Margate QRA Beachcross 2010, Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th March
John Mitchell took second place overall at the season’s first Beach Cross event. Held at the popular seaside town of Margate in Kent, the Beach Cross was well attended by both spectators and the UK’s best quad riders. The event was broken down into six races, three on Saturday and three on Sunday. With a spectacular track by the organisers and perfect weather for racing, the weekend’s spectators and TV crews were guaranteed some exciting quad bike action!
John rode well on the Saturday, taking third and two second place finishes on board his 2009 stock ATV World Yamaha YFZ450R. With his winter training consisting of trials riding, road biking and jet skiing somewhere off the shores of the Outer Hebrides, John was fresh to challenge for a podium finish on Sunday. Racing on Sunday went well as John took second, first and second place in the day’s three races. He also took the Holeshot in the final race! Battling with sand expert Jerome Bricheux was thrilling to watch as the two competed through corners and straights on the physically demanding track.
John was delighted with the overall second place finish and commented after the event:
“My YFZR with Elka Suspension’s Factory Shocks was truly amazing and with the new Vortex ECU coming next week I really feel we will have the most competitive race bike out there. Second place is absolutely fantastic, particularly racing against Jerome who is one the top sand experts in Europe. My fitness is good and testing my Yamaha YFZ450R on the dyno at ATV World helped to develop significant gains. It was a great track and great pre season training. Thanks to Tony Nash and the rest of the QRA team who organised a superb event, to Steve from UK Bling Bar, Bobby Graham and Bill Smith for all your help and support.”
Race Team ATV World Yamaha Manager Martin Fletcher commented: “We’ve all many hours developing the Yamaha YFZ450R into a fiercely competitive machine for 2010. John rode with his usual mix of expert skill and hunger to win. This was displayed as he lapped the current British Champion in a number of the races! If we can keep John’s fantastic form into the start of the season it’s going to make for some thrilling televised ATV action!”
With a packed season ahead, John will be competing in both the 2010 ACU British Championship and Goldspeed EMX Quad European Championships this year plus selected events.
John Mitchell and team ATV World Yamaha wish to thank all their sponsors who along with their outstanding products have helped develop a potential championship winning team for the 2010 season.
Dean Thompson Wins March Hare Race
ATV World Yamaha rider Dean Thompson got his pre season training off to a flying start as he won the March Hare Race on board his Yamaha YFZ450. The two race event took place at Donemana in Northern Ireland as Dean used his blistering pace to come from 11th to second place in race one. With an unfortunate start in race two, Dean worked hard and showed true champion determination as he passed his way to fourth place.
Both John and Dean will now be looking towards the QRS /SACU Championship opener on the 28th March at Duns Motocross track.
» Both riders were racing Elka Suspension’s Factory Shocks. Click here to get yours now ! «