By Roddy Brooks
June 28 2005

Innovate Honda’s Wayne Smith took a double win in the Pro 125 class at the third round of the British Masters Motocross series to keep his title challenge alive.

Smith took both race wins at the famous Foxhill venue near Swindon, as championship leader Brad Anderson suffered his first overall defeat in three rounds on the O’Neal Yamaha.

Smith was in superb form over the hilly course and soon swept into the lead in race one, as Molson Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle fought a fierce battle with the Maximum Solutions Suzuki of Lewis Gregory, with Anderson back in fourth. Gregory fought hard to keep Searle at bay, but when he moved to block his rival’s line at the bottom of one of the downhills, Searle dived to the inside to claim second spot.

Smith was again in control of race two but this time Searle had to fight off the attentions of the Innovate Honda of Danny Smyth, eventually getting the better of a rider 13 years his senior. Smith took the overall win ahead of Searle, Anderson, Gregory and Smyth and, with battles all the way through the field, the fans were treated to some of the best racing of the year.

Smith was delighted to take a double race win after failing to score points in the previous round at Hawkstone.
“It was two perfect races. I holeshot both races and went on to win from there,” said Smith. “The last couple of weeks I’ve had bad luck so it’s nice to get a couple of wins and get some confidence back. I’ve got some points back on the leader so that at least gives me a chance in the championship.”

The overall win in the Pro Open class went to O’Neal Yamaha’s Glen Phillips, but he had to fight for the victory with Meredith TM’s Jordan Rose and Innovate Honda’s Alex Rach. Rose stormed to the race one win ahead of Rach and Phillips, but the roles were reversed in race two. Phillips came through from third to grab first in race two ahead of Rach, as early leader Rose faded to third.

Phillips, who also won the opening round at Culham and heads the points table, said: “I lost my temper a bit with myself and made a few mistakes in the first race, so it was pleasing to come back and win the second. I rode half of the second race without a back brake so to win it was really pleasing.”

Overall victory in the Amateur 125cc class went to Lee Dunham, ahead of David Hartley and James Lane, with David Thomson topping the Amateur Open class from Simon Lane and Danny Blakeley. Shane Carless was victorious in the Youth 125s, from Richie Leech and Joe Dark, and Alan Keet took the Big Wheel 85cc class from Luke Remmer and Steven Clarke.

Daniel Arnold took the Small Wheel 85cc class from Sam Davis and Scot James, with Jamie McCanney winning the 65s ahead of Rob Muscat and Sonny Oliver. With two rounds remaining in the series the championships are now hotting up - with the next round at Abram near Wigan on 16th-17th July.

For more information log on to the series website at www.britishmastersmx.com.