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JOEY GOUGH - BMX & MTB GIRL

Left: photo courtesy of abitaylorphoto.com

I think this was my first national for nearly 2 years?! Last year I tried to race at sunny Bournemouth, only for it to be a wash out...

The weather wasn't looking great for Sunday's national at Cheddar, but saturday afternoon was sunny and dusty. I was a bit tired from the gym but I was just going to get some good race practice in and that's what I got!

I entered 19+ men, there were 30 riders registered meaning 14 riders weren't gonna make the cut into the semi finals - ouch! Every race was tough, having 7or 8 riders in each moto. I had a 4th in my first moto and 4th in the second, so it was going ok. My last moto was tougher draw and I finished 5th, missing out on a place in the semi's by 1 place! :o( Still finishing 17th wasn't so bad. DC qualified in 16th with 11 points...so not even three 4ths would get you through! In the words of DC - Sheesh! So I hung up my helmet for the day and enjoyed the rest of the racing.



Masters had Quarters, Steve Williams won his quarter easy with his new storm trooper look, but stuffed his gate in the semi and got taken out in the first turn, scratching his new lid in the process. Ady had a full days racing what with quarters in the 20" and racing cruiser too. He rode a great quarter making a come back on the 3rd straight to go through, but didn't make the main. He came from 4th to first on his cruiser though to take a deserved win! Paddy made a long awaited BMX comeback after a spell on the saftey cycle, he rode really good making it through to the semi's but ot tangled up in the Williams/Allen carnage in the semi. I don't like this B final pump race malarky though, it's boring. We wanna see some 30+ carnage! In the A main Jessop was back on form, storming away from the start. Paul Tracey was chasing him down only to be pimped by Ives in the last corner.



The 19+ Final was possibly the most bizarre race I've ever seen. With the rain making the tarmac corners super slippy Burnham winner Marco D understandably wasn't keen on risking injury so close to his assault on the Euro and World titles. He was out of the race from the start, I'm unsure if he hit the gate, wheel span, or just decided against it. Tom Palmer, Tony Flemming and Michael Pinnock were battling at the front of the pack, Ross tricker and Scott Waterhouse just behind them. What happened then I am not quite sure! one by one they managed to slide out round the each berm, it was chaos! Ross gained and lost 3rd place three times in his first ever A main, and Scott kept his composure and went from 5th to 1st to take the win!



Finally, Pro was all about our man Tuffy! He'd been winning races all day and was looking like he could take the win. He was leading main 1 only to make a mistake on the third straight allowing Wozza to smooth on by. In main 2 Tuffy was fourth heading into the first corner. As the clipped in guys slowed up the slippy first turn, Tuffy let go of his brakes, stuck his foot out and came out in 1st! It was all down to the last main. Tuffy got the snap, but was pulled by wozza into the first turn, this was the way it sayed all the way to the finish, but it was enough to give Tuffs the overall win! Nice one!

Below: Photo courtesy of rhodopsin photography