Kristian Whatley (MBO Sport Yamaha) kept his win-streak going at Culham Park over the weekend for round three of the Red Bull Pro Nationals.
The 23-year-old dominated on the tough, old-school track by the side of the Thames, taking a hat-trick of wins over the hottest weekend of the year to extend his championship lead to 32 points ahead of Frenchman Milko Potisek (2B Yamaha) who ended the weekend off the podium in fourth.
“I’ve tried to keep it smooth today,” says Kristian. “I’ve taken my time and stayed patient with it being so hot. It’s such a hard track out there – I’ve always said this is a man’s track and you can get bit anytime. I didn’t want to holeshot, I wanted to sit there in the top three, see what the guys were doing, find lines behind them and not let them see my lines. Patience has been a virtue today.”
Estonian Gert Krestinov (Apico Ansatech Kawasaki) put in his best performance of the series to fill the second step of the podium ahead of defending champ Nico Aubin (Buildbase Honda) who managed third overall despite suffering the after-effects of a mid-week illness.
Victory in MX2 went to Martin Barr (VMXMOTO.com/Nutt Travel KTM) who was making his 2013 series debut after breaking his thumb before the opening round in April. The Northern Irishman looked strong all weekend to claim the overall from South African defending champion Neville Bradshaw (Putoline Honda) and series leader Steven Lenoir (Evotech Stevens KTM).
“I’m over the moon to come back from injury and get my first overall of the year – it’s absolutely fantastic,” says Martin. “My bike’s working fantastic and I need to say a big thank you to everyone who’s helping out and all my personal sponsors, I wouldn’t be here without them. To come away with the win today is really satisfying.”
In the Red Bull Elite Youth Cup 18-year-old Dan Thornhill moved to the top of the Rookie championship standings after five hard-fought races while North Easterner Jay Hague’s win-streak in the Big Wheel 85cc class was ended by Kent’s Mitchell Lewis. The Small Wheel 85cc class saw 12-year-old Charlie Cole take his second event win in a row and Bradford racer Kacey Hird claimed a debut weekend victory in the 65s.
Lewis Gregory suffered his first race loss of the season in the 2-Stroke 125cc Expert championship but still extended his championship lead as Rob Holyoake topped the Junior division. Victory in the Open 2-Stroke Expert division went to a dominant Josh Waterman and Jack Gregory took care of business in the Juniors.
Next stop on the series schedule is the spectacular Skelder Bank circuit near Whitby on July 20-21.
2013 Red Bull Pro Nationals results and standings
2013 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX1 – Overall |
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Pos | No. | Rider | Sponsor | Total points | R1. | R2. | R3. |
1 | 227 | Kristian Whatley | MBO Sport Yamaha | 75 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
2 | 37 | Gert Krestinov | Apico Ansatech Kawasaki | 58 | 18 | 18 | 22 |
3 | 131 | Nicolas Aubin | Buildbase Honda Racing | 58 | 16 | 22 | 20 |
4 | 32 | Milko Potisek | Yamaha France | 58 | 22 | 20 | 16 |
5 | 160 | Scott Elderfield | Lanes Kawasaki | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
6 | 70 | Dorran Coutts | Maxxix Kawasaki By LPE | 40 | 11 | 11 | 18 |
7 | 25 | Jamie Law | Dyer & Butler KTM | 40 | 13 | 12 | 15 |
8 | 155 | Jack Brunell | Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE | 37 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
9 | 60 | Brad Anderson | Maxxis Kawasaki By LPE | 34 | 20 | 14 | — |
10 | 68 | Shane Carless | Oakleaf Kawasaki | 30 | — | 16 | 14 |
11 | 292 | James Dodd | 27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
12 | 74 | Partick Major | Desert Off Road | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 |
13 | 438 | Jackson Evans | 25 | 15 | 10 | — | |
14 | 295 | Ross Rutherford | Pendrich Kawasaki | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 |
15 | 113 | Michael Mahon | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | |
16 | 22 | George Baldwin | MBO Sport Yamaha | 16 | — | 8 | 8 |
17 | 550 | Sean Rowan-Mitchell | 10 | 10 | — | — | |
18 | 111 | Kelvin Townsend | Gibbs Performance, St Blazey M/C | 9 | 5 | 4 | — |
19 | 90 | Aaron Lowe | 4 | 4 | — | — |
2013 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX1 – Championship |
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Pos | No. | Rider | Total | Diff | Gap |
1 | 227 | Kristian Whatley | 204 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 32 | Milko Potisek | 172 | 32 | 32 |
3 | 131 | Nicolas Aubin | 166 | 38 | 6 |
4 | 37 | Gert Krestinov | 147 | 57 | 19 |
5 | 60 | Brad Anderson | 133 | 71 | 14 |
6 | 25 | Jamie Law | 132 | 72 | 1 |
7 | 68 | Shane Carless | 108 | 96 | 24 |
8 | 160 | Scott Elderfield | 107 | 97 | 1 |
9 | 70 | Dorran Coutts | 80 | 124 | 27 |
10 | 295 | Ross Rutherford | 79 | 125 | 1 |
11 | 155 | Jack Brunell | 77 | 127 | 2 |
12 | 9 | Stuart Edmonds | 65 | 139 | 12 |
13 | 442 | Adrien Van Beveren | 56 | 148 | 9 |
14 | 292 | James Dodd | 48 | 156 | 8 |
15 | 74 | Partick Major | 46 | 158 | 2 |
16 | 22 | George Baldwin | 42 | 162 | 4 |
17 | 550 | Sean Rowan-Mitchell | 40 | 164 | 2 |
18 | 5 | Josh Waterman | 36 | 168 | 4 |
19 | 681 | Tommy Alba | 32 | 172 | 4 |
20 | 111 | Kelvin Townsend | 30 | 174 | 2 |
21 | 33 | Wayne Garrett | 27 | 177 | 3 |
22 | 438 | Jackson Evans | 25 | 179 | 2 |
23 | 113 | Michael Mahon | 18 | 186 | 7 |
24 | 411 | Steve Ramon | 13 | 191 | 5 |
25 | 140 | Luke Burton | 13 | 191 | 0 |
26 | 232 | James Lassu | 13 | 191 | 0 |
27 | 42 | Nez Parker | 12 | 192 | 1 |
28 | 90 | Aaron Lowe | 10 | 194 | 2 |
29 | 11x | Jean_Claude Mousse | 6 | 198 | 4 |
30 | 500 | Luke Hill | 4 | 200 | 2 |
31 | 3 | Robert Hamilton | 4 | 200 | 0 |
2013 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX2 – Overall |
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Pos | No. | Rider | Sponsor | Total points | R1. | R2. | R3. |
1 | 50 | Martin Barr | VMXMOTO.com/Nutt Travel KTM | 67 | 25 | 22 | 20 |
2 | 272 | Neville Bradshaw | Putoline Honda | 63 | 20 | 25 | 18 |
3 | 685 | Steven Lenoir | Evotech Stevens KTM | 58 | 16 | 20 | 22 |
4 | 121 | Bryan MacKenzie | Pendrich Kawasaki | 45 | 13 | 7 | 25 |
5 | 36 | Matthew Moffat | Drysduce KTM UK, Motoshack | 45 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
6 | 66 | Lewis Tombs | JAR Honda By IFS | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 |
7 | 5x | Graeme Irwin | Heads & All threads Suzuki UK | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 |
8 | 5 | Josh Waterman | 41 | 12 | 15 | 14 | |
9 | 23 | Edward Allingham | MBO Yamaha | 38 | 10 | 18 | 10 |
10 | 511 | Steven Clarke | 35 | 22 | 13 | — | |
11 | 303 | Jake Millward | Oakleaf Kawasaki | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
12 | 11 | Matt Burrows | Putoline Honda | 29 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
13 | 24 | Luke Remmer | Vancraft | 27 | 6 | 12 | 9 |
14 | 214 | Lewis Trickett | Lanes Kawasaki | 14 | 14 | — | — |
15 | 16 | Carlton Husband | 13 | 7 | 6 | — | |
16 | 957 | Jake Preston | 8 | — | 8 | — |
2013 Red Bull Pro Nationals MX2 – Championship |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | No. | Rider | Total | Diff | Gap |
1 | 685 | Steven Lenoir | 200 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 272 | Neville Bradshaw | 185 | 15 | 15 |
3 | 5x | Graeme Irwin | 162 | 38 | 23 |
4 | 121 | Bryan MacKenzie | 140 | 60 | 22 |
5 | 66 | Lewis Tombs | 118 | 82 | 22 |
6 | 36 | Matthew Moffat | 117 | 83 | 1 |
7 | 24 | Luke Remmer | 101 | 99 | 16 |
8 | 303 | Jake Millward | 89 | 111 | 12 |
9 | 991 | Nathan Watson | 88 | 112 | 1 |
10 | 214 | Lewis Trickett | 85 | 115 | 3 |
11 | 114 | Jordan Booker | 75 | 125 | 10 |
12 | 50 | Martin Barr | 67 | 133 | 8 |
13 | 11 | Matt Burrows | 67 | 133 | 0 |
14 | 919 | Ben Watson | 53 | 147 | 14 |
15 | 23 | Edward Allingham | 48 | 152 | 5 |
16 | 5 | Josh Waterman | 41 | 159 | 7 |
17 | 7 | Stephen Sword | 38 | 162 | 3 |
18 | 19 | Ryan Houghton | 37 | 163 | 1 |
19 | 511 | Steven Clarke | 35 | 165 | 2 |
20 | 16 | Carlton Husband | 13 | 187 | 22 |
21 | 957 | Jake Preston | 8 | 192 | 5 |
22 | 12 | Luke Dean | 8 | 192 | 0 |