Matchams set to host tense season climax
The eighth and final round of the 2005 Maxxis British Motocross Championship, the premier off-road national motorcycle racing series in Europe, will take place next weekend (October 8th/9th) at Matchams Park, site of the ’05 British Grand Prix. The MX1 class sees three riders in contention for the title. With eight points separating the main protagonists the competition is set for one of its closest finishes in the modern era.
Reigning Champion Josh Coppins, the 2005 FIM World Championship runner-up, took control of the class (250cc two-stroke machines up to 450cc four-strokes) at round seven with his eighth consecutive victory and is very much favourite to successfully defend his crown. The New Zealander of the CAS Honda team has a lowest result of second place in the twelve motos and six rounds he has contested. Coppins missed the season-opener due to a dislocated shoulder and has been slowly gobbling back the 60 points he conceded to Paul Cooper at Canada Heights.
Coppins lies just three points ahead of RWJ Honda’s James Noble who scored a win at Lyng for round three and has dropped out of the top three only four times from fourteen races. "That first moto is going to be crucial," said Noble. "Anything could happen and then there could be all-to-play-for in the last race. I just want to try and get a good start so I can get in the lead early. Josh is good in the sand because he lives and trains in Belgium. We will have to see how it goes; it should be exciting though!"
In third place and eight points adrift is former multi British Champ Multitek Honda’s Paul Cooper who has been struggling with his physical condition throughout the campaign due to a mysterious virus. The 34 year old veteran is staring at possibly his last serious chance of grabbing the title and will push to the maximum on Sunday, stamina restrictions or not. "When you don’t have anything to lose then you just get out there and go for it," he said. "I don’t think I will feel any pressure at Matchams. It will be hard to win the Championship but I will just try to attack the race the best I can and see what happens."
Fittingly the 2005 campaign will culminate at one of the best circuits in the United Kingdom. After an extensive redesign earlier this year Matchams Park, near Bournemouth, drew numerous plaudits and acclaim back in June for the seventh round of the World Championship; an event that was attended by over 25,000 spectators. The loose and sandy terrain will again offer a technical and physical challenge to the best riders in Britain as they face a slew of Grand Prix regulars for the last time this season. Matchams’ ample parking facilities and hard-standing surrounds mean that the location is essentially an all-weather venue and is bound to attract a generous crowd before the winter period.
The MX2 Championship has already been decided after factory KTM rider Carl Nunn celebrated an overdue success at Whitby several weeks ago. The 25 year old from Bury St Edmunds will still be keen to preserve the 100% podium record he has accumulated from fourteen races and travels to Matchams with memories of the emotional and emphatic victory at his home Grand Prix fresh in the mind.
"I am going to go into the last round really pumped," said Nunn who has already inked a deal to remain as a works rider for the large Austrian manufacturer in 2006. "I love the track at Matchams and it was my favourite of the year. Going back to Matchams for the British Championship is perfect for me because I know I will be on a high as soon as I walk in the circuit."
As per usual this term Nunn will face opposition from Billy MacKenzie, who earned his first overall 2005 win three weeks ago in the North-East. The Bike it Yamaha representative is the top rider in the UK after winning three GP motos this season (Spain, Japan and England) and finishing the ’05 MX2 World Championship in sixth spot (two places higher than Nunn). MacKenzie lives just down the road from Matchams and has used the track plenty of times for testing, so he knows the curves, jumps and lines better than most.
Innovate Honda’s Wayne Smith needs to score just six points to rise to third in the standings (Kawasaki’s Tom Church is injured), which would represent his best ever Championship placing. Church’s team-mate, South African Gareth Swanepoel, will again be on the pace after grabbing his first podium of the year at Whitby.
The weather forecast for the weekend is good with cloudy but bright conditions predicted.
Matchams Park is located just down the road from Ringwood on the A31, which runs from Southampton to Ferndown. As well as practice and timed qualifying Saturday morning, the programme of six races will start at noon. Entrance is £15 per adult with concessions for children, students and OAPs. A full colour A4 size programme will give details of all riders and times of races.
MX1 Championship standings after 7 of 8 rounds
1. Josh Coppins, Honda 354. 2. James Noble, Honda 351. 3. Paul Cooper, Honda 346. 4. Yoshitaka Atsuta, Suzuki 294. 5. Jussi Vehvilainen, Honda 246. 6. Neville Bradshaw, Suzuki 219. 7. Mark Jones, KTM 214. 8. Glen Phillips, Yamaha 171. 9. Mark Hucklebridge, Honda 144. 10. Jody Smyth, Honda 122. 11. Jordan Rose. 116. 12. Alex Rach, Honda 114. 13. Martin Barr, Yamaha 103. 14. Gordon Crockard, Yamaha 101. 15. David Campbell, Honda 93
MX2 Championship standings after 7 of 8 rounds:
1. Carl Nunn, KTM 390. 2. Billy MacKenzie, Yamaha 310. 3. Tom Church, Kawasaki 292. 4. Wayne Smith, Honda 286. 5. Brad Anderson, Yamaha 227. 6. Tommy Searle, Kawasaki 221. 7. Eric Eggens, Honda 184. 8. Jason Dougan, Suzuki 153. 9. Shaun Simpson, Honda 144. 10. Lewis Gregory, Suzuki 142. 11. Gareth Swanepoel, Kawasaki 123. 12. Ben Saunders, Honda 115. 13. Jim Murro, Honda 97. 14. David Willett, Honda 82. 15. Graeme Gowland, Kawasaki 72.
Reigning Champion Josh Coppins, the 2005 FIM World Championship runner-up, took control of the class (250cc two-stroke machines up to 450cc four-strokes) at round seven with his eighth consecutive victory and is very much favourite to successfully defend his crown. The New Zealander of the CAS Honda team has a lowest result of second place in the twelve motos and six rounds he has contested. Coppins missed the season-opener due to a dislocated shoulder and has been slowly gobbling back the 60 points he conceded to Paul Cooper at Canada Heights.
Coppins lies just three points ahead of RWJ Honda’s James Noble who scored a win at Lyng for round three and has dropped out of the top three only four times from fourteen races. "That first moto is going to be crucial," said Noble. "Anything could happen and then there could be all-to-play-for in the last race. I just want to try and get a good start so I can get in the lead early. Josh is good in the sand because he lives and trains in Belgium. We will have to see how it goes; it should be exciting though!"
In third place and eight points adrift is former multi British Champ Multitek Honda’s Paul Cooper who has been struggling with his physical condition throughout the campaign due to a mysterious virus. The 34 year old veteran is staring at possibly his last serious chance of grabbing the title and will push to the maximum on Sunday, stamina restrictions or not. "When you don’t have anything to lose then you just get out there and go for it," he said. "I don’t think I will feel any pressure at Matchams. It will be hard to win the Championship but I will just try to attack the race the best I can and see what happens."
Fittingly the 2005 campaign will culminate at one of the best circuits in the United Kingdom. After an extensive redesign earlier this year Matchams Park, near Bournemouth, drew numerous plaudits and acclaim back in June for the seventh round of the World Championship; an event that was attended by over 25,000 spectators. The loose and sandy terrain will again offer a technical and physical challenge to the best riders in Britain as they face a slew of Grand Prix regulars for the last time this season. Matchams’ ample parking facilities and hard-standing surrounds mean that the location is essentially an all-weather venue and is bound to attract a generous crowd before the winter period.
The MX2 Championship has already been decided after factory KTM rider Carl Nunn celebrated an overdue success at Whitby several weeks ago. The 25 year old from Bury St Edmunds will still be keen to preserve the 100% podium record he has accumulated from fourteen races and travels to Matchams with memories of the emotional and emphatic victory at his home Grand Prix fresh in the mind.
"I am going to go into the last round really pumped," said Nunn who has already inked a deal to remain as a works rider for the large Austrian manufacturer in 2006. "I love the track at Matchams and it was my favourite of the year. Going back to Matchams for the British Championship is perfect for me because I know I will be on a high as soon as I walk in the circuit."
As per usual this term Nunn will face opposition from Billy MacKenzie, who earned his first overall 2005 win three weeks ago in the North-East. The Bike it Yamaha representative is the top rider in the UK after winning three GP motos this season (Spain, Japan and England) and finishing the ’05 MX2 World Championship in sixth spot (two places higher than Nunn). MacKenzie lives just down the road from Matchams and has used the track plenty of times for testing, so he knows the curves, jumps and lines better than most.
Innovate Honda’s Wayne Smith needs to score just six points to rise to third in the standings (Kawasaki’s Tom Church is injured), which would represent his best ever Championship placing. Church’s team-mate, South African Gareth Swanepoel, will again be on the pace after grabbing his first podium of the year at Whitby.
The weather forecast for the weekend is good with cloudy but bright conditions predicted.
Matchams Park is located just down the road from Ringwood on the A31, which runs from Southampton to Ferndown. As well as practice and timed qualifying Saturday morning, the programme of six races will start at noon. Entrance is £15 per adult with concessions for children, students and OAPs. A full colour A4 size programme will give details of all riders and times of races.
MX1 Championship standings after 7 of 8 rounds
1. Josh Coppins, Honda 354. 2. James Noble, Honda 351. 3. Paul Cooper, Honda 346. 4. Yoshitaka Atsuta, Suzuki 294. 5. Jussi Vehvilainen, Honda 246. 6. Neville Bradshaw, Suzuki 219. 7. Mark Jones, KTM 214. 8. Glen Phillips, Yamaha 171. 9. Mark Hucklebridge, Honda 144. 10. Jody Smyth, Honda 122. 11. Jordan Rose. 116. 12. Alex Rach, Honda 114. 13. Martin Barr, Yamaha 103. 14. Gordon Crockard, Yamaha 101. 15. David Campbell, Honda 93
MX2 Championship standings after 7 of 8 rounds:
1. Carl Nunn, KTM 390. 2. Billy MacKenzie, Yamaha 310. 3. Tom Church, Kawasaki 292. 4. Wayne Smith, Honda 286. 5. Brad Anderson, Yamaha 227. 6. Tommy Searle, Kawasaki 221. 7. Eric Eggens, Honda 184. 8. Jason Dougan, Suzuki 153. 9. Shaun Simpson, Honda 144. 10. Lewis Gregory, Suzuki 142. 11. Gareth Swanepoel, Kawasaki 123. 12. Ben Saunders, Honda 115. 13. Jim Murro, Honda 97. 14. David Willett, Honda 82. 15. Graeme Gowland, Kawasaki 72.
posted by Race Deal - Sports PR @ 12:21 PM
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