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Red Bull Pro Canada Heights Race Report |
As the Red Bull Pro Nationals headed to Canada Heights in Kent, British Summertime arrived, and with temperature’s in the mid 20’s it was going to be a hard day of racing for Elliott Banks-Browne and the DB Honda team around the technical part sand, part woodland circuit, as they looked towards retaining their 100% race win record in this years MX2 championship.
Qualifying started well as Elliott set the 2nd fastest lap time of the combined MX1/MX2 session but he was the fastest MX2 class rider by a little over half a second.
Race 1 blasted and EBB came through the opening series of corners in 5th place but he was the 2nd MX2 bike, then on lap 2 he advanced into the lead of MX2 and into the top 3 overall as the race began to settle down. Fast lap times were keeping Elliott on the tail of the two leaders despite the power advantage of the MX1 machines, and then as the race was beginning to head into its closing stages a mechanical problem saw 2nd place pull out of the race, advancing EBB up a position but the leader had pulled out a gap and was clear leaving Elliot to finish the race in 2nd but also as a clear winner in the MX2 class.
Race 2 saw Elliot in 4th away from the start but again as in race 1 he was the lead MX2 rider. This time though he had MX2 company with 2nd place right behind him. A few laps in a EBB moved up a place in the race but then a short time after he dropped back into 4th overall but more importantly 2nd in MX2 after a small mistake in the woods cost him valuable time. EBB put the hammer down again and was soon back battling for the lead in MX2 and he son put in a pass to take 1st place back. Just a few laps later though, another mistake saw him lose the MX2 lead for a 2nd time and with only 2 laps to go in the race Elliott settled for 2nd in MX2, and 4th overall in the race.
Although it was disappointing to lose the 100% record, EBB still took 1st overall in MX2 and he has further extended his championship lead to 29 points. Catching up with Elliott after the racing was over he had this to say ‘ It’s been another good day for us, qualifying went good with 1st in MX2 and 2nd out of everybody. I got a good start in race 1 and was in the top 5 and 1st MX2 bike. Pushed my way up into 3rd then when Barr went out the race, 2nd but 1st was too far ahead, so 2nd overall but got the MX2 win so pleased with that. Race 2 I got a similar start to the 1st race but Nev Bradshaw was right behind me and pushing me hard for the MX2 lead, I made a mistake in a rut over in the woods and he got past me but I caught him and passed him back then I made another mistake and lost the lead again and settled for 2nd, its disappointing to lose the 100% record but the championship lead has been extended
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