Canada Heights was the venue for the second round of the Maxxis British championship with a new look track greeting riders and spectators alike, challanging new obstacles added to the old circuit caused more than a few problems as the injury toll sored with top MX2 title contender Arnaud Tonus being one of the first casualties collecting Graeme Irwin in the process both carted off to hospital, Tonus with a dislocated shoulder and suspect wrist and Irwin with heavy concussion. They were just the start!
MX2 as usual first out for qualification and it looked like Tonus was going to be untouchable as his team mate Osborne was a non starter due to various injuries sustained in a heavy fall mid week. Tonus was 2 seconds quicker than the next man who was a surprise package after round 1's performance, Nico Aubin grabbed 2nd spot from Bryan Mackensie.
Race 1 saw Samsung RFX Yamaha mounted Graeme Irwin (7th in superpole) grab the holeshot from Mac and Elliot Banks-Browne with Tonus and Aubin all right there. As they came round to cross the line it was Tonus in front with Irwin hot on his heels but Tonus trademark scrub went too far and he bailed mid flight as the Monster Energy Bike-it Yamaha slipped from under him bouncing right into the path of Irwin who hit the machine full on and endo'd knocking himself out allowing Bry Mac to inheirit the lead with EBB, Aubin, Lenoir and Bradshaw all in close attendance. It stayed in that order till lap 5 when Banks-Browne stalled his HM Plant KTM and Aubin made a move on Mackensie's Rockstar KTM. THe Buildbase Honda rider had the pole position for the first time in the British championship and wasn't about to let it go. Fellow Frenchman Steven Lenoir aboard the Samsung RFX Yamaha too could see the front for the first time and desperatly tried to oust Aubin coming close in the mid section of the race. Bradshaw on the Evotech Stevens Honda was pushing hard too with all 3 riders crossing the line in touch. A mention for sole Monster Energy Bike-it rider Mel Pocock who fought his way up through the pack from a poor start to finish 4th at the flag continuing his first round form.
MX1 was eagerly awaited with such depth of field it would be hard to pick a winner, superpole went to Karro on the STR KTM followed by Simpson on the Monster Energy Bike-it Yamaha and Strijbos on the HM Plant KTM, but it was to be former British champion Stephen Sword on the Tyco Suzuki that got the drop on the field and set a blistering pace holding off the pack well past half distance when de Reuver had muscled his way past fast starting Alex Snow on the Oakleaf Kawasaki and into 2nd place carrying his momentum past Sword to take the chequered flag on his Lanes Kawasaki, Simpson had to settle for 3rd unable to get round the settling Sword. Kristian Whatley recovered from his first round concussion managed to bring the PAR Honda home for 4th with Gert Krestinov rounding out the top 5 on his Route77 MVR-D Honda.
MX2 were back on the gate for race 2 with the absence of Tonus and Irwin and there was a lot up for grabs with both the main Dixon boys out, EBB on his HM Plant KTM wanted to prove a point and shot into an early lead , behind him it was all action as Pocock, Mac and Aubin all fought for position, Bradshaw was fighting hard to get on terms with the leading group from a bad start too. Pocock got round Banks-Browne but EBB wasn't to be denied the first 2012 campaign win and re-took the lead with 3 laps to go holding it to the line, Pocock crossed in the same second and Aubin managed to get into 3rd with Bradshaw displacing Mackensie late in the going.
Race 2 for the 450's saw a mass pile up collecting some top names, Whatley, de reuver, Dougan, Simpson and Krestinov all were near the back of the field as the leaders crossed the line to complete lap 1. Karro had the lead and Strijbos HM Plant KTM was keen to make up for his first race 9th in 2nd. Sword had managed to stay clear of trouble in turn 1 and was comfortably in 3rd. It stayed this way till time up with the quickest of the fallers being Whatley who managed to retrieve a 7th and Simpson 9th.
Final 250 race lioned up and it was another Banks-Browne win in a shortned race due to red flagging the race after 15 min. With such a short race it allowed those who gated well to reap the rewards as Bradshaw came home 2nd and Pocock just edged out Lenoir for 3rd.
Race 3 for the MX1 and Karro was again out front, but this time Simpson had got a better start and was right there, Karro made a mistake at half distance and allowed Simpson and Strijbos both through, finishing in that order with Krestinov overhauling Sword at the same time putting the popular Latvian 4th, Sword 5th, de Reuver and Whatley locked in battle all race long finishing next and a shout out for Dorran Coutts in 9th on his PAR Honda.
In summery a massive shake up for MX2 with 3 top riders scoring no points at all and a possible new lease of life for HM Plant mounted Elliot Banks-Browne now getting to grips with the orange machinery. Red plate holder and still with the Monster Energy Bike-it Yamaha squad is Mel Pocock going into round 3 and rumors that Mel may make the first GP in replacement of his injured team mates. MX1 is looking very exciting as Sword found his feet on the new Suzuki, Whatley looked more comfortable on the Honda and the influx of foreign talent has this season promising to be the best in years in MX1.
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