GRT Impact KTM back at the races – Oakhanger MXGB Team Report
GRT Impact KTM were back at the races this weekend for the 2023 British Motocross Championship. Oakhanger, a brand new track on the calendar, saw some of the toughest conditions the riders have ever seen at a British Motocross Championship. Deep sand mixed with heaps of rain proved tough on the bike and riders, as they battled it out in Hampshire.
Report and Images by GRT Impact KTM
Joe Brookes had his 250cc debut in a full 40-rider MX2 class, amongst the best racers in the country. Joe secured 12th in qualifying, giving him a good gate pick for the races. In both races, Brookes had some great battles in the top 15. In Moto 2, Joe got off to a great start and was battling around 10th for the majority or the race, but unfortunately had a fall towards the latter stages that set him back a little. Still, Brookes comes home with some points in the bag and is motivated to get racing again next weekend.
Finley Evans took to the stage in the MXY2 class, starting his weekend off with a 6th place in qualifying. During that qualifying, however, he did have a small crash that injured his finger, but Fin decided to race through the pain throughout the day. Fin had a good start to Moto 1, finding himself in a top 5 battle. Unfortunately a few laps in he took another fall, and not wanting to injure the hand any more, rode through to an 11th place. He did back it up in Moto 2, despite injury, to finish 5th, giving him a respectable 7th overall. He’ll get his hand checked out and hopefully go racing again next weekend.
Newcomer, Blake Ward-Clarke, opened his account in the 85cc Big Wheel class with a respectable 7th place in qualifying. He topped that in Moto 1 with some great battling to make it into the top 5, after passing multiple riders from the get-go. A mechanical issue in Moto 2 forced him to retire from the race early on, which affected his overall score. Nevertheless a good showing of speed in his first outing on the big wheel machine.
This weekend, the team will head back to Oakhanger once again for the re-run of the Michelin MX Nationals Championship round that was postponed due to weather conditions previously. Hopefully we will be in for better weather for the racing to go ahead!
