Final Round of the 2006 Maxxis British Motocross Championship
Hawkstone Park – Sunday 10th September
Searle set for Shropshire showdown
The highly prestigious 2006 Maxxis British Motocross championship
will draw to a dramatic close, when the series reaches a fitting
climax at the World famous Hawkstone Park circuit near Shrewsbury,
Shropshire on Sunday 10th September. The steep sandy track
is no stranger to hosting important events, having provided
the backdrop to many of the most memorable motocross duels
during the last fifty years or so. This season has been no
exception for Hawkstone Park with it having already enjoyed
a highly successful International motocross meeting back in
March, plus a round of the FIM World trials championship more
recently.
Teenage sensation Tommy Searle – Kawasaki will arrive
at the final round of this year’s MX2 domestic championship
with a slim four point lead over reigning National champion
Carl Nunn – KTM, as he looks to secure his first major
adult title. Nunn was the victor at the previous round, the
KTM rider making the most of his home advantage to record
a 1 – 2 over the two motos to narrowly defeat Billy
Mackenzie – Yamaha. Mackenzie currently sits twenty-two
points behind Nunn in the overall standings, but will be looking
to play his part in one of the closest fought British championships
ever, with an outside chance of lifting the crown himself.
These three riders represent the future of British motocross,
with their fierce yet friendly rivalry adding a new dimension
to the racing seen throughout the seven rounds played out
to date. The eighth and final counting meeting promises to
be an epic, with all three title hopefuls realising that safety
will not net them the crown and that only by adopting a winner
takes all attitude will they have a chance of taking away
the coveted number one plate. Even the loudest pundits in
the paddock are refusing to make one or the other the favourite,
as the pending battle is simply too close to call.
In the MX1 category things seem to be more clear cut with
Belgian rider Ken De Dycker – Honda coming to the last
round as the champion elect, needing just three points to
take his first ever British championship title. De Dycker
put one hand on the championship trophy when he followed team
mate Josh Coppins – Honda home in both races at the
previous round. Coppins is very much the man of the moment
having dominated the domestic scene since he returned from
an injury that has kept him trackside for most of the season.
James Noble – Honda sits in a safe second place in
the series and is the only man who can mathematically stop
De Dycker taking top honours, but behind him there is a three-way
scrap for third place in the championship. Irish favourite
Gordon Crockard – Honda currently holds this spot, but
will come under severe pressure from both Mark Jones –
Honda and the charging Coppins, who will see a top three finish
as some kind of compensation for his lost season.
The action will get underway with practice starting at 9.30
am followed by the first race at 12.30 pm.
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