Report: ACU Pro Clean British Sidecarcross Championship

The first round of the 2019 ACU Pro Clean British Sidecarcross championship got underway at the Milton Park MX track in the Midlands. The weather was very kind to us after a storm during the days before the event, but just cloudy on race day, and a little sun towards the end of the day.

Having lost the title last year because of a wrist injury Stuart Brown, now reunited with Josh Chamberlain, was in determined mood to reclaim the title he has won 15 times. Things couldn’t have started better for Brown/ Chamberlain as they had a clean sweep taking three great wins

Unfortunately defending champions Brett Wilkinson/ Ryan Humprey were not racing because of injury. Bret had a back operation after a crash at the opening GP and is still recovering, but it was good to see them at the event – if only as spectators.

Team number two Gary Moulds and Steve Kirwin are also both on the injured list, Gary will push on with a damaged shoulder and will be supported by stand-in passenger Paul Horton. There are many passenger changes this year, George Kinge teams up with Lewis Gray and Michael Hodges with Scott Grahame.

It’s also all change in the second Brown Team, with Stuart’s son Jake starting the season with Zac Snell, but swapping to Joe Millard after Zac was injured during practice sessions. It’s good to see Dan Foden back after taking time out to recover from a bad crash.

He will be joined by Dutch passenger Roy Bijenhof, and the only team with a left-hand chair so they are easy to spot. Race one got underway with an early lead for Stuart Brown/ Josh Chamberlain, new pairing of George Kinge/ Lewis Gray held second but Jake Brown/ Joe Millard battled past leaving Kinge/ Gray in third.

Michael Hodges/ Scott Grahame fought past Dan Foden/ Roy Bijenhof with Paul Pelling/ Chris Pannell tucking into sixth. Gary Moulds / Paul Horton had a steady race finishing just behind in seventh.

In race two Brown/ Chamberlain took the holeshot for a second time and went on to take another safe win. Kinge/ Gray held second throughout despite challenges from Brown/ Millard. Moulds/ Horton had a great start but were under pressure from Hodges/ Grahame. No 5 – Paul Pelling/ Chris Pannell – had a great race battling past Foden/ Bijenhof and Moulds/ Horton to take fifth.

The final race was just as exciting. This time Brown/ Millard took the lead out of the gate and into lap one, but Brown/ Chamberlain stayed close in second, blasting through on lap one and went on to take a third win. Brown/ Millard held a safe second. Tony Grahame/ Charlie Ide had a brilliant start in third but was under pressure. Kinge/ Gray fought past to take third.

The battle for fourth was tough with Foden/ Bijenhof fighting hard with Hodges/ Grahame and Grahame/ Ide held sixth. Stuart Brown/ Josh Chamberlain took the overall with an eleven point advantage over second place Jake Brown/ Joe Millard. George Kinge/ Lewis Gray are just two points behind in third. It was good to see father and son on the podium. No 4 – Michael Hodges/ Scott Grahame hold fourth, ten points behind.

After a great weekend, the points are close and the battles even closer. Let’s hope rest of the season is just as exciting. The next round is scheduled for May 26 at Frome.

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