ACU Quadcross Paul Holmes
Wins Opening Round at Mepal Moto Park
ACU British Quad
Championship - Round 1 - April 15, 2012
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Despite getting
in a pile-up in the first turn Paul Holmes
came from behind to take the win in Moto
1 & the overall
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Duns, Scotland (4/17/2012) - Paul
Holmes made an incredible comeback in the season's
opening race, winning from last place and going
on to take a comfortable win in race two, making
him the man to beat in this year's ACU British Quadcross
Championship. Staged at the demanding sand circuit
of Mepal Moto Park and organised by West Devon MMC,
the crowds gathered as 33 riders took to the line
to battle it out over four separate race classes.
Held in conjunction with the British Sidecar Championship
on a day of sunshine and hail, the track demanded
the most out of riders both physically and mentally.
Sand expert Holmes onboard his Holmes Racing Yamaha
was just ahead of the inform riding his
McQuaid Personal Training Honda with a difference
of 0.13 seconds. Oli Samson rounded up the top three
in third, showing improved pace since competing
in the USA.
Before racing commenced, a minute's silence was
held in remembrance of the much loved Cumbrian
rider Mark Watson. Mark's father and his best
friend John Pattinson had travelled to support
under 21 contender Conner Smith.
With just five seconds separating the top 10
riders the competition was going to be tight as
the flag dropped for the first of two 25 minute
plus two lap races. Wray was fastest out of the
gates, taking the holeshot and displaying blistering
pace with the fastest lap as he pulled away from
front runners Justin Reid, Oli Samson and Carl
Bunce on his Arrow Self Drive Suzuki. Just a few
seconds after the start Holmes crashed with Scott
Sinclair, sending both quads into the air and
leaving both riders on the track through a busy
first corner.
"After I untangled my bike, the clutch lever
had bent round which caused me to then stall in
lap three but I pushed and rode hard until the
last lap when I caught up to Wray and was able
to make the pass with six corners to go."
Explained Holmes after he passed his way through
every rider to take an impressive first race win.
Wray, who had established a good lead and was
looking set to take his first British QX victory,
had to settle for second with Bunce having passed
the battling Reid and Samson taking third.
Holmes took the holeshot in race two and was
almost overtaken by the chasing Bunce, with George
Calloway and Reid behind him. Holmes built up
a 10 second lead and rode smooth through the deep
sand all the way to the finish, taking fastest
lap in the process. Bunce was riding well in second;
"Paul and I had built a gap from the rest
of the field and I stayed the same for the rest
of the race to take second." It was also
another solid performance from Wray who finished
third and that's also how it finished overall.
In the Quad Under 21 class, George Calloway rode
well with a ninth and fifth place finish overall,
taking first in the class. Sheldan Seal and Conner
Smith were also picking up valuable points, finishing
second and third respectively. Smith had a difficult
first race but showed character in race two with
a charge to the finish which ensured him a place
on the podium. Lindsey Duke bagged maximum points
in the Quad Masters with Anthony Barrett taking
second place but level on points with Clint Eagle.
Anthony Canavan took first place and a strong
lead in the Clubman Championship.
Round two will take place at Asham Woods near
Frome on the 4th June, organised by Frome MCC.
It is sure to be another superb day of quad racing
action. For more details please visit www.acuquadracing.co.uk
RESULTS:
British Championship: 1 Paul Holmes (Yamaha) 40
+ 40 =80, 2 Carl Bunce (Suzuki) 35 + 37 =72, 3
(Honda) 37 + 35 =72, 4 Justin Reid
(Can Am) 33 + 33 =66, 5 Oli Samson (Yamaha) 28
+ 31=59, George Callaway (Yamaha) 31 + 28 =59
British U21 Championship: 1 George Callaway (Yamaha)
40 + 37 =77, 2 Sheldon Seal (KTM) 35 + 40=75,
3 Conner Smith (KTM) 29 + 35 =64, 4 Dean Colhoun
(Can Am) 31 + 31 =62, 5 Leon Rogers (Kawasaki)
33 + 29 =62, 6 Tom Claireaux (Honda) 26 + 33 =59
British Masters Championship: 1 Lindsey Duke
(KTM) 40 + 40 =80, 2 Anthony Barrett (Suzuki)
35 + 37 =72, 3 Clint Eagle (KTM) 37 + 35 =72,
4 Chris Murphy (Suzuki) 33 + 33 =66, 5 Martin
Sayer (Suzuki) 29 + 31 =60, 6 Simon Walton (Honda)
31 + 27 =58
British Clubman Championship: 1 Anthony Canavan
(Honda) 37 + 40 =77, 2 Michael McCullagh 40 +
0 =40, 3 Jonny Harper (Suzuki) 0 + 37=37
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