Freddie Joyner’s Round 2 campaign at Clearwell with Cotswold Youth & AMX Club was anything but straightforward, as a weekend of mechanical setbacks tested both his resilience and race craft. Battling persistent clutch issues and a frustrating flat tyre, Freddie refused to let adversity define his performance. In a fiercely competitive and stacked field of Big Wheel and Small Wheel 85cc riders, he dug deep, delivering determined rides when it mattered most. By Sunday evening, that grit paid off—Freddie leaving Clearwell with an impressive 4th overall, a result that spoke volumes about his pace, composure, and never-give-up attitude.
This weekend I made the decision to race the second round of Cotswolds at Clearwell. 6 races over two days and a stacked class of 85 Big Wheel and Small Wheel combined.
Saturday morning, the air was crisp and I headed out to walk some of the track, wood chip was laid in areas.
Race 1 – Hole shot! Great start out the gate, I sped to the corner leading the way, feeling good and finding my flow on the bike I sat comfy… until about half way through I felt something was wrong with my bike, I knew it was the clutch but I needed to finish, not having the fight in my bike 2nd took me and on the last lap 3rd place just took me, crossing the line P4. Dad solved the problem and changed my clutch in time for race 2, I was ready to go again!
Race 2 – Raring to go I shot out the gate getting the hole shot again, and I was gone making a little gap for myself. A few laps in still leading the race and loving the race rush. BAM! All of a sudden I couldn’t change gear! My clutch again!! My race ended there with my first ever DNF with bike problems.
Race 3 – Another new clutch and we’re ready to go again. Last gate pick so didn’t have much choice on the gate. Gate drops and I’m 3rd to the corner, top 3 pull away and make a gap. I sit comfortably in 3rd and stay there until the finish.
Day 2 – A new day and hoping for some better results now my bikes back in action. Rain in the air and a fresh track, I head out to practice, I start out the front and stay there for the whole practice.
Race 1 – 39th gate pick didn’t give me a good gate, but I know that I’m confident with my starts so I still gave it my all. Hole shot! Straight to the corner and my team mate Jesse behind me. I was away making a nice gap for myself, leading the race and pushing to make that gap bigger! My lap times were good and consistent, a few laps in I could feel P2 on me, I needed to push! He got me and took my line but I stayed on him for the next lap, a silly mistake at the bottom of the track and I dropped the bike, but quickly got up and back on still in second place. Still fighting and pushing the whole race I crossed the line in P2. Happy with that, but know I got more in the tank.
Race 2 – Out the gate and second to the corner, sitting in second until I dropped it again in the same corner, loosing 2 places but eagerly getting back on and back to the race, fighting and pushing for them front places I could quickly see 2nd & 3rd in sight. Gaining on 3rd I took him on a corner and was straight behind second place adding pressure and giving it my all. 2 laps of battling I managed to take him sitting in 2nd place again. Pushing hard I made a gap and fought until the end crossing the line P2. I had that fire in my belly the whole race.
Race 3 – Last one of the weekend but didn’t end as I liked. Out the gate, and second to the corner again, comfortably sitting in second with 1st place in sight, pushing hard and keeping my times consistent until I felt my back end sliding out, I knew I had a puncture! I kept going a little until the bike couldn’t give no more. My weekend ended there. A weekend of bike trouble but the speed and starts were there when it needed to be.
