Vail hammers home Hawkstone win! 2024 BSMA O’Neal Nationals Round 3 – Race Report and Results
Worries over another wet meeting disappeared as riders looked at the circuit after a very damp Friday evening. But the historical Hawkstone Park lapped up the water like a thirsty dog. It was perfect conditions for round three of the BSMA Oneal national championship. A mere two weeks had passed since the second round, no real time to recover from any niggling injuries or put new techniques into play!
Race Report and Images by Ady Cowshall – Images of Speed
With registered riders slow off the mark to book in the wildcards soon filled all the classes with only the auto’s not filling the start gate!
The 85 Big Wheels started proceedings with Jenson Severn off the pad quickest but a little washout dropped him down to fourth. There he stayed until the final lap as the pace set by the lead trio was on par with his own. It was Mason Jones who did the opposite to Severn coming from fourth on the first lap through quickly to the front with Zane Stephens holding off Archie Stapley while still eating the roost off Jones for the first half of the race. Jones pulled a comfortable gap, but behind him second through to fourth could of been covered with a towel! Stephens managed to hold onto second, just as Severn made it past Stapley. Some way back another four way battle raged with places changing quicker than Lee Ashby could speak and we all know how much he spouts out! Jenson Cole headed this charge, but dropped behind Oliver Burridge and Jack Brown before gathering his senses and moving back to cross the line fifth. Brown got the better of Burridge but both were lucky. Lewys Morgan was a slow starter as he came up to challenge as the race wound down. Travis Bixby suffered from an early mistake to come from way back to round out the top ten.
Race two was another barn stormer! Stephens took off like a scolded cat and for three laps held Jones at bay, but as the race progressed Severn found his way into second and closed in on Jones as the pair crossed the line with less than a second between them, Stephens crossing before the sand settled! Bixby made up for his first race, coming home in fourth with Stapley a lonely fifth after charging hard from outside the top twenty!
Sunday saw the addition of a new front runner in the form of Elvis Totney. Stephens again quick off the man made start gate with Stapley behind soon to give way to Totney. With Severn getting a poor start it wasn’t until mid race before Severn was anywhere close to the front pair. Stephens kept up the pressure on Totney to the flag not having to defend against third placed Severn and it was another close finish between that pair. Jones missing from the action came from the back to take sixth behind Bixby. Severn nailed the start in the fourth and controlled the race to the flag. Stephens confidence was on a high and passed Jones for second in the early going, but Jones was too much and he had to relinquish the spot the next lap. Totney was outside the top ten on the first lap and couldn’t get through traffic in time to challenge the front trio. Stapley and Bixby were close all race with Stapley putting in the effort to make a last lap pass for fifth.
The Small Wheel 85’s came out next and a total first race domination – taking almost a minute lead across the line was Arthur Moore. Behind him Archie Butterfield had a comfortable second place going on until the last couple of laps when Tyler Rogers had worked his way past a host of riders, some of them twice after a little mishap early on. Henry Lewis battled with Keiden Williamson for half the race before dropping a few places to the charging pair of Rogers and Franky Donoghue.
Race two saw another gate to flag victory for Moore, again unchallenged with close to half a minute over second placed Butterfield. Butterfield dealt with a good start from Rogers to move into second as Rogers then encountered problems dropping down the order. Willliamson came up to put pressure on Butterfield, but was unable to find a line to make a pass. Donoghue held a lonely fourth while Lewis benefitted from the demise of Finley Rundle and Rogers, claiming fifth. Race three saw a much more settled race with the freshly graded track not causing as much drama. Moore hit the front once again with Rogers and Lewis completing the podium positions. Butterfield, George Steel, Donoghue, Williamson, Alfie Pincher, Freddie Box, and Lucas Groves rounding out the top ten. By lap 3 the top spots where done and dusted, Lewis had dropped to seventh, Box climbed to sixth, Williamson scraped with Box gaining fifth while Donoghue and Butterfield both moved past Lewis early on, but had no answer to Moore at the front. The final race looked set for another win to take the maximum for Moore, but Rogers was up for it. Moore got away first but Rogers made the pass and took the lead before Moore came back to regain it. The pressure from Rogers forced a Moore mistake and Rogers went by for what turned out to be an easy win. Moore remounted to take second from Butterfield.
The Autos was the first class to register a maximum with the untouchable Cohen Llewellyn shattering any hopes for the rest of the field! Jaxson Hooper looked solid in second until a mechanical put him out, Dexter Morgan gated well, but went down and then had a great comeback to sixth but a lap down on Llewellyn! Frankie Williams passed Jesse Eyles to then inherit second as Hooper went out while a late charge forward put Blake Barker into third. Roczen Rae-Pickerscill rounding out the top five and last man on the lead lap such was the leaders pace! An incredible ride from Cohen in race two saw him lap the entire field! Williams took another second spot. Hooper was back but in trouble on the first lap and clawed his way back to third.
Sundays smooth start allowed the top eight to remain on the lead lap as Llewellyn again dominated. Hooper made sure off a runner up spot in this one passing Williams at the start to hold a comfortable gap over William and likewise Williams over Eyles. Pickerscill had his hands full with Walter Barnett as this pair had the closest battle on track. The final race saw Llewellyn disappear again substantially quicker than his rivals, Hooper followed for second with another large gap back to Williams and the only other notable ride coming from Barker charging from outside the top ten to battle with Pickerscill going back and forth until Pickerscill made the last pass ending Barker’s charge in sixth.
Fresh off an incredible EMX ride Cohen Jagieiski woke the rest of the 65 junior field up with an unrivalled pace some ten seconds a lap quicker than his closest rival. Ronan Watson was the only rider able to see the leader in the early going and pulled a massive lead over third placed Elliot Shawyer. Ronnie Morgan was slow to get going but came through the carnage of riders going down in the black sand. Sid Williams was starting at the front and disappearing down the leaderboard, followed by Jonny Wright doing the same. Riley Rogers followed Morgan’s climb up to the front ending up one place behind him in fifth. Oaklan Winnall the last victim of the Morgan/Rogers charge was sixth and last rider on the lead lap. Race two in more challenging conditions saw another superb display of race craft from Jagieiski, a real treat to watch. Watson was again in his own race, but unable to match the leaders raw speed. Shawyer again in a lonely race was third with Rogers fourth and Winnall rounding out the top five.
Sundays relatively smooth start to the day saw another huge lead for Jagieiski. Watson made things tough on himself losing almost a minute on lap two and falling down outside the top ten, regrouping to come back to seventh at the flag. Shawyer took a welcome opportunity to claim runner up spot, with Rogers fighting hard to come through from a poor start to take third. Williams kept it upright for fourth with Winnall another fifth. Tyler Peaty having his weekends best result in sixth. Final 65 race and it was no surprise to see Jagieiski out front and Watson this time with heat from Shawyer. Shawyer pushing all the way to the flag keeping Watson honest. Williams Will Kremer and Winnall all having a great scrap for the next few places.
First of the big bikes on track was the mixed Senior class where the 125’s and 250f’s were scored separately. It was the 125’s proving to be quickest with Josh Vail being on top of that pile with consistently faster lap times than his rivals. The RMJ academy rider showed his recent EMX success to be not a flash in the pan ride. By the flag he had pulled a half minute lead as he relentlessly kept the same pace from start to finish. Wesley McGavin and Will Haddock gave chase and entered into their own battle in the early going, but as the laps wound down McGavin edged away. Ollie Bubb brought his Crescent Yamaha through from a poor start for fourth while Max Corke crossed the line as first of the big bore bikes. George Corke came from the back to eighth and second in class. Race two Vail again put on a masterclass with speeds matching that of the adult class. Ollie Bubb was in the hunt for a podium and after getting passed by Chester Hyde stuck with him as the pair caught Max Corke. Hyde got through as the trio fought hard all crossing the line within the same second! Race three held no surprise as to who was going to win, but the race was cut short by a serious accident for the ever popular Ben Casey as he cartwheeled down the track and unfortunately had to be air lifted to hospital, well wishes coming from the BSMA team for a speedy recovery. The race was called and Vail declared winner from Haddock, Bubb, McGavin and Declan Wright. The final encounter didn’t hold to much excitement as Hyde got off to a flyer, but was soon chased down by Vail and inside the top five the only other place change came on the final lap as Haddock ground down McGavin to snatch third. Ollie Bubb was in the middle of a Corke sandwich in sixth. Alfie Crealock-Lovell and Declan Wright both getting their buckets and spades out to play in the sand for going what could of been decent results.
The combined Vets classes saw a previous BSMA champion return to do battle; Jamie Dobson off the couch to ride this iconic circuit. He had his hands full with Lee Martin as Martin was out the gate quickest and Dobson took some time to get going allowing a gap that didn’t close. Jamie Paget gated well but slid down the order as Stefan Little held on to third, but came under fire from Sam Callow as the pair traded places, Little taking it at the flag. Lee Baggs and Tom White played cat and mouse for the majority of the race, Baggs getting the better result. Paget came home in seventh ahead of the first over 45 rider Richard Green some ten seconds clear of defending champ Mark Morris. Race two saw Martin dominate the race pulling a big gap after Dobson had to battle through from a poor start, catching Little with two to go for second. Callow caught Little napping on the final lap to nick third, White Paget and Baggs crossing the line in front of Tolan again quickest in the geriatric division.
Race three and Dobson was out to make amends and got a flyer. Martin was way down at the start, but shot through the field to stalk Dobson who tightened up and got caught with two to go. Callow held a comfortable third despite not being a fan of the venue. White gave Little something to contend with as the pair were only split by a second after 15 minutes of gruelling riding. Morris got his flow and took it to the old boys with a fine eighth but first in class from Tolan and Green. The final race was surely a welcome sight for most of these vintage youths. Dobson again got out of the gate to lead, this time short lived as Martin was on the gas and looking for that clean sweep. Callow was also looking hungry and Dobson’s downtime was showing. Little had White for company again but held firm. Baggs had veteran Tolan all over him and with the pair in different classes you would think nothing to fight for, but no, a racer is a racer! Morris was strong in eighth tucked in behind Tolan with Green and Scotty Williamson all bunched up then Morris went out with a bike failure giving Tolan an easy run to the flag. Williamson’s forces training giving him the stamina go get his best result of the weekend third behind Green.
The Clubman class is shaping up to be a hotly contested group with new winners emerging each round. It was Connor Jago’s turn to top the pile this time with an all action first few laps seeing Oliver Lee get a flyer, but pipped to the holeshot by the #16 Yamaha (no name available). Lee took the lead briefly before Ash Bowden. Shea Ryan moved to the front at half distance before Jago woke from his slumber and realised he could take this. Guy Britton was moving forward quickly and passed Jago before Jago found top gear and pushed his way back past and onto the front. Britton then had to settle for fourth, with Bowden five seconds further up the track battling with Ryan for second. Glenn Smith up to second in the early laps got pushed back to fifth at the end. Race two saw Nathan Heath out to make amends for his race one dnf, and he gated well, leading for two laps before first Jago, then Bowden and Britton all came past, eventually slipping back to sixth. Oliver Wickers suffered a similar fate gating well but getting passed by all the same riders. Smith went down on lap one after another promising start and Matthew Rayson down in the first turn of race one was climbing through from a top ten start to pull up to third by the flag. Bowden got the better of Britton who lost out to Rayson on the final lap. Teddy Hyde did one better than race one in fifth.
The third outing on Sunday morning saw another great start from Heath again short lived as he didn’t look comfortable on the grey sand. Rayson was on it and moved into the number one spot. Behind him Wickers was struggling to fend off Britton and Hyde as they both came past on lap three followed by Jago who caught the other pair scraping for position and nailed a “two for” as Mailer would say. Jago now up to second only had Rayson in front, but despite closing him down couldn’t make the pass. Hyde passed Britton for third while Wickers took fifth and Ryan pulled through to sixth. Race four and Heath had the starts nailed if nothing else. This time he put up more of a fight for the lead getting passed and re-passing back to the lead before the intensity got too much as Jago joined the party and went straight to the front. Bowden followed him past then a new name to the mix as James Rowsell made his first venture into the top three passing Bowden to move into second. Hyde moved up to take advantage of the fading Heath and a spirited ride from outside the top twenty to catch Heath on the last lap for fifth from Rayson.
The combined Experts MX1 and MX2 took to the track last with some super quick wild card riders filling the line up. George Hopkins took the O’neal Holeshot closely followed by Steve Bixby and Ben Mustoe. Mustoe was soon to the fore and stretching his advantage. Josh Greedy along with Jonny Rodderick-Evans and Charlie Hamlet all gated strong, Greedy clung in longest surviving to cross in seventh. Rodderick- Evans went missing and Hamlet held on for a top ten result. But it was Scott Aldridge and Mckensie Marshall making progress in the right direction both from outside the top ten. Aldridge fought his way to second, but Mustoe was long gone. Marshall into third and first mx2 rider. Jak Taylor had a horrible start pulling through to come home as third mx2 and fifth in the race catching Dan Maule in the dying stages. Race two saw Marshall gate with Aldridge tucked into second but a quick pass from Mustoe moved home into second and by lap three he was out front and away to another comfortable win. Aldridge made the pass on Marshall a couple of laps later and Jak Taylor was out the gate better this time to challenge Marshall but his pace was too strong this time out. Greedy had a much better race in the tougher conditions following Taylor over the line. Hopkins third mx2 a bit further back fighting with the mx1 version of the #4 Dan Maule.
Third time out and it was the young guns of Mustoe and Taylor taking wins in each class, Aldridge couldn’t relax as Taylor was pushing hard to keep in front of Marshall. Hopkins kept Marshall honest as he kept the pressure on while Maule had the measure of Greedy. The final race of the weekend saw the stamina of Aldridge close the distance between himself and Mustoe but he still was left with over a seven second deficit at the end. Taylor and Marshall where pushing each other and Aldridge to the flag as all three crossed the line within sight. Greedy took third in mx1 with Shane Davies and Keelan Southwood rounding out top five finishes in mx1. Hopkins, Hamlet and Rodderick-Evans doing the same for mx2.
A long 6 week break now until round four at Landrake moto park a chance to get over any injuries and re charge the batteries. Keep watching the BSMA facebook page for some news on the special prizes that are getting awarded from the series sponsors.
