HARD DAY FOR SUZUKI AT POLESWORTH
29 March 2005 - Suzuki GB PLC

After the positive results posted at the first round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships two weeks ago, an altogether tougher test awaited the riders of the Motovision Racing Suzuki and Maximum Solutions Hooper Suzuki teams this afternoon at overcast Polesworth for round two of the series.

A combination of rider error and bad technical luck meant the best result from the six riders was gained by Motovision''s Neville Bradshaw who scored sixth and seventh in the MX1 motos.

In front of a moderate crowd, who braved the cold and wet conditions in the Midlands, the second stop of eight in the top motocross national series in Europe proved troublesome.

First to suffer misfortune was Jason Dougan in the opening MX2 sprint. The youngster''s gear selector jammed while he was holding a position in the top seven and he had to retire. He then was breaching the top five in the second moto until the race was stopped after ten minutes due to another rider needing medical attention. Dougan shrugged off his downer to eventually collect some points for eighth on the restart.

Maximum Solutions Hooper Suzuki MX2 representative Lewis Gregory''s memories of a thrilling win at the first round of the Under-21 British Championships last week were quickly scrubbed out by a heavy second moto crash that left the talented teenager with a suspected broken left wrist. He had also fallen earlier in the day and could only count on a 12th place finish.

His team-mate John May, who had recovered after the facial injury he sustained at Canada Heights, struggled on the rough circuit and wasn''t able to figure among the top ten positions.

Yoshitaka Atsuta equalled his best-ever British Championship result two weeks ago but left the track this evening a frustrated man. The Japanese ace had a bad start in the opening MX1 chase and although he pulled through the pack admirably, his fifth position could have been higher. When the former 250cc Japanese Champion thought his luck negotiating the first turn couldn''t get worse, he struck a fallen rider and hit the deck barely seconds into the second race. Trying a repeat of his first moto comeback, Atsuta wobbled again ten minutes from the finish and settled for 10th.

Ben Taylor, on his RM 250, was content with two 14th positions after fighting mid-pack for the duration of the two 30 minute and two-lap motos.

Although the Polesworth race results may not make for good reading, the Championship standings paint a far brighter picture:

Atsuta and Bradshaw hold positions inside the top five, 28 points away from series leader Paul Cooper.

Yoshitaka Atsuta:

''In the first race I was lucky not to crash on the first corner and the bad start meant I was 25th on the first lap. It was difficult to come back because it was hard to pass; I was struggling. I suppose fifth position was OK.

''In the second race someone crashed in front of me at the start and I went down. I was not feeling that good and tried to keep going but then I slipped four laps from the end. I did not have much luck today but I am looking ahead to next week. I will settle for no luck today to have a good GP next weekend.''

Neville Bradshaw:

''I made a lap in qualifying that placed me eighth but the top five were pretty close so I knew I was in the ball park. For the first race I started in the top ten and was running in those positions. I was suffering with some arm pump and could not ride comfortably; ''Yoshi'' came past me near the end. I was riding better in the second moto. I caught another wind in the second half but my start hadn''t been as good. I was happier though as I could catch Mark Jones. I am now looking forward to Lyng and of course the first GP. I just want to get in there man! Start my learning curve and see what I can do.''

Ben Taylor:

''I was surprised how dry the track actually was after the rain we had last night. I put a tyre on the bike that was too soft. The track got really choppy and loose and it was hard to get any confidence with the traction. I made a good start in the first race and was inside the top ten then towards the end of the second lap, I crashed and lost positions. I was then trying to close on the group I had originally been a part of but couldn''t quite make it. In the second moto I made a mid-pack start and nearly hit ''Yoshi'' on the ground!

''I felt like I was riding better but I had a bit of trouble with the throttle cable. It stuck going over the jump near the first corner and I did a ''superman''! I was a bit paranoid after that but had a nice battle with Bryan Mackenzie and finished 14th so I am quite pumped about that. Today was better that Canada Heights and I am getting nearer the top ten.''

Jason Dougan:

''I was doing well in the first race but then the bike stuck in third and I couldn''t change gear so I had to retire. I started well in the second moto and was up to fifth before it was stopped. I had some problems in the re-start because the suspension was not working well on the track which was getting much rougher and my arms pumped. Another disappointing day and maybe I''ll get some luck soon.''

Mark Chamberlain - Motovision Team Manager:

''It was a difficult day for us. I think Neville rode well. He seemed to hit a mid-race ''physical wall'' but came back ok so I am pretty pleased. Jason had a gear selection problem and the team has to take responsibility for that. It was an oversight because the part was on the other race bike. ''Yoshi''s'' bike was smoking in the first moto because the water hose was burning against the exhaust. We learned a lot today as a team; we need to improve and the riders also know what they need to do to step it up.''

Lewis Gregory:

''The front wheel washed out and I went down. I was winded at first and couldn''t really move and then the pain from my wrist started to come. It is a shame because I was riding well in the second race. I had made two good starts and I was annoyed that the moto was stopped. I had crashed in the first race so I wanted to at least get one good result. The wrist is swollen at the moment. I will see what it is like tomorrow and if I might need an X-Ray.''

John May:

''I struggled with the track. I made two mid-pack starts and keeping with the others around me was difficult. It was so bumpy and rough the wheels just kept on wanting to slide away. I got arm-pump in the first race and just focussed on not crashing. I tried to push and work my way up in the second race but in the end I got very tired. Overall it was not a great day but certainly better than Canada Heights.''

The third round of the British Championship occurs in a fortnight''s time at Lyng in Norfolk. The Motovision team head to Belgium this week for the first Grand Prix of the FIM World Championship taking place at the Zolder circuit.

Results:

MX1 Moto1:

1 Josh Coppins

2 Jussi Vehvilainen

3 Paul Cooper

4 James Noble

5 Yoshitaka Atsuta

6 Neville Bradshaw

7 Mark Jones

8 Alex Rach

9 Mark Hucklebridge

10 Jody Smyth

11 David Campbell

12 Bryan MacKenzie

13 Christian Burnham

14 Ben Taylor

15 Martin Barr

MX1 Moto2:

1 Josh Coppins

2 Jussi Vehvilainen

3 Gordon Crockard

4 James Noble

5 Paul Cooper

6 Mark Jones

7 Neville Bradshaw

8 Glen Phillips

9 Jordan Rose

10 Yoshitaka Atsuta

11 Alex Rach

12 Stuart Flockhart

13 Jody Smyth

14 Ben Taylor

15 Bryan MacKenzie

MX1 Championship points:

1 Paul Cooper 106

2 Jussi Vehvilainen 104

3 James Noble 96

4 Yoshitaka Atsuta 82

5 Neville Bradshaw 78

6 Josh Coppins 60

7 Mark Jones 49

8 Mark Hucklebridge 47

9 Glen Phillips 45

10 Gordon Crockard 40

16 Ben Taylor 24

MX2 Moto1:

1 Carl Nunn

2 Tom Church

3 Eric Eggens

4 Billy MacKenzie

5 Wayne Smith

6 Tommy Searle

7 Brad Anderson

8 David Willett

9 Ben Saunders

10 Shaun Simpson

11 Jim Murro

12 Lewis Gregory

13 Marcus Norlen

14 Jamie Lewis7

15 Alex Butler

MX2 Moto2:

1 Billy MacKenzie

2 Tom Church

3 Carl Nunn

4 Wayne Smith

5 Brad Anderson

6 Mike Brown

7 Tommy Searle

8 Jason Dougan

9 Eric Eggens

10 Marcus Norlen

11 Jim Murro

12 Shaun Simpson

13 Jamie Lewis

14 Graeme Gowland

15 Ben Saunders

17 John May

MX2 Championship points:

1 Carl Nunn 109

2 Tom Church 100

3 Wayne Smith 88

4 Billy MacKenzie 80

5 Eric Eggens 80

6 Brad Anderson 74

7 Tommy Searle 62

8 Stephen Sword 55

9 Mike Brown 49

10 Lewis Gregory 37

16 Jason Dougan 25

19 John May 12

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