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ACU National Pocket Bike Championship Round 3
With two rounds over, the championship contenders returned to the Melbourne loop of the Donington Park circuit near Derby, arriving on the Sunday night the two boys, Alex and Ryan were soon out playing while dad, set up camp.
Ryan quickly came to grief, when he came of Luke Mossey's Paddock bike resulting in both boys having to make a trip to the local hospital. Ryan had severe road rash and a few sprains, but poor Luke was much worse of with a broken collarbone and a very badly damaged ankle, which will probably see the youngster out, for the rest of the season. The lesson to be learnt here, always were protective clothing on bikes even if it is just playing around. Ryan's leathers were sitting next to his crash helmet, I am so used to the boys messing about on bikes around the farm etc. I only made him put on his helmet. If only I had made him put on his leathers!!!!!!
Back to the racing, and congratulations to the organisers, they obviously listened to the comments from the competitors at the last round here. The track had been well set out with continuous covered bails, much, much safer than a single layer of tyres, The Monday practice (what I saw of it, Long story, another trip to hospital with Ryan, in a borrowed car, with Alex H's kit in it) made the two Alex's miss almost all of the Practice day, only taking to the track at 3 o'clock, However the sessions went so smoothly it gave them plenty of time to set up both junior & production bikes and to give Alex G some time on the Super (a 12hp minimoto, same power to weight as a fireblade) and Alex H time on his production which he can't race in this series as he's still a baby at only 10. At the end of practice at around 5.30 the Paddock once again came to life Kids playing around (Not on paddock bikes this time), BBQ's plenty of drinks for the Dads and the evening ended with the adults taking the ball from the kids for an adult (sorry wrong word) game of footie.
Minimoto caters for all shapes and sizes, from 6 year old kids to ** old granddads, this ACU championships has 10 classes, 3 for the kids, separated by age and experience, and 7 for the Older Kids split by weight and hp.
Race day, and after morning warm up the juniors took to the track, what a race the ZPF pairing of Gault and Heaton took the lead with the ever improving Arron Easter in close pursuit for the whole of the fifteen laps the two ZPF riders of Gault and Heaton battled it out, Arron held on to third, with Sam Neate in an easy forth, with a close fought thing behind for 5th, 6th & 7th between Gareth Williams, Sean Moore & Max Derrick.
Race 8 in the programme saw Alex take to the track on his production bike, sitting second equal with the Pasini rider Jay Glin in this class, and with the Championship leader Jack Cooper not turning out through injury (get well soon boy), it was all to play for and as they lined up with Jay Alex, Andrew Crowther & Anthony Kelly making up the front row, the flag was dropped and the race was on, Alex got the hole shot with Jay and Tony in third, Behind a charging pack, Arron "AZMAN"Easter and an astounding Daniel "DAN THE MAN" Linfoot on his new bike pushing hard. Another dice worthy of a mention was between Oldham man, Andy Crowther & Londoner, Lee Fuller a new comer to this championship had the two swapping paint all day, An incident between Jay and Arron on lap 6 saw Azman on the floor and out of the race, Dan the man took the advantage and got past Jay for second but the win went to Alex.
The second junior race saw Alex Heaton get his revenge by taking the win from Alex G, Azman did not make the start due to the injury sustained in the production race and Gareth Williams pulled out after only 4 laps, Sean Moore came home in 3rd with Sam Neate in a easy 4th. Behind him a hard fought battle Between Max and Courtney kept the crowd spellbound.
The 17th race of the day saw the production "A" on track, Alex once again took the lead on the first lap but lap 3 saw him of at the top corner and taking a while to remount, rejoining half a lap down on the leaders he battled hard but just as he was making up ground he fell again, leaving him to come home 5th, the win going to Dan with Jay in second. This result leaves Jay and Alex tying for the lead of this Championship both on 81 points, the next round will be a cracker at Silverstone.
To sum up, what a great meeting, although Ryan's accident did mare the proceedings this was one of the best meeting this year, not only great racing, but a great atmosphere in the pits and paddock and Dry weather (after the monsoon of Rowrah).
Top three placings
Junior "B"
Alex Gault ZPF 115 points
Alex Heaton ZPF 101 points
Arron Easter Pasini 61 points
Production "A"
Gay Glyin Pasini 81 points
Alex Gault ZPF 81 points
Anthony Kelly DM 64 points
Pictures to follow when some one returns my camera lead.
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