It’s been the battle of five-times world champ Jeffry Herlings and current British champion Conrad Mewse in the British championship this year, with every single moto being won by one of them.
Herlings took the overall at the first two rounds and arrived with a six point lead in the series. But Mewse was in the mood for a battle on a track he loves.
For Mewse, he was in incredible form all day. He set the fastest time in qualifying then came from third place through to take the lead away from Herlings and he held it to the flag in a shortened race so an injured rider could be attended to.
But it was an event cut short after the first block of racing when three of the four on-site ambulances had to rush to hospital with two injured riders and a spectator thought to be having a heart attack. Without the required emergency cover, the event was abandoned so Mewse’s moto win meant he was the overall winner. And he moved to within three points of red plate holder Herlings in the championship.
Tristan Purdon took third overall with a pair of third places but veteran Martin Barr moved up to third in the series.
The sole MX2 race was initially led by Elliott Banks-Browne who soon succumbed to pressure from Cas Valk and red plate holder Jack Chambers, followed by Joel Rizzi. Jake Nicholls rounded the first lap in fourth place, one spot in front of Taylor Hammal in a show of strength for the Crendon Tru7 Honda machines. For the next six laps, the pair battled it out until Hammal got by then he rapidly deposed of Rizzi and caught up to third placed Banks-Browne.
The pair rode hard and when Hammal made a passing attempt, Banks-Browne parried back but lost the front end and crashed. Hammal hit his rival’s bike and also went down, remounting in distant eighth place which is where he finished. Local favourite Nicholls was right there to snatch fourth place, and crossed the line in the shadow of third place man Rizzi.
Valk’s win mean he now has moved to within two points of American GP rider Chambers.
