On the weekend we went to Monster Valley for the joint meeting of Severn Valley Motocross Club and Cotswold. I wasn’t sure what to expect as it was my first time at this track and I’ve heard some bad reviews but the improvements the track owner made to the track in the week really helped and the track was looking really good on Saturday.
For the weekend the BW85 and SW85 were racing together which I was looking forward to.
For Practice/Qualifying I was 3rd out on the track, it was looking good, tacky and had started to form some ruts. I felt comfortable on the bike and was enjoying being pushed by the big wheels. On the last lap I managed to get the second fastest lap time and when I found out I was really happy. It was set to be another hot weekend and it sure was.
Race 1, I was feeling good on the line and was focused on getting a good start as I knew it would be challenging being out there with the big wheels. I was 3rd around the first corner with Qwion Davies and Charlie Mitchell just in front of me. I stayed in 3rd for the whole race and was having to push hard to stay with them, my lap times were less than a minute off their’s. There was some big jumps on the track but in the first race I wasn’t clearing them all. I was sure I could though and was definitely going to try and do it in race two. The track was fast but also had some really tight corners and I enjoyed riding it.
The second race and it was a holeshot for me but by the second corner two big wheels out powered me which put me 3rd. I was right on there back wheels keeping the pressure on trying to make a pass when Qwion made a mistake and went down. I could see Mitchell was about half a straight in front of me. I was making good line choices and was feeling comfortable even managed to clear all the jumps. Then I seen Mitchell crash which gave me the lead ,I kept the lead and took the chequered flag. I couldn’t believe it myself and my family were super happy with the result. We wish Charlie Mitchell a speedy recovery.
Last race of the day another great start, I was in second and the track had gotten rough with deep ruts plus the dust it was a tough ride but I kept 2nd place for the whole race. My results for Saturday were P3, P1, P2 but out of the small wheels it was 3 race wins.
Sunday was Championship day for both clubs so there were a few different riders but the BW and SW were still racing together with 44 of us. I was in good spirits and hoping to have another good day. It was another great Practice/Qualifying getting 2nd to Freddie Smith.
Race 1 started off well I was battling out front with two leading Big Wheel riders with one of them crashing. On the third lap I was only 2-3 seconds behind the leader, my bike started to loose power eventually stopping due to the big end bearing getting too hot and seizing so resulted in a DNF. I thought my weekend was over but a friend of ours Simon Bracey lent us his 85 which we very much appreciated.
I struggled in the second race as it was a very unfamiliar bike, I finished 10th overall but 5th in the Small Wheels. Final race I felt more comfortable and able to push a lot hard battling right at the front of the pack . I was probably pushing a bit too hard still on an unfamiliar bike. I crashed hard in a fast rutted left hand turn. I hurt my shoulder quite badly and winded myself but I eventually got back on and finished the race with a lap and a half to go and finishing 38th.
Overall for the weekend I had 7th place. I’m still in pain battered and bruised but lucky not to be more badly injured.
