After a wet opening round at FatCat Moto Parc and the unfortunate cancelation of the second round of the Championship at Canada Heights, all teams and riders were pleased to be greeted with sunshine as they arrived at the sandy circuit of Lyng in Norfolk.
The day started with the Practice and Qualification sessions for all three classes. In the MX2 class reigning Champion Elliott Banks Browne on the HM Plant KTM UK had a worrying time in the Q1 qualifying session when he only just made the cut into Q2 after wildcard guest Jake Nicholls on his Wilvo Nestaan JM Racing KTM, fresh from his success by making his first world championship podium at the Dutch GP stamped his authority on both Q1 and Q2 sessions. However, EBB improved from a lowly Q1 12th position to edge up to 5th in Q2 which will give him a reasonable gate pick on the concrete start pad. The surprise to some was the double second positions for Nathan Watson on the HM Plant KTM UK who has backed up his good results in the opening round three weeks ago. Bryan MacKenzie on the Pendrich Kawasaki swopped positions with Heads and All Threads Suzuki rider Graeme Irwin from Q1 to take 3rd and 4th on the superbly prepared Cadders Hill circuit.
Further surprises in the MX1 class as Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle dominated the Q1 session by almost one second but he was unable to back this up in Q2 and was relegated to 4th with Tanel Leok on the Route 77 Energy Honda jumping from 3rd in Q1 to win the Superpole and take his first pole position of the season. Consistency paid dividends for Buildbase Honda rider Nicolas Aubin who backed up his Q1 second with an even faster time on a rougher track in Q2, just three tenths of a second behind Leok. Matiss Karro, returning from injury on the STR KTM edged Searle into fourth in Q2 with Kristian Whatley on the MBO Sport Yamaha and Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE Brad Anderson jumping from 12th in Q1 to 6th in Q2.
After the lunch break it was time for the first races of the day to take place and at 12.15 the first MX2 race charged into the fast sweeping first corner. It was Jake Nicholls that made the jump out of the gate and set about dominating the opening MX2 Moto at Cadders Hill whilst Nathan Watson finished second, although thirty seconds behind the GP Star. Watson actually passed Champiosnhip leader and red plate holder Elliot Banks Browne and HM Plant KTM UK team mate at mid race distance. Bryan MacKenzie stayed with the duo to finish 4th ahead of Steven Lenoir on the Evotech Stevens KTM and Jordan Booker.
The first MX1 race was a much closer affair with Tanel Leok taking a five second win over Tommy Searle. Searle closed the gap to less than two seconds at three quarter distance, but Leok made the most of traffic to ease out and take the win. Matiss Karro took third, thirty seconds off the pace in his British comeback race which just put him ahead of a close pack which finished with Jason Dougan just clear of Brad Anderson and Kristian Whatley.
The first MXY2 race of the day saw Brad Todd take the victory by over 20 seconds ahead of Ben Putnum on the Ifly Lanes Kawasaki and Oakleaf Kawasaki’s Gradie Featherstone in third place. Matthew Callaghan and Robert Davidson rounded out the top 5 of the results.
The second MX2 race of the day saw Jake Nicholls again take the victory ahead of this time, Elliott Banks Browne and Nathan Watson. Fourth and fifth places went to Neville Bradshaw and Steven Lenoir as the pair battled it out for most of the race.
The second MX1 race saw another titanic battle between Tommy Searle and Tanel Leok for the race win, this time it was Searle that got the better of Leok for the win. Third place again went to the returning Matiss Karro, while Nicolas Aubin and Kristian Whatley rounded out the top 5.
The second MXY2 race saw Brad Todd make a great start and take a solid start to finish race win and with it the overall and Championship points lead. Second place again went to Ben Putnum and Robert Davidson in third. Matthew Callaghan and Jack Kelly rounded out the top 5 places.
Jake Nicholls dominated the final MX2 race of the day, winning by 25 seconds ahead of Elliott Banks Browne and Bryan MacKenzie in third. Neville Bradshaw produced another strong fourth place finish ahead of young Nathan Watson in fifth. At the end of the day it was Jake Nicholls who took the overall win ahead of Elliott Banks Browne, who retains the Red Plate and Nathan Watson who claimed his first ever Maxxis Podium finish.
In the final MX1 race of the day it was again a battle between Searle and Leok for the race win and the overall victory. Searle again took the victory from Leok and Karro in third place. Fourth and fifth places went to Nicolas Aubin and Brad Anderson. The Overall podium was Searle, Leok and Karro, while Searle remains at the top of the points standing in MX1.
The Championship now takes a 5 weeks break before it returns to action of the 12th May at Milton MX Park near Northampton.
