 |
Richard
Tordoff
|
Cypress, CA (7/2/2008)
- Sunday the 29th of June saw Filtec GYTR Team
Yamaha return to British Championship racing action,
the Salop and District MCC promoting the 4th round
of the 2008 ACU British MMX Quad Championship
at the famous Hawkstone Park Motocross circuit
in Shropshire. Fresh from his fantastic European
Championship debut following injury in the off
season, Dutch rider Joe Maessen was to bolster
the teams effort with a guest appearance alongside
Championship regular Ricky Tordoff at the technical
and demanding sandy circuit. Washing away the
dark Hawkstone dirt after a frantic days racing
around the former GP circuit, this lethal combination
were once again to deliver a fantastic result
that left Team Manager Richard Cole with a huge
grin as they packed up to return home, Joe taking
a fantastic first race win and the runner up spot
in moto two to podium with 2nd overall, while
Ricky recorded a 6 – 9 scorecard for 7th
overall and maintaining his 2nd place in the points
table.
Race One
With the circuit constantly changing
as the sandy surface dried out during practice,
both riders quickly adapted to the conditions
and put in fantastic qualifying times, Joe going
2nd fastest and Ricky securing 10th pick of
gate. As the gates dropped for the opening moto,
both riders struggled to get off the concrete
start line, Ricky slotting in to 11th while
Joe was circulating in 8th. Quickly settling
in to the race and using the excellent handling
of the Lonestar / Ohlins TTX, both riders began
to make up positions, and just three laps in
Ricky had moved up to 9th after passing Mark
Roberts and Leon Beda, while Joe had jumped
four places to 4th after passing
Roberts, Beda, David Wray and Paul Holmes.
Setting a blistering pace as the race progressed,
both Joe and Ricky continued to scythe their
way through the field, Joe demoting current
series leader Paul Winrow and his team mate
Stefan Murphy on lap four before taking the
lead from holeshotter David Hammersley on the
following lap, while Ricky moved past William
Waggott for 8th as the race approached the fifteen
minute mark. Using the excellent traction of
the Goldspeed tyres around the demanding terrain,
both riders were able to increase their pace
in the final half of the moto to the chequered
flag, Ricky taking positions from Wray and current
Champion John Mitchell to bring his Filtec GYTR
Team Yamaha YFZ450 home for a splendid 6th,
while Joe had set a blistering pace out front
to open up an eighteen second advantage, the
flying Dutchman taking a fantastic race win
after fourteen furious laps.
Race Two
 |
Joe Maessen
|
The SCT tuned YFZ450 motors pulled strongly up
the long straight at the start of the second moto,
Joe taking the holeshot and leading the field
on the opening lap while Ricky slotted in to 9th.
Over the opening half of the race both Joe and
Ricky were involved in some fierce racing action
which entertained the crowd, Joe tussling with
Paul Winrow at the front of the field with the
lead changing hands four times before Joe started
to pull away, while Ricky had taken 8th from Stefan
Murphy before a slight mistake at the halfway
point dropped him back to 9th. With ten minutes
remaining in the twenty five minute plus two lap
race, Ricky had moved back up to 8th after passing
Hammersley while Joe was continuing to lead at
the front despite struggling with severe arm pump
from half distance. Digging deep and continuing
to push hard to the end of the race, both riders
looked set to remain in their current positions,
but as the two lap board came out both Joe and
Ricky were to drop back a place after falling
victim to errand back markers, Ricky taking the
chequered flag for a hard fought 9th and retaining
his 2nd place in the series, Joe taking a fantastic
2nd and only missing out on the top step of the
podium as a result of the final moto finish.
Joe Maessen
“ This has been a fantastic result today
for both myself and the team. It’s only
my 5th race meeting since returning from the
operation to on my collarbone, so to be able
to compete and challenge at this level is really
good. The Filtec GYTR Team Yamaha YFZ450 was
fantastic around the circuit, this is the first
time I’ve used the Ohlins TTX shocks in
these conditions but they were excellent and
the Goldspeed tyres gave unbelievable grip and
tracked really well in the corners. I’d
obviously have liked to have taken the overall,
but I pushed a little too hard on one of the
rougher parts of the circuit to break away from
Paul and ended up with arm pump and had to ease
off. The incident with the back marker was just
one of those things, the corner was deeply rutted
and he had two lines to choose from but unfortunately
decided at the last minute to take the same
one as me. Overall I’m really happy with
my performance and am looking forward to taking
part in a few more rounds later in the season
”
Ricky Tordoff
“ I’m definitely disappointed at
my result today as Richard and Ian had done
a fantastic job and the bike was handling really
well. I know that I am capable of finishing
higher up the leader board, but this circuit
is really technical and I found it difficult
to settle in to a good rhythm in both races,
I could get it dialled in for a couple of laps
but I struggled to maintain it for the full
race distance. The circuit is really demanding
and I struggled a bit during the second moto
with my back and in the closing stages couldn’t
stand on the pegs. I’m happy to still
be in 2nd place in the series, but with four
rounds to go I’ll be focusing on a better
result at Dean Moor on the 13th of July to increase
the gap between myself and 3rd.”
Brittish
Quad Championship Round 4 Race Results |
| Race
One |
Race
Two |
- Joe Maessen
- Paul Winrow
- Paul Holmes
- Stefan Murphy
- David Hammersley
- Ricky Tordoff
|
1. Paul Winrow
2. Joe Maessen
3. Mark Watson
4. Paul Holmes
5. William Waggot
9. Ricky Tordoff
|
|
| Championship
Standings (after 4 of 8 rounds) |
1. Paul Winrow 189
2. Ricky Tordoff 131
3. Paul Holmes 114
4. David Hammersley 106
5. William Waggott 101
17. Joe Maessen 47
|
About Yamaha:
Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered
and built tough! Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
headquarters are located in Cypress, California.
For more information on Yamaha, visit yamaha-motor.com.
www.yamaha-motor.com
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