Yamaha Motorcycles

Carless full bore at Boraston! 2021 AMCA British Motocross Championship -Race Report & Results

Hosted by the very hard working Teme Valley MXC, Boraston in Shropshire was the venue for the eagerly awaited opening round of the AMCA British Motocross Championship powered by Datatag and supported by Dunlop.

Report and Images by Mike Wood

With all the classes stacked full of quality, the typically unpredictable British weather though failed to play ball and read the good times script!! Following 24 hours of almost continuous rain, the circuit had become an absolute quagmire thus even creating doubt amongst some riders if the event would be able to go ahead!

Thankfully though the big watering can in the sky stopped pouring and conditions dried remarkable quick to thus enable this Championship round to be completed. Because of the Covid pandemic, some of the planned pre-series Championship qualifiers had been cancelled so this meant that the final places on the series start grid for MX1 and MX2 were still to be decided on the day before the hunt for the 2021 AMCA titles could commence.

Early 125cc moto one action featuring Matt Ridgway(27)

So after prolonged practice and qualifying sessions and a slight rerouting of the circuit due to the awfully heavy going, it was finally time for the real action. Yes the track was naturally sticky, technical and very knarly creating a whole maze of big, intimidating ruts but the riders were undeterred and put on a great show, pushing their effort and energy levels to the max in a bid to lay down a marker for the rounds to come! Well done to all riders and the organising Teme Valley MXC for persevering and getting the job done!

In the two blocks of planned racing Ashley Greedy(MX1), Shane Carless(MX2), Bradley Tranter(125cc), Phil Mercer(Vets) and Shaun Mahoney(Youth) took the respective overall wins and are now the riders who will hold the series red plates going into round 2 at Nympsfield.

MX1

Josh Waterman and James Dodd took the moto wins at Boraston but it was Ashley Greedy who bagged the overall win with a brace of 2nd places. Having recently switched for FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna over to LHRT Kawasaki, Ashley was joined on the box by Luke Hawkins and Luke Burton, the defending AMCA MX1 Champion.

Fast Welshman Greedy was to quickly stamp his authority on MX1 moto one as he led Burton, Mark Young, Hawkins, Jamie Skuse and James Mackrel. Greedy continued to hold control right up until lap 7 when he was relieved of the lead by Waterman. Earlier in the moto, Josh was down in 8th but timed his ride to perfection before claiming the first win of the season. Suffering from arm pump, Greedy held on to still bag 2nd from Burton, Hawkins and Adam Chatfield, a late addition to the class after replacing Tommy Alba on the Ultimate Wheels/Thunderroad Honda team. Having an eventful opening ride of the new season was James Dodd, after stalling at the start and suffering a sticking front brake, he then stormed back with a strong performance to get home in 9th.

Ashley Greedy

Jamie Skuse was the quickest rider away in moto two but by the completion of the first circuit, Dodd was in control and that’s where he remained to bag a great win. Taking 2nd again was Greedy from Hawkins and Burton who had worked his way up from 10th then getting himself locked into a great battle for Chatfield. Also inside the top ten were Skuse, Adam Harris, Corie Southwood who had crashed on turn one in the opening clash, Waterman suffering from a bent front brake disc and Will Hughes.

Luke Hawkins,2nd in MX1

MX2

Having already picked up the MX1 and 125cc titles in successive seasons, Welsh ace Shane Carless started the 2021 MX2 AMCA Championship campaign in spectacular style with a brace of comfortable moto wins. Joining on the Boraston podium was young Henry Williams and Nev Bradshaw on the 250cc 2T Husqvarna.

This class featured an intriguing mix pitting experience v youth and the youngsters certainly played a big part in Sunday’s racing. Rossi Beard also two-stroke mounted took 5th overall including a moto two when he came from last back to a superb 8th. Also in mix was Josh Peters who got home in 7th overall on his AMCA Championship debut.

enry Williams, 2nd in MX2

Brooklyn Evans grabbed the moto one holeshot and led the charge for two laps before Carless who had earlier comfortably posted the fastest qualifying time came through to take control. With Henry Williams holding off Nev Bradshaw in a super battle for 2nd, Beard started his maiden AMCA Championship season in style by scoring a great 4th just ahead of the very experienced Ray Rowson. Also starting with a strong ride in this first MX2 clash of 2021 were Jaydon Murphy, Lewis Dowdeswell, Rory Jones, Josh Coleman and another debutant Josh Peters.

Nice cornering style from Rossi Beard

With Beard falling on the opening turn of moto two and with it all now to do, Williams and Bradshaw briefly took turns to lead the way before the super-fast Carless came gliding past! Having stormed to a massive 30 seconds victory in moto one, Carless was right on it again in this one with Williams in 2nd and his FUS Marsh MX Husqvarna teammate Bradshaw proving to be his closest challengers. With rain again falling and making conditions a little tricky, Rowson took 4th from Alfie Jones, Adam Collings,young Peters and Beard, getting back up to a super 8th following his earlier tumble.

Josh Peters leading a MX2 battle

125cc

There was to be a new name standing on top of the 125cc Championship podium on Sunday as a delighted Bradley Tranter scored his maiden overall win with a superb 1/2 scorecard. Runner-up was AMCA debutant Kieran Banks on the very rapid Fantic machine. The fast starting Jonathan Roderick-Evans claimed 3rd. After a long layoff from the sport, Tom Fish returned in style by taking 4th overall.

Despite being forced to jump aboard his spare bike, Tranter took victory in the first 125cc moto of the season after Jonathan Roderick-Evans had claimed the initial holeshot. Having his maiden AMCA Championship ride, Banks grabbed third from Bailey Johnston, Jamie Smith and Jack Timms who had to work very hard for his first points of the new season when finding himself down in 15th during the early stages.

Bradley Tranter, the 125cc winner

Jordan Wright and Tranter were the early pace setters in moto two but Banks on that very quick Fantic machine was already charging hard. By lap four, Kieran was hitting the front and quickly increasing his advantage before racing on to earn his first AMCA Championship win. Whilst he was naturally delighted with that result, the biggest smile of the day certainly belonged to Tranter who by finishing 2nd was also confirmed as the overall victor in 125cc round one, well done Bradley!! With Roderick-Evans also confirming a place on the podium, Wright, Matt Ridgway, Tom Fish and Harrison McCann finished their day with a big points haul. For both Ridgway, who’s bike mysteriously ground to a halt in moto one when holding 3rd and Wright who could only manage 15th, this moto two result proved particularly crucial.

Vets winner, Phil Mercer

Vets

Factory Phil Mercer was back in town on Sunday and despite being very close to his 50th birthday showed that he has not lost any of his old style and speed. Although Paul Burn grabbed the holeshot in both moto’s, it was Mercer who comfortably took the wins ahead of Gary Davies. Taking the final step on the podium was the defending Champion James Lane.

Paul Burn led the opening Vets clash of 2021 for three laps before being passed by both Mercer and Davies. Lap seven and Burn then disappeared from proceedings. At the front, Phil in his own, smooth untroubled style was cruising to victory as Gary Davies had to see off the very determined Lane Brothers, James and Simon. Next up was Kevin Rogers, 3rd in the 2020 Vets series, Richard Tudor, Andrew Watkins and Sean Smith.

Burn again was quickest to react off the start in moto two, this time leading for three laps before as per the first clash then being overhauled by Mercer and Davies. On this occasion though, Burn held on to get home in 3rd with the reigning AMCA Vets Champion James Lane. For Simon Lane though this moto was to prove disastrous as his Husqvarna’s clutch expired and overheated on lap 5.
Youth.

Shaun Mahoney the Youth winner

New rider in the AMCA series Shaun Mahoney was in simply fantastic form on his debut at Boraston, comfortably winning both moto’s. After briefly leading moto two, Charlie Hucklebridge eventually scored a 4/2 to earn a richly deserved 2nd overall ahead of Kalvin Kelly in 3rd.

Youth runner-up Charlie Hucklebridge

It was Oliver Ruddock who claimed the moto one holeshot before Shaun Mahoney found a route through on a typically frantic opening lap. From here onwards it was Mahoney all the way as Kalvin Kelly grabbed third from Charlie Hucklebridge, Alfie Crealock-Lovell, Lewis Proud and Oliver Rigby.

Hucklebridge was the quick kid off the block in moto two leading for a couple of laps before the fast Mahoney came through. Comfortably then racing onto victory, Hucklebridge remained in a strong 2nd spot despite suffering from rear brake fade on his KTM machine. Right in the mix in this second clash were Rigby,Jack Davis, Kelly, Proud and Wyatt McGregor. In the separately scored Small-Wheel 85cc class, Oakley Kettle was the top performer ahead of Harley Prickett and Caiden Baillie.

Delve into the Full overall results from the weekends 2021 AMCA British Motocross Championship opener at Boraston.

James Dodd, 4th in MX1

Results

MX1

Pos Competitor Points R1 R2
1 Ashley Greedy 94 47 47
2 Luke Hawkins 88 43 45
3 Luke Burton 88 45 43
4 James Dodd 83 33 50
5 Josh Waterman 83 50 33
6 Adam Chatfield 82 41 41
7 Jamie Skuse 78 39 39
8 Adam Harris 67 30 37
9 Mark Young 64 37 27
10 Will Hughes 59 28 31
11 Mark Roberts 56 31 25
12 Aaron Patstone 55 29 26
13 Zac Stealey 54 25 29
14 Adam Wells 53 23 30
15 Corie Southwood 52 17 35
16 Sean Wainwright 48 24 24
17 George Sim-Mutch 47 27 20
18 Jake Parker 44 16 28
19 Henry Partridge 43 21 22
20 Jayden Ashwell 41 22 19
21 Damon Strydom 40 19 21
22 Jimmy Margetson 40 26 14
23 Ben Hunt 38 15 23
24 Ieuan Barrett-Harris 35 20 15
25 Luke Meredith 35 35
26 Ben Margetson 34 18 16
27 Lewis Hughes 32 14 18
28 Rory Merchant 27 10 17
29 Thomas Merton 24 11 13
30 Rhys Walker 24 13 11
31 Benjamin Nicholls 21 9 12
32 Tye Barrs 18 8 10
33 Jack Griffiths 16 7 9
34 Chris Neesam 14 6 8
35 James Bates 12 12
36 Paul Maile 11 5 6
37 Luke Chessell 7 7

MX2

Pos Competitor Points R1 R2
1 Shane Carless 100 50 50
2 Henry Williams 94 47 47
3 Neville Bradshaw 90 45 45
4 Ray Rowson 84 41 43
5 Rossi Beard 78 43 35
6 Alfie Jones 70 29 41
7 Josh Peters 68 31 37
8 Adam Collings 67 28 39
9 Lewis Dowdeswell 67 37 30
10 Jaydon Murphy 64 39 25
11 Rory Jones 62 35 27
12 Josh Canton 59 26 33
13 Cory Mcshane 58 30 28
14 Josh Coleman 57 33 24
15 Harry Linton 56 27 29
16 Sean Eckersley 51 25 26
17 Lee Truman 44 23 21
18 Callum Ford 42 24 18
19 Keelan Southwood 41 19 22
20 Mitchell Perry 39 20 19
21 Nathan Claughan 38 18 20
22 James Hanscomb 38 21 17
23 James Angel 37 22 15
24 Martin Jones 36 13 23
25 Brooklyn Evans 31 31
26 Joshua Barnett 28 12 16
27 Pip Davies 27 15 12
28 Matthew Bath 27 16 11
29 Adam Hill 23 9 14
30 Ben James 19 10 9
31 Josh Greedy 18 8 10
32 James Smith 18 14 4
33 Billy Bayliss 17 4 13
34 Patrick Gilligan 17 17
35 Joe Russell 16 11 5
36 Richy Roberts 13 6 7
37 Aaron Collins 11 5 6
38 Alfie Rickwood 10 2 8
39 Ben Griffiths 7 7
40 Steffan Hooper 6 3 3

125’s

Pos Competitor Points R1 R2
1 Bradley Tranter 97 50 47
2 Kieran Banks 95 45 50
3 Jonathan Roderick-Evans 92 47 45
4 Tom Fish 74 35 39
5 Harrison Mccann 74 37 37
6 Jack Timms 72 39 33
7 Jordan Wright 69 26 43
8 Jamie Smith 67 41 26
9 Bailey Johnston 64 43 21
10 Lloyd Morgan 59 24 35
11 Stuart Owen 59 31 28
12 Joel Fisher 57 33 24
13 Luke Newman 55 30 25
14 Clinton Barrs 54 27 27
15 Nathan Bache 52 23 29
16 Harry Ridgway 51 29 22
17 Aaron Colley 50 19 31
18 Max Lewis 47 28 19
19 Jamie Powell 46 16 30
20 Matt Ridgway 41 41
21 tomos wright 41 18 23
22 Olly Hathaway 40 25 15
23 Toby English 38 22 16
24 Callum Baldwin 32 20 12
25 Jordan Meredith 31 13 18
26 Lewis Roden 31 14 17
27 Conner Challinor 31 17 14
28 Ezra Blackwell 28 8 20
29 Jake O Gorman 24 15 9
30 Harry Beach 22 9 13
31 Mitchell Gregory 22 11 11
32 Kieron Cooke 21 21
33 Joshua Fletcher-Williams 20 10 10
34 Yarin Evans 14 6 8
35 Kyle Briggs 12 12
36 Ben Hunter 7 7

Vets

Pos Competitor Points R1 R2
1 Phil Mercer 100 50 50
2 Gary Davies 94 47 47
3 James Lane 88 45 43
4 Kevin Rogers 82 41 41
5 Andrew Watkins 76 37 39
6 Sean Smith 72 35 37
7 Richard Tudor 72 39 33
8 Richard Vincent 63 33 30
9 Matthew Chaplin 59 28 31
10 Gareth Dunsford 59 30 29
11 Anthony Bennett 57 22 35
12 Christian Seldon 56 29 27
13 Brian Staples 55 27 28
14 Mark Hawkins 52 31 21
15 Russell Hartill 50 25 25
16 Guy Langmead 46 24 22
17 Paul Burn 45 45
18 Ryan Thomas 44 21 23
19 Simon Lane 43 43
20 Steve Ferney 42 23 19
21 Matthew Evans 40 20 20
22 Stephen Elford 39 15 24
23 Paul Biddulph 36 18 18
24 Ian Jesson 33 16 17
25 Sean Reynolds 33 19 14
26 Gary Hurst 32 17 15
27 Stephen Hurst 29 13 16
28 David Bullock 27 14 13
29 Simon Baldwin 26 26
30 Robert Prosser 26 26
31 Christopher Jukes 12 12

85’s

Pos Competitor Points R1
1 Shaun Mahoney 100 50
2 Charlie Hucklebridge 90 43
3 Kalvin Kelly 88 47
4 Oliver Rigby 82 37
5 Jack Davis 78 35
6 Lewis Proud 78 39
7 Alfie Crealock-Lovell 76 41
8 Wyatt McGregor 67 30
9 Harry Bebb 64 31
10 Oakley Kettle 61 33
11 Logan Jay Powell 57 28
12 Cameron Chell 56 26
13 Sion Wright 54 29
14 Alfie Bebb 52 25
15 Rylee Francis 47 21
16 Harley Prickett 47 27
17 Rheanna Morgan-Rogers 45 23
18 Oliver Ruddock 45 45
19 Caiden Bailie 42 19
20 Will Turner 41 20
21 Harrison Davies 41 24
22 Jonas Brown 38 22
23 Jack Evans 37 13
24 Logan Chinnock 35 16
25 Tallis Price 35 17
26 Linc Hasted 31
27 Josh Lansbury 31 18
28 Oliver Bebb 28 14
29 George Bromley 26 15
30 Jaden Hill 23 8
31 Conrad Tomlinson 22 10
32 Amber McGregor 22 12
33 Tremaine Young 20 11
34 Sion Owen 17 9

SHARE THIS ARTICLE.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn