Tommy Searle took time out from his MX2 GP schedule to trade up to a 450F and bang out at brace of wins at round five of the Red Bull Pro Nationals at Hawkstone Park…
The CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki star, currently holding down third in the world on a 250F, moved up to the MX1 division for a wildcard ride as part of his preperations for the Motocross des Nations and stormed to a pair of wins around the famous Shropshire track.
After his dominance in the first race it was more of the same in the second, albeit after a first lap battle royale with Brad Anderson as the pair banged bars through the back of the circuit! Once at the front Searle pretty much checked out, leaving the action behind him. While Anderson probably thought he’d be safe in second those behind him had other ideas as LPE Kawasaki and GP winner Gert Krestinov put his sand skills to good use and closed right onto the PAR rider’s back wheel.
With Searle already long gone and Ando and Krestinov battling each other, returning HM Plant Red Bull KTM’s Jake Nicholls pulled the trigger and laid down some blisteringly fast laps on the 250F – first catching, then passing the Ando/Krestinov freight train to put himself into second. While all this was happening at the sharp end CLS Kawasaki’s Max Anstie was battling through the pack after yet another average start, managing to elevate himself from fifth to third on the 10th lap.
Just as Nicholls was probably thinking that second was his for the taking the Hawkstone track decided to bite him in the ass, serving him up a good old fashioned trip over the bars and relegation back to fifth, ruining all his previous hard work. Of course one man’s bad luck is another man’s good luck and prime benefactor of Nicholl’s misfortune was Anstie who more than happily took the reins of second spot, giving the CLS team a second 1-2 on the day with Anderson second and Krestinov third.
With MX2 players Anstie and Nicholls mixing it up at the front the final step of the podium was filled by LPE Kawasaki’s Bryan MacKenzie who had managed to hunt down and pass Maxxis Apico Suzuki’s Steven Clarke. With both MacKenzie and Clarke finishing the day on 40 points MacKenzie’s pass proved crucial as his better second moto finish gave him the nod for second overall
