MR Thumper X

MR Thumper X

2002

Sunday, 11th August

A race meeting exclusively for the roaring 4-stroke machines.

Report

Great action from the Heights, including some awsome wildcard riders!

Round 11 of the 2002 Series went down to Kent in the east of England and revisited the Sidcup MCC's excellent track on Sunday, the heavy rain earlier in the week making the ground conditions perfect for racing on the fully graded track, and there was some terrific action on show. The Series was pleased to welcome as wildcards Dutchman Mikael Das who has just won his national series, and Australian GP rider Kim Ashkenazi who was out for his first ride on a big bore 4stroke. The first Expert leg saw Das take an early lead, with local man David Williams putting up a great show by following in his tracks, though Das has ridden GP's and it showed, with superb style on the technical jumps. Ashkenazi was fighting through the pack, with Lewis King and berm buster Fred Sparkes battling hard for third, but Ashkenazi always seemed to have time in hand and in the last 3 laps reeled in the leaders, shot past Williams and homed in on Das who pulled out all the stops to win by a couple of lengths. Race 2 was no contest after Ashkenazi got the holeshot on the 450 YZ and controlled the pace from the front, after an average start Das pulled through past Nathan James, King, and Sparkes, but arm pump on the rougher track slowed his progress, and Williams took a fine 2nd place. The last leg was breathtaking, Das lead the first lap with Ashkenazi in 5th and Williams again up there, it only took the Aussie 3 laps to get on Williams tail and then he just flew by, and it was only a matter of time before he got up with Das. The Dutchman knew he was coming but with some very clever lines and massive jumps Ashkenazi went flying by, leaving Das to fend off Williams, who put in another great effort to grab 2nd at the flag, with Sparkes, James and Simon Wyse on the big CCM rounding out the top 6. It was a superb display of racing and the 250 class were not to be outdone.

The quarter litre boys again had all the main Series contenders plus young Jason Dougan of Yamaha UK having his first go on a 4stroke, and Tim Birkumshaw on a wildcard ride, however in race 1 James Painton once again showed his class by getting the lead early on then controlling matters, with Birkumshaw slotted in behind, fending off Sean Frost, Steve Pettitt and Jason Fountain, with Dougan finding his feet in 6th. Race 2 saw another young gun Ricky Brown holeshot and lead the feild for 2 laps, before Birkumshaw got past then dropped out, leaving Painton and Dougan to fight it out to the end, Brown hanging on for a great 3rd. Dougan continued his improvement by leading the last race from the start, and despite Painton putting all sorts of pressure on, the young man kept it together to take a great win, not bad first time out and on a hack bike.

unior A was yet another tight battle at the front, points leader Deryl Owen did not have Bryan Withers to worry about as his shoulder is not yet right, but the strength in depth was again evident as Andy Trollope came through to win the first 2 legs with Nick Ames taking a second and two thirds, so Owen did not get the easy day he was hoping for. Lee Osmond, Mick Day and Mark Povey all scored well while Mark Taylor and Gary Stevens both suffered a DNF which dropped them down the points. Alistair King took 3 convincing wins in Junior B from Steven Paul, Mark Cook rode his 1979 CCM to 3rd overall showing up the modern bikes, and Lancastrian Jack Ithell got his Husaberg into 4th overall. The C group was a showcase for big Rob Warner, while Mark Jessup, Paul Annetts and Mike Willis fought it out for the minor placings, still no easy points though.

Many thanks are due to the hardworking members of Sidcup DMCC whose resources helped put together a really slickly run event, and in turn they also would like to thank the riders for not leaving any rubbish about, very much appreciated by those tidying up afterwards!

Results

See Thumpercross.com for more info.