, Burton somehow got right back to 12^th whilst Zac Stealey, also involved in that turn one carnage recovered strongly to earn 16^th. Skuse was quickest away again in moto two before first Greedy then Burton led the charge. Gating 6^th, Chatfield eventually came through for 2^nd but it was Waterman in 4^th who was to take the overall win for day one.

In very determined and focussed mood, Waterman then won the opening two moto’s on the second day. In the last clash of day two though fortunes changed for Josh after crashing on the opening lap and damaging is Honda’s clutch, eventually nursing his machine home for a 16^th place finish. Taking victory in that one was the consistent Greedy despite being under race long pressure from Burton who bagged the overall victory in this round three. This class is certainly living up to expectations with just 16 points separating the current top five in the standings of Greedy, Burton, Waterman, Chatfield and Dodd.

Adam Chatfield(407) and Luke Burton going for it in MX1

MX2

Five riders, Rossi Beard, Nev Bradshaw, Shane Carless, Josh Peters and Henry Williams were to figure prominently in the weekend’s MX2 action. Starting right from the off, moto one was a classic as Bradshaw then Beard took turns to lead before series pacesetter Carless came storming through for the win. Gating 10^th, Peters eventually took 5^th with Corey Hockey, Lewis Dowdeswell, Rory Jones and Josh Canton also in the mix. With Williams then winning moto two on Saturday, it was the Apex GasGas UK youngster who got the overall verdict.

Day two did certainly not start well for series leader Carless, slipping off on the opening lap of the opening moto and dropping down to 10^th. Although he eventually got back to earn a distant 5^th it was Williams who produced a mature, calm and composed performance to take a great win despite being under constant, race long pressure from Bradshaw and Beard. That result meant that Williams had also now become the series leader.

Race two and this time it was Beard taking the honours from the normal suspects with Jones, Hockey, Brooklyn Evans, Lee Truman and Harry Linton completing the top ten. In another super contest after Canton had grabbed the final moto holeshot, Beard, Carless, Williams and Bradshaw regularly swapped positions at the front before Carless claimed control for the win. On the final lap, Williams slipped off so it was Bradshaw getting 2^nd from Beard in 3^rd. In this one, the very impressive Peters was unfortunately forced out after very painfully jarring his ankle in a Warmingham Lane rut. Taking the overall was young Beard whilst in the title race it’s just an incredibly tight 6 points that’s the difference between Williams, Carless and Bradshaw.

125cc

After passing Jordan Wright four laps into the opening 125cc clash of the weekend, series leader Bradley Tranter looked on course for another win before hitting one of the very wet watered sections on the Warmingham track. Dropping down to 8^th, Brad was to eventually finish 10^th as Kieran Banks took the win. Getting home in 2^nd was the very impressive Joel Fisher, the 2020 AMCA Youth 85cc winner with Wright, Harrison McCann, Lloyd Morgan, Jack Timms and Jonathan Roderick-Evans on a borrowed bike next up.

Despite being on that borrowed bike, Roderick-Evans somehow then took it to a stunning moto two win, ironically passing Connor Challinor, the rider who had very kindly lent him the replacement KTM. Banks was right on the gas again to get home in 2^nd from Wright, Morgan, Tranter and McCann. So that result meant that Banks had grabbed the day one overall 125cc verdict joined on the podium by Wright and Roderick-Evans.

Buoyed by that overall success, Banks then led the opening clash on day two from just about start to finish as Tranter bagged his best result of the weekend getting home in 2^nd just ahead of Wright. Unfortunately for Wright, the weekend was to then turn very sour following a very heavy crash on the first lap of moto two, a contest won by Roderick-Evans, back aboard his own trusty KTM mount as Banks, Tranter and Luke Newman gave chase.

Saving the best until last, 125cc moto three was a thriller with Roderick-Evans taking the win. Somehow after gating outside the top ten, Banks was to produce a stunning ride, hauling himself right back to 2^nd. That ride by Banks not only earned him the overall win during round three but also confirmed his place at the top of the title standings.

Vets

After Paul Burn had grabbed a now almost expected Vets moto one holeshot, both Phil Mercer and Gary Davies came zooming through before indulging in another super tussle. These two motocross master craftsmen are a joy to watch seeing and picking lines which simply no one else appears to find or dare to use! Eventually series leader Mercer took the win from rival Davies with Burn 3^rd and the Lane brothers James and Simon Lane. In the second clash on Saturday, the stylish Phil Mercer came through to earn another victory. So on the completion of Vets day one the podium read Mercer, Davies and James Lane.

Something unusual occurred in the opening Vets clash on day two as Burn surprisingly did not get the holeshot! Instead that honour belonged to Mercer who went onto bag another win. In the second moto on Sunday there was then to be another form breaking moment as Mercer suffered his first defeat of the series so far with Davies this time getting home in pole position. Normal service though was resumed in the final race of the weekend as Phil took the honours from James Lane, Davies, Burn, Simon Lane, Rogers, Marchant and Smith.

Youth 85cc

With round one Youth 85cc winner Shaun Mahoney a non-starter at Warmingham, it was a question of who would step-up to take the series lead. That person appeared to be Charlie Hucklebridge as he started by winning the opening three moto’s of the weekend in complete command and with style.

It was though then to then unfortunately go badly wrong for the Wiltshire youngster in the second clash of Sunday’s racing, crashing out with a big excursion over his Husqvarna handlebars just two laps from home and when holding another big lead. Battered and bruised he did still finish the contest in 28^th spot as Oliver Rigby took victory from Wyatt McGregor, Benjamin Sullivan, Harrison Davies and the very impressive girl racer, Rheanna Morgan-Rogers.

Despite being on a small-wheeled machine, Harley Prickett grabbed the final Youth moto holeshot. Quickly though Rigby took control before marching onto victory from Sullivan, McGregor and Davis. Despite that big off in moto two, Hucklebridge was a surprise starter in this clash, riding with caution he finished a brave 13^th. Sunday’s results meant overall victory for Rigby who now leads the Youth series 34 points ahead of Davis and Hucklebridge. In the separately scored small-wheeled 85cc standings Prickett is now in control with Oakley Kettle and Caiden Bailie next up.

Well done to AMCA Events and the organising Middlewich MXC for getting the ‘Double Header’ completed. Also a special mention to commentator Mark Parmeter who kept everyone entertained in his own unique style during the ‘watering moments’!!

Results

Round 2 – Saturday

MX1

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	Josh Waterman	93	50	43
2	Ashley Greedy	92	47	45
3	Adam Chatfield	88	41	47
4	James Dodd	82	43	39
5	Luke Burton	78	28	50
6	Luke Hawkins	74	45	29
7	Luke Dean	72	37	35
8	Mark Young	69	39	30
9	Zac Stealey	65	24	41
10	Jamie Skuse	63	26	37
11	Will Hughes	62	31	31
12	Jimmy Margetson	60	33	27
13	James Mackrel	57	35	22
14	Aaron Patstone	56	23	33
15	Jake Parker	55	29	26
16	Sean Wainwright	52	27	25
17	Damon Strydom	49	25	24
18	Luke Meredith	47	19	28
19	Jayden Ashwell	45	22	23
20	Henry Partridge	40	21	19
21	Ben Hunt	38	17	21
22	Ben Margetson	38	20	18
23	Sunny Thompson	33	13	20
24	Rory Merchant	32	15	17
25	Mark Roberts	32	16	16
26	Benjamin Nicholls	32	18	14
27	Corie Southwood	30	30	–
28	Rhys Walker	25	12	13
29	Ben Walker	21	10	11
30	Tye Barrs	20	8	12
31	Luke Chessell	20	11	9
32	Jack Griffiths	19	9	10
33	Lewis Hughes	15	–	15
34	Lewis Griffiths	15	7	8
35	Chris Neesam	14	14	–

MX2

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	Henry Williams	93	43	50
2	Shane Carless	93	50	43
3	Neville Bradshaw	92	45	47
4	Josh Peters	86	41	45
5	Corey Hockey	80	39	41
6	Rossi Beard	80	47	33
7	Cory Mcshane	70	31	39
8	Lee Truman	67	30	37
9	Lewis Dowdeswell	67	37	30
10	Rory Jones	66	35	31
11	Josh Canton	62	33	29
12	Josh Coleman	61	26	35
13	Sean Eckersley	57	29	28
14	Brooklyn Evans	52	25	27
15	Keelan Southwood	47	21	26
16	Callum Ford	47	27	20
17	Richy Roberts	46	23	23
18	Matthew Bath	43	18	25
19	Martin Jones	43	28	15
20	James Hanscomb	41	19	22
21	Adam Hill	40	16	24
22	Patrick Gilligan	39	22	17
23	Josh Greedy	38	20	18
24	Billy Bayliss	36	17	19
25	Alfie Rickwood	35	24	11
26	Mitchell Perry	32	11	21
27	Aaron Collins	31	15	16
28	Joshua Barnett	27	13	14
29	Macauley Davies	24	14	10
30	Joe Russell	21	9	12
31	Steffan Hooper	21	12	9
32	Ben James	18	10	8
33	James Angel	13	–	13
34	Joe Haskayne	7	–	7

125’s

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	Kieran Banks	97	50	47
2	Jordan Wright	90	45	45
3	Jonathan Roderick-Evans	87	37	50
4	Lloyd Morgan	84	41	43
5	Joel Fisher	84	47	37
6	Harrison Mccann	82	43	39
7	Bradley Tranter	72	31	41
8	Jack Timms	72	39	33
9	Matt Ridgway	70	35	35
10	Max Lewis	59	30	29
11	Tom Fish	59	33	26
12	Luke Newman	57	26	31
13	Conner Challinor	57	27	30
14	Jamie Powell	57	29	28
15	Nathan Bache	52	25	27
16	Jordan Ridgway	51	28	23
17	tomos wright	46	22	24
18	Jake O Gorman	46	24	22
19	Jordan Meredith	42	23	19
20	Harry Ridgway	39	19	20
21	Lewis Roden	39	21	18
22	Ezra Blackwell	37	16	21
23	William Bache	37	20	17
24	Olly Hathaway	36	11	25
25	Yarin Evans	34	18	16
26	Toby English	31	17	14
27	Kyle Briggs	25	15	10
28	Oliver Barnes	23	10	13
29	Tom Cumber	23	12	11
30	Ben Hunter	22	13	9
31	Joshua Fletcher-Williams	21	9	12
32	Mitchell Gregory	21	14	7
33	Clinton Barrs	19	4	15
34	Mitch Brooks	16	8	8
35	Lewis Smith	13	7	6
36	Harry Beach	11	6	5
37	Mitchell Hartill	5	5	–

Youth 85’s & 150’s

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	Charlie Hucklebridge	100	50	50
2	Oliver Rigby	90	45	45
3	Benjamin Sullivan	90	47	43
4	Kalvin Kelly	84	37	47
5	Jack Davis	84	43	41
6	Wyatt McGregor	69	30	39
7	Rheanna Morgan-Rogers	68	31	37
8	Linc Hasted	62	27	35
9	Jack Evans	62	29	33
10	Harley Prickett	61	41	20
11	Lewis Proud	60	35	25
12	Oakley Kettle	58	39	19
13	Logan Jay Powell	55	28	27
14	Harrison Davies	55	33	22
15	Alfie Bebb	52	21	31
16	Sion Wright	52	24	28
17	Alfie Crealock-Lovell	52	26	26
18	Tyler Smith	49	20	29
19	Harry Bebb	47	17	30
20	Will Turner	47	23	24
21	Rylee Francis	46	25	21
22	Caiden Bailie	42	19	23
23	Jaden Hill	38	22	16
24	Jonas Brown	33	18	15
25	Oliver Bebb	31	14	17
26	Logan Chinnock	30	12	18
27	Amber McGregor	29	15	14
28	Conrad Tomlinson	28	16	12
29	Tallis Price	24	11	13
30	Sion Owen	24	13	11
31	Tremaine Young	10	–	10

Vets

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2
1	Phil Mercer	100	50	50
2	Gary Davies	92	47	45
3	James Lane	90	43	47
4	Paul Burn	88	45	43
5	Kevin Rogers	76	37	39
6	Simon Lane	72	41	31
7	Andrew Marchant	71	30	41
8	Brian Staples	70	35	35
9	Sean Smith	68	31	37
10	Andrew Watkins	64	39	25
11	Richard Tudor	63	33	30
12	Christian Seldon	58	25	33
13	Matthew Chaplin	58	29	29
14	Mark Hawkins	55	27	28
15	Anthony Bennett	55	28	27
16	Gareth Dunsford	50	26	24
17	Stephen Hurst	47	21	26
18	Ryan Thomas	46	23	23
19	Stephen Elford	45	24	21
20	Guy Langmead	42	22	20
21	Russell Hartill	38	20	18
22	Matthew Evans	36	14	22
23	John Heath	36	19	17
24	Gary Hurst	33	17	16
25	Paul Biddulph	33	18	15
26	Christopher Jukes	28	16	12
27	Steve Ferney	26	12	14
28	Stephen Sankey	23	13	10
29	Ian Jesson	22	9	13
30	Andrew Prosser	21	10	11
31	David Bullock	20	11	9
32	Richard Vincent	19	–	19
33	Graham Baddiley	16	8	8
34	Sean Reynolds	15	15	–
35	Russell Hurst	7	7	–

Round 3 – Sunday

MX1

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	Luke Burton	137	47	43	47
2	James Dodd	133	45	47	41
3	Adam Chatfield	129	39	45	45
4	Ashley Greedy	128	37	41	50
5	Jamie Skuse	125	43	39	43
6	Josh Waterman	125	50	50	25
7	Luke Hawkins	113	41	37	35
8	Zac Stealey	101	33	31	37
9	Luke Meredith	95	31	35	29
10	Will Hughes	83	30	29	24
11	Jimmy Margetson	81	25	23	33
12	Damon Strydom	81	26	25	30
13	Aaron Patstone	81	35	20	26
14	Sean Wainwright	79	28	28	23
15	Mark Roberts	78	29	21	28
16	Luke Dean	72	–	33	39
17	Mark Young	71	20	24	27
18	Jake Parker	70	23	27	20
19	Jayden Ashwell	57	–	26	31
20	Ben Margetson	57	24	14	19
21	Rhys Walker	55	21	17	17
22	Henry Partridge	54	22	19	13
23	Chris Neesam	51	18	15	18
24	Tye Barrs	48	17	16	15
25	Benjamin Nicholls	45	19	12	14
26	Corie Southwood	44	–	22	22
27	Jack Griffiths	41	16	13	12
28	Luke Chessell	37	15	11	11
29	Rory Merchant	34	–	18	16
30	James Mackrel	30	–	30	–
31	Sunny Thompson	27	27	–	–
32	Lewis Hughes	21	–	–	21

MX2

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	Rossi Beard	140	45	50	45
2	Henry Williams	140	50	47	43
3	Neville Bradshaw	139	47	45	47
4	Shane Carless	132	41	41	50
5	Corey Hockey	117	39	37	41
6	Rory Jones	111	33	39	39
7	Lee Truman	103	37	33	33
8	Brooklyn Evans	96	30	35	31
9	Harry Linton	92	31	31	30
10	Cory Mcshane	91	25	29	37
11	Josh Coleman	91	35	28	28
12	Lewis Dowdeswell	87	28	30	29
13	Josh Peters	86	43	43	–
14	Callum Ford	77	27	24	26
15	Martin Jones	74	24	27	23
16	Josh Canton	72	29	8	35
17	James Hanscomb	72	23	25	24
18	Sean Eckersley	66	26	13	27
19	Mitchell Perry	63	20	22	21
20	Aaron Collins	61	21	21	19
21	Keelan Southwood	60	22	18	20
22	Josh Greedy	55	18	20	17
23	Adam Hill	54	13	16	25
24	Billy Bayliss	49	12	19	18
25	Patrick Gilligan	48	–	26	22
26	Matthew Bath	46	14	17	15
27	Richy Roberts	45	15	14	16
28	Joshua Barnett	44	16	15	13
29	James Angel	42	19	23	–
30	Macauley Davies	35	11	10	14
31	Joe Russell	32	8	12	12
32	Steffan Hooper	30	9	11	10
33	Ben James	27	7	9	11
34	Alfie Rickwood	17	17	–	–
35	Joe Haskayne	10	10	–	–

125’s

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	Kieran Banks	144	50	47	47
2	Jonathan Roderick-Evans	141	41	50	50
3	Bradley Tranter	129	47	45	37
4	Lloyd Morgan	125	43	39	43
5	Joel Fisher	111	39	31	41
6	Jack Timms	111	37	41	33
7	Matt Ridgway	107	27	35	45
8	Luke Newman	104	31	43	30
9	Clinton Barrs	99	33	27	39
10	Tom Fish	99	35	33	31
11	Jordan Wright	96	45	16	35
12	Harrison Mccann	96	30	37	29
13	tomos wright	78	26	25	27
14	Olly Hathaway	76	28	26	22
15	Harry Ridgway	74	29	22	23
16	Jordan Meredith	69	25	23	21
17	Nathan Bache	69	20	29	20
18	Conner Challinor	69	23	30	16
19	Max Lewis	66	10	28	28
20	Jake O Gorman	66	21	19	26
21	Ezra Blackwell	63	17	21	25
22	Toby English	63	24	20	19
23	Tom Cumber	51	16	17	18
24	Jordan Ridgway	48	–	24	24
25	Yarin Evans	43	18	15	10
26	Mitchell Gregory	42	15	10	17
27	Oliver Barnes	41	8	18	15
28	Ben Hunter	38	11	13	14
29	Lewis Smith	38	14	11	13
30	Joshua Fletcher-Williams	36	13	12	11
31	William Bache	31	22	–	9
32	Harry Beach	29	9	8	12
33	Mitch Brooks	26	12	14	–
34	Lewis Roden	19	19	–	–
35	Mitchell Hartill	7	7	–	–

Youth 85/150

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	Oliver Rigby	145	45	50	50
2	Benjamin Sullivan	139	47	45	47
3	Wyatt McGregor	127	35	47	45
4	Jack Davis	121	43	35	43
5	Harley Prickett	121	41	39	41
6	Rheanna Morgan-Rogers	109	37	41	31
7	Harry Bebb	100	30	31	39
8	Charlie Hucklebridge	92	50	14	28
9	Alfie Crealock-Lovell	90	27	33	30
10	Will Turner	90	39	27	24
11	Tyler Smith	89	26	28	35
12	Rylee Francis	87	25	29	33
13	Jack Evans	83	31	23	29
14	Linc Hasted	83	23	37	23
15	Sion Wright	81	29	26	26
16	Alfie Bebb	79	28	24	27
17	Harrison Davies	79	22	43	14
18	Oakley Kettle	72	13	22	37
19	Tallis Price	63	17	21	25
20	Logan Jay Powell	63	33	30	–
21	Jonas Brown	62	21	20	21
22	Jaden Hill	60	19	25	16
23	Caiden Bailie	59	24	13	22
24	Oliver Bebb	56	20	18	18
25	Conrad Tomlinson	53	14	19	20
26	Amber McGregor	52	18	17	17
27	Sion Owen	45	15	15	15
28	Tremaine Young	40	12	16	12
29	Logan Chinnock	35	16	–	19
30	George Bromley	25	–	12	13

Vets

Pos	Competitor	Points	R1	R2	R3
1	Phil Mercer	147	50	47	50
2	Gary Davies	142	47	50	45
3	James Lane	137	45	45	47
4	Paul Burn	127	41	43	43
5	Simon Lane	125	43	41	41
6	Andrew Marchant	111	39	35	37
7	Kevin Rogers	109	33	37	39
8	Sean Smith	109	35	39	35
9	Andrew Watkins	103	37	33	33
10	Matthew Chaplin	91	30	30	31
11	Anthony Bennett	91	31	31	29
12	Brian Staples	87	28	29	30
13	Christian Seldon	82	27	27	28
14	Richard Tudor	80	29	28	23
15	Stephen Elford	70	21	23	26
16	Ryan Thomas	70	25	26	19
17	Gareth Dunsford	69	23	22	24
18	Guy Langmead	67	20	25	22
19	Stephen Hurst	65	19	21	25
20	Gary Hurst	62	22	19	21
21	Russell Hartill	55	17	18	20
22	Mark Hawkins	51	–	24	27
23	Steve Ferney	51	18	16	17
24	Paul Biddulph	47	16	15	16
25	Ian Jesson	44	15	14	15
26	Richard Vincent	44	24	20	–
27	Matthew Evans	43	26	17	–
28	John Heath	42	11	13	18
29	Andrew Prosser	40	14	12	14
30	David Bullock	36	13	11	12
31	Graham Baddiley	35	12	10	13
32	Christopher Jukes	30	10	9	11