R1. MX Nationals - Fat Cats - 20th March 2022

MICHELIN UK MX NATIONALS – R1 – FAT CATS – 20th March 2022 

The opening round of the Michelin UK MX Nationals was at Fat Cats, in Doncaster, this weekend.  It was a full line up consisting of children right up to the Professional MX1 & MX2, racing together as the ‘Fastest 40’. 

EXPERT MX2 

BAILEY JOHNSTON: 

Bailey turned 17 on the Saturday and celebrated the day by racing in the Expert MX2 class.  The Expert Class format was 2 x races on the Saturday and 2 x races on the Sunday. 

RACE 1: 

Race 1 wasn’t a great start, despite having a relatively good gate pick, but he pulled back from 9th to gain a 3rd place finish behind Mathew Miot and Jimmy Margetson. 

RACE 2: 

Second race he got a slightly better start and managed to pull through to a comfortable 2nd place behind Miot. 

Miot then received a stand in Pro ride so left the Expert Series and scored no more points. 

RACE 3: 

This was a great race for Bailey.  First MX2 out the gate and sitting in 7th place overall on the first lap.  He retained his clear lead from beginning to end, picking off the MX1 boys as he went.  He finally finished the race in 1st place MX2 and 2nd place Overall which included the 450 MX1 boys. 

RACE 4: 

Another fantastic race from Bailey.  2nd out the gate and by lap 2 he had taken the lead in the MX2.  He led from beginning to end with no competition.  However, Bailey didn’t let up.  He wanted to beat everyone, so started to pick off the MX1 boys too.  He got them all but one, so actually finished 2nd in the total class. 

OVERALL: 

3-2-1-1 for 1st overall and 2nd in the joint race. 

QUOTE FROM BAILEY JOHNSON: 

Really happy with how the weekend went, qualifying P2 then getting a P3-P2-P1-P1 to give me 1st overall.  Felt really strong all weekend and had some good leads in the races along with a couple of 2nd & 3rds out of the 450’s as well. 

PRO CLASS: 

Both Jake Millward MX1 and Kyle McNIcol MX2, were out to race together in the. ‘FASTEST 40’.  MX1 & MX2 were to be scored separately. 

KYLE MCNICOL: 

QUALIFICATION: 

Kyle didn’t manage a great qualification.   Being on a 250 in this mixed class made it much more difficult.  He fastest lap was his first which put him into 10th place in the MX2.  He nearly improved upon this in lap 4 but didn’t quite manage.  So, with the mixed pack that gave home a terrible gate pick.  Although he was 10th MX2 it would give him a 20th option on his gate. 

PRO RACE 1: 

Not a great race for McNicol.  He just couldn’t get in the flow or settle into a rhythm.  He started out in 8th and remained there for most of the race.  His pace then reduced massively in the last few laps, dropping another 2 places to finish Race 1, P10. 

PRO RACE 2: 

The track was proving tough for Kyle especially being a mixture of MX1 and MX2.  He was 25th in the joint class to start out and pulled through to 16th.  However, this was 8th place in MX2.  He battled throughout with Jamie Law, not giving up at any time but it was Jamie that got the better of the two in the end.  So, Race 2 MX2 Pro’s - P8. 

OVERALL:   

P10 - P8 for 8th Overall. 

QUOTE FROM KYLE MCNICOL: 

Tough first round of the MX Nationals with a 10th/9th score card but happy to walk away healthy.  It’s a long season and I look forward to round 2 to gain more points and put myself higher up in the championship. 

JAKE MILLWARD: 

QUALIFICATION: 

Jake got a good time in his 2nd lap placing him in 4th place MX1.  He tried hard to improve on this and nearly did in lap 5 but he couldn’t quite get a full clear lap ahead of him.  So, he got a 4th place gate pick for the day. 

PRO RACE 1: 

Not a great race for either Millward. He just couldn’t get in the flow or settle into the track.   

Jake started out in 7th place MX1 and didn’t really change position from beginning to end.  His speed started out on form but really dropped off towards the end.  So Race 1, P7. 

PRO RACE 2: 

The second race was better for Jake, but the track was now brutal.  Started out in 6th and held his place steady.  Moved into 5th but too late to gain any more places.  So, a 5th place finish in Race 2. 

OVERALL: 

P7 - P5 for 6th Overall. 

QUOTE FROM JAKE MILLWARD: 

Tough day at the office. Struggled with the track from the off, but we’ve still got big smiles on our faces and looking good while doing so.  So P7 - P5 in the races.  On to the next carrot. 

QUOTE FROM TEAM MANAGER, ADRIAN KIRK: 

Bailey rode exceptionally well this weekend with his times faster than most in the Pro Class.  The other results weren’t as good as anticipated but with such a brutal track at least everyone is safe ready for the next round.  Onward and upward.