Wheeling into Wales! 2024 Bridgestone British Masters Round 5 – Preview

.

The Bridgestone British Masters rock up to Monster Mountain (CF48 4AE) in Wales this weekend, 10th & 11th August for Round 5 and the penultimate round of their 2024 championship.

Feature Image courtesy of Dick Law

The Expert class, which just races on the Sunday has had four different winners over the four rounds this year, but none of those winners are in contention for the title, which, as it stands, looks to be a two-horse race between James Dodd and Henry Williams who are both at the sharp end due to consistently racking up the points at all four rounds. Just 15 points separate these two, and with an outside chance, Charlie Cole is in third but will need a big result to close the 47-point gap on the leader, Dodd. In terms of who could win the round, that is a question we won’t know until the day, with a big array of wildcards making an appearance at a round or two during the season.

Rory Jones and Travis Steels could also be in contention for a podium position come the end of the season if they can pull a good result in Wales.

It doesn’t get any tighter than the 125cc class, which sees the evergreen Matt Bayliss just one point ahead of young gun Charlie Richmond. This sets up an enthralling contest on the Mountain. The fight is still on for third, also between Damon Strydom and Will Haddock, who are separated by 25 points.

Three riders have hit the 600-point barrier in Amateur MX1, with Seth Manners topping the charts on 655. However, with four motos over the two days and 180 points on the board this weekend, his lead of 23 points over local racer Josh Greedy and a further 52 on Ben Knight won’t seem enough, and he will want to build on that with a good round 5 performance.

Two Stroke hero Raife Broadley has been in sensational form in the Amateur MX2 class this year and has notched up a huge 114-point advantage over Jonathan Rodenick-Evans in second. Behind Rodenick-Evans, David Plank will be keeping it pinned to close the gap and make a play for the number 2 spot.

With 360 points still to race for, five riders still have their sights set on the Clubman title. Scott Bates has the target on his back after some fantastic performances already this season, but so have Lee Clarkson and Dan Chapman, who will look to ramp up their points scoring in Wales. Jamie Collins and Kane Fisher are also looking to keep in contention.

Beau Brown has been a class act in the MXY2 class this year and heads the field by 47 points going into this weekend. Behind him, the battle is well and truly raging for second place between Harrison Greenough, Austin Beasty, and Shane Jones, who could all make a claim on the title fight with a big round in Wales.

Joel Winstanley Dawson is the lead rider in the Big Wheel 85cc class, but he is within striking distance of Olly Waters and Kameron Greenhalgh, who have both ridden well this year.

There is an epic three-way title fight in the Small Wheel 85 category, with Nixon Coppins, Harley Marczak, and Arthur Moore separated by just 12 points. This will certainly be a class to watch on the Mountain this weekend.

Elliott Shawyer and Ronan Watson are duking it out for the Junior 65cc title with just 15 points separating the pair and with a massive 123-point gap over Charley Wilcock in third, who has Sydney Williams, Cohen Jagielski and Forrest Roberts right on his tail.

Timetable

Race Order:
Saturday : 9am
125cc
Amateur MX2
Amateur MX1
Junior 65cc
Small Wheel 85cc
Big Wheel 85cc
Clubman
MXY2 Youth

Sunday: 9am
Expect Open Free Practice & Timed Qualifying
125cc Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Amateur MX2 Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
125cc Race
Amateur MX1 Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Amateur MX2 Race
Junior 65cc Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Amateur MX1 Race
Small Wheel 85cc Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Junior 65cc Race
Small Wheel 85cc Race
Expert Open Race
Big Wheel 85cc Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Clubman Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Big Wheel 85cc Race
MXY2 Youth Sighting Lap & back to the Park Ferme
Clubman Race
MXY2 Race