East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

14/10/07 Round Six (Final round)

I think it was the first time this season that we arrived at Brampton with blue skies overhead, we thought the track would be dry as well for the first time in a long time. But as we walked up the hill to sign on and to get Elliott’s bike scrutineered, we looked across at the track to find it was very wet with standing water in places.

After all the practice sessions had been completed it was very clear to all that if you could just stay on your bike and just keep going you’d do well.

Race one and Elliott pulled off another one of his usual poor starts and headed off down the straight at the back of the pack, he was up to thirteenth as he came round the hill towards the top of the drop off. But as he rounded the final corner before the drop off he fell along with another couple of riders, he struggled to get the bike up until Paul Lamb who was picking the riders up in that area was able to help him out and get him back in the race. He then headed for the worst part of the circuit at the bottom by the auto track; he passed about five other riders in that section who were struggling in the deep mud. He only fell once during the rest of the race and finished 11th.

The start of race two was a little better and the first couple of laps went well, he then struggled around the bottom half of the track and spent the last couple of laps trying to make up places. He took the last lap flag just behind Kyle Peebles and set about trying to close the gap, as they left the final table top Kyle slowed in the conditions and Elliott managed to make the pass. Kyle wasn’t for giving up and chased Elliott up the hill and down to the final corner, luckily Elliott had the inside lined covered and then came up the final hill with enough drive to finish the race just in front.

Elliott after the first two races was sitting 13th overall two points behind John-Joe Wright and Curtis Ferguson and one point behind Callum Bircher (again!!!). On the start line Elliott got a bit of a pep talk from Craig Trew who had turned up to watch the days races. I don’t know what Craig said but Elliott got his best start of the day. It might also have had something to do with Elliott having first pick of the gate and Scott Donald doing a sterling job of preparing the gate for him. He raced well and with one lap to go he was being chased by Callum and Tayla Smith, Elliott was able to hold them off till he got half way round. Then Callum capitalized on a mistake by Elliott then Tayla was also able to pass him as they headed up and down the hill before the final turn.

Elliott still managed to get himself up to 10th overall and collect his second trophy of the season from the East Cumbria club.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

23/09/07 Round Six

After traveling up the M6 through the pouring rain, we were glad to find Salkeld was only suffering a bit of drizzle which had blown over by the time we had signed on and had the bike scrutinised. The track had been graded earlier in the week and the rain had soaked in well leaving the track in perfect condition for the days races.

Practice had gone well and we sat waiting for race one, Elliott came up to me and said "Dad they're going on the gate!" So after a mad panic getting his helmet and goggles we rushed to the gate, getting sorted on the gate just in time to see the 15 second board go up. Elliott's start was poor and once again he would have to come from the back, he did make it into the top ten at one point but fell losing a couple of places finishing 12th.

Race 2 and the start was a lot better, after a couple of laps he found himself riding round on his own in 13th place with a big gap in front of him to Tayla Smith. He seamed to settle into a comfortable rhythm and 13th was were he finished.

Elliott knew if he wanted that top ten finish he would have to ride really well in his third and final race, his last start was the best riding out of the gate in between Brad Todd and Sam Braithwaite he seamed to get dragged up the start straight. He came over the first table top in 7th place and pushing hard, he was having to fight with Joe Sutcliffe, Curtis Ferguson and Callum Bircher for position and for the next few laps he did so. Elliott struggled though in the final few laps loosing five places to finish 12th and he took 12th overall. He took 86 points from the meeting, with only one meeting now left at Northern Youth it's going to take a good performance from Elliott to get that top ten overall that he's been working hard for all season.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

16/09/07 Round Five

It’s been nearly three months since Elliott last raced at Brampton on that day he finished 17th overall. We arrived at Brampton to find the track which was in perfect condition the fine rain that was falling damping the surface.As usual Elliott was first out on practice he did the two lap practice and came off the track happy with how it had gone and ready for race one.

The rain was still falling and the track was starting to cut up in places after the practice sessions had been completed. Elliott’s first start was poor and he had to give way to Tayla Smith and another rider as they sandwiched him going down the straight, he made up a few places as he went backwards and forwards around the top part of the track before they jump the drop off to the lower half of the track. The track had been modified slightly for the Maxxis British Championships with the jump at the bottom being modified turning it into a table top with quite a steep face. Elliott never fell off during that first race and finished well placed and happy with his performance.

Race two and once again he had a poor start and got blocked leaving him to fight his way from the back once more. The track was now very muddy with the continuing rainfall and some of the ruts were very deep in places, some of the 65 riders where having to walk their bikes round some of the corners. The worst place was the hairpin corner before the new table top, this is where Elliott fell twice, the first time he fell he was well placed but it cost him a lot of time and places. Weebo was busy on that top corner all through the race picking riders up out of the mud and getting them going again, Elliott fell once again on the final lap as his front wheel disappeared in the same rut as previous; once again Weebo got him going. 

Elliott was 9th overall going into the final race of the day, the rain hadn’t stopped and the track would now be very difficult to ride. Thankfully the corner where Elliott had struggled in the last race had now been shortened giving the riders a bit of solid ground to work with before attempting the now very difficult table top. Weebo, Malc, Kirk Sutcliffe and Chris Mather had positioned themselves at the top of the table top just to help the riders as they struggled to ride up the face of the jump. Elliott got his best start getting over the gate soon enough to actually fight for a decent place into the first couple of corners, he battled well with the conditions and the other riders to finish the race and get his first club trophy of the season finishing 9th overall.

BYMX National Team Event

Haverigg, Cumbria

8th & 9th September 2007

I received a phone call on the 3rd September asking if Elliott would be interested in competing for Team GP (Gary Pottinger) in the National Team event, after a very short discussion with Elliott we jumped at the chance to race. On Wednesday he found out he would be racing with two of his friends from the Cumbria clubs, Aaron Burns and Callum Bircher who had also been asked to compete as part of the four man 65cc team. We arrived at Haverigg late on Friday night and couldn't wait for Saturday morning to arrive.

On meeting Gary the next morning we found out that Sam Godkin from Preston would be the fourth rider in the 65cc team, we then met the rest of the 20 man team which included Ashley Greedy, Lewis King, Ben Pearson and Malachi-Mitchell Thomas.

Practice was unbelievable, we'd never competed at national level before and the high standard of rider competing at the event took Elliott and I totally by surprise. The track during practice was very fast and Elliott got a bit carried away and took one of the jumps too fast and washed out on the following corner. He made another couple of mistakes on the following couple of laps of the three lap practice.

Race one and he lined up for the first time ever on a full gate of forty riders. Alongside him there were riders from all over the U. K. as well as a lot of riders he competes with at his usual clubs. This would be the first time he had raced for ten minutes plus a lap, instead of his usual seven. His start wasn't good and he got stuck quite near the back of the pack but he kept his head down and started to pick up a few places and came over the finish line in 28th place.

In his next race he got his best start ever on his 65, he was alongside Brad Todd all they way up the straight battling for the hole shot. Brad took it with Elliott 2nd he was then passed by Jay Lamb, for the first time ever Elliott was not stuck in the chasing pack battling to catch up. He tried to stick with the more experienced riders as they came through, one by one he watched there lines as they past. The track was getting more cut up as the racing went on and as it did Elliott seamed more at home in the rougher conditions, he finished 17th and came off the track to meet me, mum and his brother Lewis with the biggest mud filled smile I had ever seen. "Dad I was right next to Brad all the way up the straight! then Jay took me, I was third though going round the second corner".

His final race of the day I believe was his best of the weekend, the start didn't go too well and once again he was chasing the main pack. But it was the way he kept chasing down the riders in front of him, one by one passing them then gapping them before latching on to the next rider and once more fighting for the position. It was great to watch him ride so well at this level.

Sunday

We were looking forward to another good days racing, the team were sitting 4th overall as we headed into the final three blocks of races. Elliott got a poor start in race one and was struggling to make up places, he made a mistake as he went round the next to last corner of lap four dropping the bike and it took a while for him to get back to his feet. He eventually finished 31st his worst result of the weekend.

The final race for Elliott, after making a slightly better start he was picking up places and riding well. It was about half way through the race when he was heading for the ski jump in the far corner of the track when his front wheel went from under him and he was sent over the handle bars to land on the face of the jump. I watched as he slowly got to his feet and followed one of the track marshals as he pushed is bike from the middle of the track. A few anxious moments passed before he got back onto his bike and re-joined the race, he wasn't racing flat out anymore just getting round but he was doing it fast enough to finish in 23rd place. He came off the track complaining of a headache and a sore eye, the headache soon passed which is more than can be said for the lump under is right eye which is now starting to turn black. We then had to wait patiently as all the other riders in the team finished there races before finding out were the team had finished overall. After all the scores had been totalled up Team GP finished in third place behind Team Scotland in second and the run away winners Team Cumbria A. The whole weekend had been a great experience for us all and to come away with a trophy, Elliott's first of the year was absolutely brilliant.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

27/08/07 Round Five

Walking the track on the Bank Holiday morning Elliott's first comment was "Dad were's all the sand gone?" In places the track seamed to be more hard pack than the usual deep sand. Elliott went out for practice and returned confident of a good days racing and hopefully that first top ten trophy. His race starts during the day were good and he emerged well placed and riding well, battling just outside the top ten in every race.

With his usual opponents, Aaron Burns, Callum Bircher and Tayla Smith amongst others, he battled well for every position. I think he must of got dizzy at times when battling with Tayla who would consistently pass him make a mistake and then pass him again. He finished each of his races just outside the top ten and I believe overall he finished 15th.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

22/07/07 Round Four

After his last race meeting here Elliott was hoping once again to make that jump into the top ten. He went well in practice and was feeling confident for the days racing. His starting had really improved over the last few meetings and he well placed as he came up to the first table top and round the hairpin, he was chasing Jonathan Hughes as they headed for the bottom table top. As they approached the jump Jonathan fell and Elliott had no time to avoid falling as well, he was soon up and chasing the pack. We later found out that Jonathan was not as lucky and had been taken to hospital with a suspected fracture. Elliott was catching Callum Bircher who was sitting in tenth place with only a few laps to go, they had a great race together and this time Elliott was able to take the position to cross the line in tenth.

Race two and he was once again battling with Callum each of them capitalising on each others mistakes, Callum eventually took the place with Elliott dropping a couple of places as he fell at the loop at the far end of the track.

The final race and if he was going to get into the top ten it needed to be a good one! He started quite well but made a couple of mistakes once again he was battling with Callum, this time though a hard charging Tayla Smith was making his way from the back of the field after a big off at the table top. He'd managed to pick himself up and get back into the race and was pushing hard for another top ten finish. He joined the battle between Elliott and Callum just as Elliott made a mistake, Tayla made the pass and soon passed Callum. Elliott though with one lap left was still there and catching he past Callum half way round and was now closing on Tayla, he then picked the wrong line through the step up and allowed Tayla to open a gap and Callum was able to make a pass. Overall a great performance once again but the top ten place still alludes him

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

25/06/07 Round Four

Over night rain was one thing the track at Brampton didn't need, it was going to be heavy going as the Junior riders were to find out during practice. Most of them had to pick themselves out of the dirt at least once during the two lap practice session.

The first race got under way and the thirty two riders set off down the start straight and into the first series of bends before leaping down the drop off towards the bottom section of the track. Elliott was well placed in the top half of the pack but he then dropped the bike in one of the sticky sections of the track, it seamed to take an age before he appeared again. He quickly made up some places, then on the next lap he was passed by Kyle Peebles who shot past him as they went up the first big hill over the ski jump and on to the top before looping down and then turning and heading back up once more to the top section. Callum Bircher got past him on that section as well as Elliott fell once again before once more coming over the drop off. He'd lost a lot of time on that final lap and ended the race in nineteenth place.

The heavens opened as they came to the gate for race two, the track was getting harder and harder to ride as rain kept falling. Ruts in the mud at some sections were now the depth of there wheels, the riders were paddling their legs in the mud to get their bikes through in places. Elliott was having his best race of the weekend in the hardest conditions, he picked his lines well through the deep ruts and never once made a mistake that would put him unceremoniously into the unforgiving mud. He finished in fourteenth place, yet another highest placing for this track. The racing was cancelled after the second block of races due to the continuing heavy rain, Elliott finished seventeenth overall.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

23/06/07 Round Three

Elliott and I walked round the Northern Youth track on the Friday evening ready for the race the following morning, with some rain falling during the week the track was as good as we had seen it this season. Morning practice went well and Elliott was looking forward to the first race.

His starting had improved at recent events and once again he seamed to get away well from the line as I watched him disappear down the hill, he made up a few more places as he went up and down the first couple of hills and he was working hard chasing after the riders in front of him. Unknown to Elliott, Tayla Smith was catching him , they came down the start finish straight with about three laps to go with Elliott a few yards ahead. He jumped the table top well then he jumped the step up he landed sideways and Tayla couldn’t avoid catching his front wheel on Elliott’s back wheel and they both fell to the floor. Neither was down long and they soon resumed the battle for ninth place, Elliott had got away first but on one of the long drags up hill Tayla got better drive and passed Elliott. Both of the them were fighting for position at every point round the track, Tayla left a gap and Elliott would grab the opportunity to make a pass and then Elliott would leave an opening and Tayla would re-take the position. The racing between them was close and marvelous to watch as they went into the last lap it was still to close to call. Tayla eventually crossed the line in ninth place with Elliott in tenth still very close behind. As they came off the track they both checked with each other that they were ok after there fall and congratulated each other on what was a great race.

Race Two and I couldn't believe my eyes when Elliott came over the first table top in eighth place he had another good battle this time with Joe Sutcliffe, once again they were making the most of each others mistakes. Then as they crossed the line for the final lap neither of them knew how close Tayla Smith and Jonathan Hughes had got to them, half way round Elliott was passed by all three riders and he wasn't able to make any places back and finished once more in tenth place.

Race three and this time Elliott had his worst start of the day, but he wasn't going to give up on the chance of getting his first trophy of the season. He was chasing Kyle Peebles for a couple of laps before he was able to make a pass, Kyle was never going to give his place up easily. On the final lap Elliott was eleventh until three corners from the end, he dropped the bike round one of the back corners and Aaron Burns took the opportunity to pick up a place and send Elliott into twelfth. Twelfth overall was his best ever placing at penrith on his 65 just missing out on tenth and a trophy by two points.

 

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

16th & 17th/06/07

Round five & six

With lots of rain falling during the week the track was inspected early on Saturday morning to see if the racing could go ahead. We were given the ok but it was going to hard for the riders to cope with the conditions. Elliott went out for practice and was struggling keeping his speed up as he came to the hills and entering the corners, he wasn't very pleased with how practice went but we worked are way through what he was struggling with and he went out for race one. He was riding well and was well up the field and coping well with the conditions finishing tenth, his highest place finish this year. Obviously he came off the track smiling like a cheshire cat, a lot happier with the way things went.

Race two was more of the same but he fell once and dropped to a twelfth place finish, his third race was the worst of the day he just couldn't stay on the bike for more than two laps at a time and finished 16th or 17th taking 12th overall.

Sunday came and the track after a lot of work was in a lot better condition and drying out well. Practice went well but Elliott was still upset at falling once when he rode to fast into a corner, he then had two races were once again he struggled to stay on the bike finishing 16th and 18th. Race three went a lot better, he got out of the gate well and even made it round the first corner without too much trouble. He went on to ride really well finishing 12th.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

28/05/07 Round Two

Elliott's first race at Penrith started badly as he nearly stalled the bike as it left the concrete start gate and hit the sand, leaving him searching for the right gear before he got away in last place. He went down and up the two loops before coming back into view, he'd made up half a dozen places in the first couple of laps. He was sitting in 16th place as they went into the last lap, half way round the lap he made a mistake and dropped the bike. He lost five places on that last lap and finished 21st.

Race two and the start went a little better, his confidence and his riding was improving with each and every lap. He finished 18th and was a lot happier with the way the race had gone.

Final race of the day and Elliott's best start, he was well into the top twenty but it wasn't going too last and as he landed off the bottom table top and entered the corner he fell. He was down for ages only getting back into the race half a lap down, he battled on making up a few places before finishing the race in 23rd place. He came off the track complaining of a lot of pain in his left arm, a later x-ray confirmed it didn't seam to be broken or fractured.

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

5th & 6th/05/07

Round three & four

Back at Haverigg for rounds three and four and with the gearbox selector problem now repaired and Elliott having a couple of practice sessions at a friend’s farm we were all looking forward to the weekends racing. A lot of national riders would be in attendance giving them a chance to practice for the BYMX round which has been switched to the Cumbria Youth track in July.

With a nearly full gate Elliott started race one with a good start and was well up the standings as he finished the first lap, he carried on getting faster and faster with each lap and as he went into the final lap he was sitting in 13th place. Then on turn two he made a mistake and ended up going over the handle bars, so annoyed with himself he then went on to make two more mistakes and ended the race in 17th place. Lots of people passed comment on how well he had rode in that first race as we came away from the track, but Elliott wasn’t pleased with his own performance and how he had thrown all his hard work away in the last lap.

Race two and once more he was away off the gate well but his front wheel got knocked and he was down in the first corner, he got up in last place and set off to make up lost places, he managed to finish just outside the top twenty.

Race three and his worst start as he flipped the bike off the start line, once again he pushed hard to make up for his mistake once again finishing just outside the top twenty.

Sunday and race one went without incident he made one mistake and dropped the bike which cost him a few places.

Race two and he battled through every lap with Callum Bircher; he couldn’t get close enough to make the pass until he came into the last few corners of the penultimate lap. He made his move as they started the last lap but as he crested the hill to start the final lap he lost traction and this sent him across the track and into Callum taking them both to the floor. Elliott was first to get back under way with Callum chasing him round the final lap, happily they both finished the race and apart from a knock to the fingers both would be fit for the final race

The final race of the weekend and once again Elliott resumed his battle with Callum each of them capitalising on each others mistakes, first one would fall and then the other both riding hard to finish ahead of the other.

Elliott had a really good weekends racing not without incident but defiantly a big improvement on the earlier rounds, he was riding with a lot more confidence in himself and the bike.

A big thank you must go out to Kyle (Rusty) Peebles #16, who after sustaining a broken collar bone during a midweek practice session still attended the weekends racing. He cheered on Elliott and his fellow 65cc riders throughout the weekend, when he would have really wanted to be out there competing with them. Hope your back soon racing with your friends.

 

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

14th & 15th/04/07

Round One & two

Another first time out for Elliott on the full adult track, last year Elliott said this was his favorite track and now he was really excited about competing on the full circuit. After a practice session mid week he was feeling a lot better about racing and as he went out in practice he was taking the jumps with a lot more confidence. He came off the track complaining of missing gears, we had a quick look over the bike trying to find the fault but he had to head off for the start of race one.

His starts were now getting better but he was still nearer the back than the front, he settled mid pack and was riding just behind some of the other auto riders who had moved up to the 65's this year. He was looking comfortable and smooth as he went over the jumps and through the deep sand corners, then as he started the last few laps he fell exiting one of the bends and he started to look a bit uneasy in his riding. The bike was going into neutral of its own accord, really unsettling him. He still managed to finish way up the field but the bike was not looking so good. After a a bit of a discussion with another Kawasaki owner it became obvious the weekends racing was over! Then he very kindly offered us his sons practice bike to race for the weekend (Thank you!!). Elliott struggled with the bike for the next two races, it was set up different to his being higher and a lot faster. He could hardly keep the bike under him, but he did his best to finish in 16th and 17th place in the next two races.

Sunday came and I altered the gearing on the bike so it would be more manageable for him, during practice he seamed to be a little more comfortable with it. Race one and he got away well but after a few good fast laps chasing the middle placed riders he started to make mistakes, they cost him a lot of time as he couldn't get the slightly taller bike up and started as well as he could his own. He finished 19th in both the first and second races, in the third he rode slightly better throughout to finish 17th. Elliott wasn't very pleased with his own performances this weekend and at times was very critical of himself. We talked over the two weekends of racing he had just completed on the journey home and how it could of been better and at times a lot worse. He eventually got his head round the fact that he is still learning to cope with the 65 and the new bigger tracks, as long as he keeps going and keeps doing his best the performances will get better. It's not always about were you finished in the race but it is all about enjoying what your doing in the race.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

09/04/07 Round Three

Elliott was really looking forward to his days racing at Brampton and in practice he was doing some of his best riding so far, he was a lot more confident going over the jumps and were he had struggled in the earlier meeting here he was now riding smoothly and with a lot more speed.

Race one and he was away well off the start and settled mid pack going round the first lap then he started to move past a few riders and picking up places. After three laps he was sitting in 13th place and riding well, then as he entered one of the corners at the top of the track he lost grip at the front of his bike and fell to the ground. He wouldn't of been very long on the floor as it was at such a slow speed that on any other day he would of jumped back up and been back in the race, problem was that one of the riders behind him was so close that he couldn't take avoiding action and Elliott suffered a glancing blow to the back of his helmet knocking him forward into the forks. He got too his feet as we got to him and checked him out, he was complaining of a headache and also had a burst his lip. He decided not to continue and we went and to the paramedics so they could make sure he was fit and well.

He wanted to compete in the next race and started cautiously from the gate, he did a lap quite calmly before he got his confidence back to really start to push. He went on to ride really well and gladly with out further incident to the finish. After he had finished the race he didn't really seam himself and wasn't very happy with his performance. He took the decision not to ride the final race saying he didn't feel right and didn't want to make the day any worse for himself.

We would like to thank everybody who voiced a concern for Elliott after that first race, it was very much appreciated.

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Great Salkeld, Penrith

8/04/07 Round One

Elliott's first race at Penrith on the 65 was going to be very interesting as a lot of changes had been made to the track with new jumps, step ups and step downs now fitted in to the new layout. We were really concerned with some of the jumps being placed just before or just after some quite sharp corners, with not much chance of the jumps being rolled if you didn't have the confidence to jump them. Elliott went out on the two lap practice and coped quite well and made us feel a lot more at ease with his ability to ride the track safely.

First start went off smoothly and he was making up places from the back of the field coping really well with the track conditions, though he wasn't too confident on the jumps. A few times are hearts were in our mouths as he struggled to keep the bike balanced over the jumps. A lot of shaky front wheel landings had us worried but he held on and managed to finish the race though he did loose a lot of time at the step up on the next to last lap.

Due to a few accidents through the days racing only two blocks of racing were completed, his final start of the day was a bit better and he was well placed going down the hill into the first corner. He picked up a few places but was still struggling with the jumps, once again on the penultimate lap he fell at the step up taking an age to restart his bike and get back into the race.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

18/03/07 Round Two

Cold weather, in fact freezing weather was to play a major factor in the days racing, Elliott finished his practice session saying he couldn't of rode much longer his hands were so cold. After practicing his starts and working on his clutch control a couple of weeks earlier, Elliott was feeling that he could improve on his performance in the first round. The track had been shortened due to the amount of standing water in the bottom corner of the circuit. Elliott was ready at the start and he flew out of the gate as it dropped only to stall as he got to the other side, everyone was off the start straight before Elliott had re-started his bike and set off after them. With the conditions being as they were he was soon able to catch the slower riders as they weave backwards and forwards at the top of the track before dropping down the first of the main hills. He was now picking up a couple of positions with each lap of the track, he fell a few times but nowhere near the amount he had in the earlier meeting and he was riding a lot smoother round the corners. Finishing in 18th place out of the 28 riders he was sure if he got the start right he would do even better in race two.

He started race two well and was sitting mid pack but as they headed up the straight into turn four, he fell and once again he found himself well down the order. Picking himself up he rode well to make up places and although he struggled at times to keep the bike pointing in the right direction. He managed to finish 19th getting 18th overall for the day.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

18/02/07 Round One

Elliott's first meeting, track conditions were good apart from a couple of sections were the rain water had drained off the hill. He did two practice laps before taking to the line for race one, his start was ok and he settled mid pack of the thirty-six riders. He made up a couple of places and at one point was sitting in or around 15th place, I watched him disappear over the hill of the finish straight with only a couple of laps to go. Then I waited for him to come round once more into view, it took quite a while before he came round obviously he had fallen somewhere at the top of the circuit. I think he lost over half a lap and it cost him a lot of places finishing his first race in 23rd place.

Race two and he was a bit further to the back of the pack and as he came to turn two he got caught at the back of a big pile up stalling his bike in the process. He managed to re-start his bike and get back into the race. A few laps later he fell at the bottom of the main hill and it took a while for his bike to start, one of the marshals helping him out, eventually he started the bike and Elliott was back in the race. He had broken his clutch lever in the fall and struggled to get any sort of momentum going and finished down in 32nd place.

The final race of the day and probably his best start, he was looking for a better finish but he struggled in the deeper wetter sand and spent half the race on his side. All in all it was a big test for him which he came through quite well. It has given him a taste of what's to come and he'll be working hard trying to improve his starts and his corner speed for the next race