Venue: Emsworth Portsmouth

Results: 1st Place Ironman 1st Overall

When I drove into the track it was clear that the club had been busy making improvements with lots of drainage ditches to hopefully deal with the rain water and some obstacles, two log sections and a log and tyre pit which seemed to catch everyone’s attention prior to the race. I opted to race ironman rather than in a team and I had clear intentions of winning the event outright. The race started at 10am and we headed up the start straight, I had a bit of bar bashing with Lawrence Catt half way up but the 250F Yam soon pulled clear, I went round the first corner in front and decided to go at a steady pace for the first lap, knowing its always easy to miss an arrow here on the first lap. I came round about 20 seconds ahead after lap one and went flat out for the next 2 hours and I managed to lap the entire field by 2 hours 30 minutes. The lap times were around 10 minutes, so a ten minute lead I was happy with. I dropped the bike in the log pit on lap one and two but learnt from my mistake and cleaned it for the rest of the day, apart from those two mistakes I rode really well, very consistent lap times and slick pit stops. I got my head down again in the later part to try and lap everyone again by the 5 hour mark, on the 2nd to last lap I could see Simon Becon who was in second so pushed real hard and got past him again, it was difficult to push at this point in the race, every bump was hurting. I crossed the line 2 laps and a few minutes clear of Simon who was in 2nd. I won the ironman and the overall. I was really pleased with the results and the way I rode, my fitness and the amount of hours I spend on the bike really played its part today. Huge thanks to Poole Motorcycles, Yamaha, DC Chains, Proclean, Yamalube, MX shirt print, ISO² Nutrition, Pit Rich and everybody else who is making my racing work and well done to the Portsmouth club for a great event, certainly the best race I have ever done at Emsworth.

Venue: Canada Heights

Result: 3rd Championship class

With Kurt and his crew organising this event at the famous Moto X circuit it was always going to be a great race. Because of prize money it had attracted an all star front row with Paul, Fast Eddy and special Greg Evans, and Ollie Moyce, to name a few! The organisation was excellent and we signed on at 10:30 and scrutineered. The race started bang on 1pm and I got away well although I could not see much in the dust on the first few corners. I settled into my rhythm quite early and was posting consistent lap times in 6th place (just in the money). I felt really comfortable on the bike and it was handling really well. Richie was doing a great job on the pit board keeping me up to date with my position and telling me when I needed to push. At my fuel stop I had got up to 5th and just kept the pace up. I managed to get up to 3rd by the 3 hour mark which I was really pleased with, Bolter 1st Ollie 2nd and me 3rd. A lot of riders struggled with the heat and dehydration so it was a good test for the ISO² nutrition drink, I had drunk plenty of it pre and during the race and the heat and dust didn’t affect me at all. So thanks to those guys. /I now have a convincing lead in the South East H&H championship. The bike is going really well and I am enjoying riding it. Thanks to Richie, Poole Motorcycles and Kurt for putting on a great race event.

Venue: Bagshot

Result: 2nd Overall

REME had taken over the tea till dusk series from last year. The event was in Bagshot as usual and all the usual people were there and in a good mood as they were not at work! The race started at 6pm sharp and I got away ok probably about 6th or 7th. Rich Warner took the holeshot and by the time I had got up to 2nd he had pushed a 20 second lead. I had an early battle with MX GP star Scott Elderfield but soon lost him in a tight section. I got my head down and reeled Rich in. and by the hour mark I was right on his back wheel, even touching at times. Rich rode very defensively and due to the track being so narrow I was finding it difficult to find a place to pass, I thought if I stayed on his wheel and kept up the pressure he would make a mistake sooner or later. I kept up the pressure and we were going at a very fast pace, but fair play to Rich, for 45 minutes he never made a mistake so that’s how the race finished. A bit frustrating but it was a cracking race. My bike was working really well and I’m glad to have settled my mind to stick with the YZ 250F.

Venue: Kingsbridge/Devon

Results: 12th PRO

The fourth round of the GBXC was in Devon so it was nice to head down that way for a change. A good entry as usual. I had decided to ride my 2 stroke for this round. The track looked great and the weather was holding out for a change. A great mix of rock sections, deep rutted valleys and fast fields. When the flag dropped I got away well and was mixing it at the front. We dropped down a big hill with a large mound in it which threw the back of the bike up and I went off line which let a load of guys through. As the race went on I could not relax on the bike and couldn’t flow. I couldn’t seem to get any grip nor stop quickly. I was really not riding well, because I was not happy I lost my head and when the pit crew called me in, I missed the entrance to the pits, knowing that you can’t go backwards on the course, I had no choice but to continue with another lap and hope. Sure enough I ran out of fuel in the field section. I got back to the pits fuelled up and continued. I finished the race 12th which was extremely disappointing I have been riding the 250F a lot recently and I have a lot more pace and confidence with that bike so we have decided that I will stick on the four stroke for the time being and focus on getting some real pace on the 250F.