Desertmartin Preview: Judd KTM British Youth Championship

Widely acclaimed as one of the best tracks in Europe, the Judd KTM British Youth Championship sets up camp at the fabulous Desertmartin circuit in Northern Ireland this weekend.

And if there was one thing proven without doubt at the previous FatCat round it’s that Auto pilot Brian Gyles absolutely excels in tricky deep sand conditions.

Claiming all five wins in a superb show of speed and skill, he has blown the championship race wide open.

Before round three Robbie Daly (Judd Orange Brigade) looked to be cruising to the crown but now it’s a three-way tussle with just 22 points covering the top trio.

Despite a tough weekend in the office at FatCat Daly still leads the chase 14 points ahead of Lucas Lee, with Gyles now just 22 adrift.

Going into round three, Gyles was a distant 80 points behind Daly but his show there was of legendary proportions.

Claiming four race wins in the Junior 65s at FatCat, Reece Jones increased his series advantage and starts in Northern Ireland with a 49-point advantage over Brandon Buckley.

Following another solid show in South Yorkshire Freddie Gardiner moved up from fifth into third, closely followed by the previous third-place sitter Charlie Richmond.

At the top in the Small-wheel 85s SJP Husqvarna pilot Finley Evans more than doubled his section lead over Tyla Hooley at round three but it’s still all to play for with just 14 points separating the talented pair.

As a rookie upgrade, McKenzie Marshall’s season is proving to be a corker and he starts at Desertmartin in series third, 100 points off top spot. Marshall is 13 points in front of fellow rookie Shaun Mahoney, with Warren Clarke and Josh Vail rounding out the top six.

In the Big-wheel 85s it’s another of the SJP Husqvarna crew who now tops the pile in the shape of the talented Charlie Heyman.

He has gone toe-to-toe with previous leader season Sam Atkinson and the pair should resume their electric contest – albeit with Atkinson having to protect a shoulder injury – as the battle behind them rages on without unlucky injured Judd KTM flyer Bailey Johnston.

With Johnston now sidelined for the rest of the season, Ollie Colmer (Revo Husqvarna) in championship fourth and Charlie Palmer in fifth will have eyes fixed on claiming the vacant bronze medal slot.

Laying down a five-race clean sweep at FatCat in the 125s, rookie Jack Grayshon (Apico Husqvarna) demolished all before him in spectacular style while also closing down the gap at the top of the championship.

Grayshon was last year’s Big-wheel 85cc supremo and is now just seven points behind leader Preston Williams (Judd Orange Brigade).

Louie Kessell (JOB KTM) sits 71 points off top spot in third place and 12 to the good over Jamie Smith in fourth.

With the championship lead at stake Grayshon going bar-to-bar with Williams on a more neutral course in Ireland could well be a weekend highlight.

In the Youth Open unfortunate injuries to the division leader Dominic Lancett (Verde Substance KTM) and fellow big hitter Drew Anderson (JOB KTM) mean the race for the crown is now seemingly between the last two guys standing.

With three rounds still left to run it’s an unusual situation as in second place Max Ingham (HCR Yamaha) is now favourite, with third-placed Jack Roberts his only real opposition.

Both pilots just need to stay fit and they will surely nail the top two in the premier British Youth Championship.

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