Only one week after the brutal round three at FatCat the BWMA Westermans International British Women’s Motocross Championship headed to Wroxton Moto Parc in Banbury for round four.
A completely different track which suited a lot more riders and produced some of the most exciting and spectacular racing of the series so far.
In the Adult Ladies, the girls had their last chance to qualify for the Pro-Class Championship, only the top 10 can qualify for the rest of the season in the National Ladies Championship.
The positions for qualification were only separated by a handful of points between Grace Bates, Lily Moreland, Vicky Marriott, Georgie Potter and Aaliyah Hulbert, so it was going to be a tense round.
For this round we also had Icelandic champion, Gyoa Dogg Heioarsdottir, giving the BWMA a go.
Race one and typically the only rain of the day fell just for the duration of the Ladies race, but it didn’t stop Louise Powell grabbing her first BelRay holeshot of the series, just pipping Chelsea Gowland who quickly took to the front and steadily pulled out a commanding lead.
The battle behind was led by Kayleigh Durston, doing a fantastic job in second ahead of Marni Saunders, Catherine King and Esme King, with Jaymee Garrood behind. This leading battle was hotting up and soon Saunders took Kayleigh Durston for second but now had Catherine King on her tail putting the pressure on but Durston managed to hold her off to the flag to secure third.
Garrood had a super race keeping out of trouble and ahead of young Bethany Allison to bring home her best race result of the series in fifth place.
Race two and the conditions were almost perfect. Out the gate first was Durston in super determined mood taking the BelRay Holeshot from Gowland. Gowland again took the lead early on and controlled the race from the front with ease.
Behind her Saunders soon got past Durston and put in some quick times but she was pushed hard by Catherine King with only seconds separating them at the finish, Durston secured fourth with Allison close behind in fifth.
After her disappointing first race Marriott had her best start of the series in fifth. Garrood finished sixth closely followed by Esme King.
With so much at stake in Race 3 it was Durston again grabbing the BelRay Holeshot ahead of Garrood.
Garrood was in the lead by corner two but up the inside of corner three came Allison.
Durston nipped in front to chase then Gowland took second. Durston got back in front of Garrood and was followed by Catherine King, Allison tired and dropped back to seventh and that is how exciting and close this front battle was.
In the Youth class the racing was getting much closer with Grace Packman on her favourite track levelling out the difference between her and championship leader Jaysi Austin.
Race one and it was Austin who took the BelRay holeshot from Packman. Katie Morgan had a dreadful start and had lots to do.
Beanie Reece took advantage and pushed as hard as she could, while up front Packman held on to Austin for the first half of the race, a very encouraging performance from her.
Morgan was riding a super race as she reeled in Reece and took over third place with Autumn Jenkinson ahead of Sophie Jones.
Next were the Rising Stars 65cc’s and as always Ellie Davidson and Poppy Banning were having a great race with nothing separating them but it was Banning again just taking the win.
Race two and this time Austin just pipped Packman to the holeshot and again had a start-to-finish win. Packman held on as much as she could but lost a bit too much ground.
Behind them Morgan had a better race taking a comfortable third from the ever-improving Beanie Reece with Jenkinson getting her confidence back each race in fifth ahead of Jones.
In the Rising Stars and there was only a second between both Poppy Banning and Ellie Davidson’s lap times but Davidson took a tumble that knocked shook her up but still remounted and brought it home.
Race three and this time a more determined Packman took the holeshot from Austin and led for a short while.
But the strength of Austin showed as she pushed through to take the lead. The race followed a similar pattern to race two with Morgan leading Reece home ahead of Jenkinson and Jones.
There was heartbreak for young Davidson when all her determination nearly paid off for her first win against Poppy Banning, each of them matching times but on the last corner Banning snatched the win from Davidson.
RESULTS
Adult Ladies Championship: 1 Chelsea Gowland 160pts, 2 Marni Saunders 162, 3 Catherine King 147, 4 Kayleigh Durston 144, 5 Jaymee Garrood 133, 6 Bethany Allison 131, 7 Esme King 123, 8 Louise Powell 105, 9 Vicky Marriott 103, 10 Grace Bates 103,
Youth Girls Championship: 1Jaysi Austin 180, 2 Grace Packman 162, 3 Katie Morgan 150, 4 Beanie Reece 141, 5 Autumn Jenkinson 135, 6 Sophie Jones 125.
Rising Stars 65cc: 1 Poppy Banning 123, 2 Ellie Davidson 121
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