In the MXY85 class in the UK, there are few faster riders than Cornish Buildbase Honda racer Josh Gilbert who has already clinched the Red Bull Elite Youth Cup, but came into the final round of the Maxxis ACU British Championship trailing series leader Will Keogh in the points table by 6 points.
Josh was joined in second spot by Gradie Featherstone and Todd Kellett with Jordan Eccles in a close fifth place. To stand any chance of taking the Maxxis title, the Buildbase Honda racer set his sights on winning both motos which he did in fine style, never headed all day.
Of the leading bunch, Todd Kellet was the only rider to threaten Gilbert`s title finishing a distant third overall on the day.
JOSH GILBERT – “I am really happy to win my second title this year for myself and the team. It has been a great season and I am really looking forward to next year riding the bigger bike. I want to thank my dad and family for all the work they put in and of course Dave (Thorpe) and the the Buildbase Team, also Gary Elston for all his help and support this year”.
MAXXIS ACU BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MXY85 CLASS – OVERALL ON THE DAY
1 – JOSH GILBERT – BUILDBASE-ALBION HONDA – BRITISH CHAMPION
2 – LEWIS HOUGHTON – DANGER UK KTM
3 – TODD KELLETT – TWISTED 7 TEAM GREEN KAWASAKI
French Buildbase racer Nico` Aubin had no mathematical chance of winning the Maxxis ACU MX2 championship so decided to compete the final Maxxis ACU round aboard his Red Bull Pro national winning CRF450 MX1 bike, setting fastest time in qualifying.
The pace was furious at the front of the MX1 field with Kevin Strijbos taking second spot in the opening moto and clinching the Maxxis ACU MX1 title. The race was won by Shaun Simpson with Nico` battling to a great third place.
Moto 2 saw Strijbos reverse the first moto results taking the win from Simpson and by this time Ex-Maxxis ACU title holder Brad Anderson with Aubin fighting through from a mid-pack start to fifth.
The final moto which included the top 20 MX2 riders was bound to be a nail-biter. It was drama-filled even before the start as Neville Bradshaw tried to jump the start gate, folding it back and breaking it, forcing a re-start and a lengthy wait while a new segment of gate was fitted.
With the MX2 title to be decided on this race and the two main contenders now supported by their MX1 team mates, the gate dropped and it was Buildbase Honda`s Aubin who stole the first turn only to be nudged from the rear and go down hard, to re-emerge slowly from the ground after the pack had disappeared. Nico was OK but it was now Banks-Browne led from the race but was soon demoted to second by Shaun Simpson with Strijbos manoeuvering himself into a protective position, constantly and uncharacteristically looking behind to guard from the fast moving Krestinov.
At the flag however, with Simpson some 8 seconds ahead, it was Banks-Browne who took second spot, first MX2 rider and the Maxxis ACU British title.
Every KTM supporter held their breathe on the final lap as EBB dropped the bike but hastily picked it up still in front of Mel Pocock who was battling through from tenth place on the first lap, desperate to take the title, but it was not to be.
Retrospectively, the Monster Yamaha machine failure, resulting in a first race DNF while Pocock was leading put paid to his chances of taking the title. Mel won Moto 2 but the final race decider was just that. Through all the up`s and downs of the season, EBB had done enough.
MAXXIS ACU BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MX2 CLASS – OVERALL ON THE DAY
1 – ELLIOTT BANKS-BROWNE – HM PLANT KTM – BRITISH CHAMPION
2 – BRYAN MACKENSIE – KTM
3 – GRAEME IRWIN – MBO YAMAHA
MAXXIS ACU BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MX1 CLASS – OVERALL ON THE DAY
1 – SHAUN SIMPSON – MONSTER BIKE-IT YAMAHA
2 – KEVIN STRIJBOS – HM PLANT KTM – BRITISH CHAMPION
3 – BRAD ANDERSON – HONDA
This wraps up the National racing calendar for 2012, however, the Phoenix Tools Premier South West Championship still has one round to go at Ladram Bay, Devon on Saturday 20th October.