Elliott The Story so Far 2009

04/05 Season

06 Season

07 Season

08 Season

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

25/10/09 Round six

Elliott’s final race meeting of the season and it was going to be a wet one! The club made the decision to run only two blocks on the day due to the poor conditions caused by the over night rain. Elliott went through practice ok and soon after made his way up to the start for race one, he soon returned as the gear lever was loose. After a quick repair job he returned to the start gate, he got out of the gate well but then struggled to keep the power on and the bike stalled slightly. After a couple of laps he made up a few places and was riding well, he then disappeared out of view only to return a few places down. The gear lever was loose again and he was stuck in either 2nd or 3rd gear. He struggled on for the final couple of laps loosing places on each lap finally finishing in 11th place.

After a rather hectic break between races trying to fix the gear shift problem Elliott went up for the start of race two, this time he got away a lot better and was well positioned after the first couple of laps. He came down the drop off with only a couple of laps remaining just holding off Kyle (Rusty) Peebles and Tayla Smith, he came into the bottom corner too fast and couldn’t hold the bike up and fell to the floor. Rusty and Tayla past him, Elliott got back on his bike quite quickly and he was soon back on terms with Tayla. Then as they came off the drop off Elliott went for the inside line and this time was able to make the pass and slow the bike down enough to get it round the corner without falling off. He then pushed hard trying to catch Rusty, he may of closed the gap slightly but he was never going to catch him before the chequered flag finishing 6th in the race. He enjoyed the last meeting even with the mechanical problems all because the track was back to what he was used to! He finished 9th overall on the day and 4th in the East Cumbria championship.

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

3 & 4 /10/09 Round seven & eight

With Elliott sitting second going into the final two meetings in the Cumbria Youth Championship we were hoping for some good weather and some good close races. We woke on Saturday morning to high winds and then when we eventually got round to practice the rains came in. Elliott came back from practice soaked to the skin; with a quick change of kit he was on the gate for race one. He got away well from the start and was well placed with the front runners, Owen Potts had made the best of a good start and was leading the way from Brad Todd in second, Sam Braithwaite in third and Elliott fourth. Elliott was pushing on and soon caught Sam who was suffering with brake problems, Elliott eventually passed Sam and finished the race in third behind Owen Potts who was caught on the final lap by Brad.

Race two and Elliott was sitting fourth riding well and catching Tayla Smith in front of him, he made a mistake trying to pass Tayla and spun the bike. He got back into the race and was trying to make up for lost time; he caught Ben Walsh and tried to go down the inside going into one of the corners. He didn’t quite make it and he and Ben both fell, Elliott was down for a while and eventually got underway after clearing his goggles he had hurt his arm but was still pushing hard trying to catch up. He was probably trying too hard which caused him to make another mistake at the far end of the track, this time he couldn’t get his bike started. By the time I got to him he was shattered and annoyed at not being able to get the bike going, I got the bike started told him to calm down and just get the bike to the chequered flag which he did finishing in last place. He was so annoyed with himself after the race, after such a good first race he thought he had messed up the hold day with his second.

Race three and Elliott was determined to make up for his poor performance and he did! Battling away through the whole race and riding really well he picked up another third place finish to take fourth overall.

Sunday and we were greeted with slightly better conditions, the wind had dropped overnight and with overnight rain watering the track everyone was ready for another good days racing. The Championship leader Joe Sutcliffe had left the previous night to defend a Championship lead he held in the North East. This put Elliott in first place in front of Owen Potts and Tayla Smith. Elliott went well in race one he battled away with big wheel rider Scott Donald for a few laps before he could make a pass, he then set about chasing Tayla Smith once again. With a couple of laps to go Elliott had closed right up to the back of Tayla and he was trying all sorts to get passed, he couldn’t quite get it right and on the final lap he tried with only a few corners left and once again it went wrong. Tayla was able to open up enough of a lead to hold his place Elliott I believe finished fourth.

Race two and Elliott once again pushed hard for the first couple of laps and was battling away with big wheel rider and championship leader Arran Murphy. For a couple of the laps it was really close and I stood watching hoping they wouldn’t make a mistake and ruin there championships. Elliott managed to pull away but with only a couple of laps left he landed a jump and the bike stopped, I ran over to find the engine running but the gearbox broken. So with the last lap flag now flying I set about pushing the bike to the line so Elliott would pick up some points for the race. With Elliott running alongside and Stuart Borthwick helping me to push the bike we set off running, with only the spectator area to round the injured Stuart (Weebo) Peebles took over with me and then the final stint Lee Smith picked up the baton and with me now absolutely shattered we crested the finish jump and let Elliott roll across the line and down the hill. We then set about sorting a bike out for Elliott to race the final race, we eventually after a lot of running around and a broken finger (sorry about that Kevin!!) got Brad Todd’s bike ready. I would like to thank all the people who came forward with offers of a bike for Elliott to compete on, Owen Pott’s family offered the use of there Suzuki and Laal Colin Scott offered his team mate his KTM 65. Think Elliott would have loved to go back out on the 65 but with getting Brad’s bike going in the last minute he took that.

The final race start wasn’t his best and he resumed battle with his friend Scott Donald, after a few laps he made his move on the finish jump but he went wide and ended up tangled up with the fence. He re started and  pushed on trying to make up some lost places at times he tried too hard but he managed to keep it together and finish the race, he finished fifth overall which was enough to take the 2009 Championship.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

27/09/09 Round five

Elliott wasn’t too pleased with the track in the first race, as it was more like hardpack in places and he struggled to get to grips with it. His poor starts meant he would have to work hard to make up places and in the first race he just couldn’t get on the pace finishing in 8th place.

After the first block of racing the track hard started to rut up and a few berms were now appearing, Elliott made the most of the new conditions and was riding with a lot more confidence. He still had to come from the back but you could see in his riding he was now starting to enjoy himself, even after falling at the top of the track he went on to finish in 7th place.

At this point we checked on his overall position and found he was sitting in 7th place overall one point off 6th, so he knew he had to finish well in the last race to get into the top six.

The final race of the day and Elliott was battling away trying to catch big wheel rider Arran Murphy but after another fall in exactly the same place as he did in race two he found himself racing round defending his position from Owen Potts. He managed to hold Owen off for the final couple of laps to finish 7th overall.

He was made up after finding out he’d done enough to finish 6th overall, he then found out there was a problem with the scoring and he would have to swap his 6th place trophy for one for 8th place.

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

12 & 13 /09/09 Round five & six

After quite a traumatic nine hour journey to get to Haverigg involving lots of phone calls and lots of pacing around Lancaster services, the weekends racing was plucked from the depths of despair by the selfless efforts of Colin Scott who traveled from Haverigg to pick up everything we required to race at Haverigg. Allowing me to get the van home and once again set off this time in the car. A big thank you must also go to the Donald family who once Colin had got everybody to Haverigg at around 11pm helped setting up the caravan, thanks also to Richard Pratt who took Elliott’s KX and safely stored it away in his already well packed van.

We woke the following morning to bright sunshine quite a rarity at Haverigg, the conditions were perfect for a good weekends racing. With some of the top sw85 riders in the championship away at the last BYMX of the season and with Elliott already sitting in 6th place we were looking at having two good days racing to lift him further up the championship standings. Race one and Elliott nearly flipped the bike off the line, he just managed to keep it under control but lost out on position and would have to fight his way through from the back. With a couple of laps gone he had picked up a few places and was sitting just behind Tayla Smith (turned out these two would have some great battles all weekend). He only managed to pass Tayla when he made a mistake and dropped the bike a couple of corners before the first table top. Elliott with only a couple of laps left to go managed to hold his position and finished the race in fourth position.

Race two and a slightly better start but he got boxed in on the first two corners and would have to work hard once again, he spent a few laps trying hard to pass Ben Walsh and the much improved David Morgan in just his second years racing. Whilst Elliott was battling away Tayla who was now leading the race, with three laps to go I signaled to Elliott he was in 2nd place. He upped his pace and in the final lap he closed the gap to Tayla allowing him to try for a pass half way round the track, it didn’t work for him and Tayla opened up a small gap. Elliott wasn’t for giving up and chased hard for the chequered flag, he finished second by about half a bike length, with the small wheel and big wheels being run together Tayla missed out on his lap of honor but sportingly both riders shook hands after what was a good close race to watch.

Elliott was now sitting 2nd overall Tayla just one point behind in third, Elliott got round the early corners a lot better in race three and once again found himself racing with Tayla as they battled away with Big Wheel rider Arran Murphy. Eventually Elliott managed to pass Tayla and finished the race in I think 5th place giving him a well earned 3rd overall.

Sundays racing started once again in perfect conditions and Elliott’s starts were improving with each race, he resumed his weekend long battle with Tayla as the pair of them struggled to make a pass. They eventually made up a few places Elliott finishing just ahead.

Race two was just a repeat of race one but this time Tayla finished just ahead of Robbie Dowson who had managed to pass Elliott on the last lap.

The final race of the weekend Elliott was sitting in 6th place overall only two points off third place rider Arron Roe. I missed Elliott’s start and as I arrived in the spectators area I was told he had already been off the bike, he then fell once again as he went to pass somebody at the end of the second straight. The main pack was now heading for the big table top at the bottom end of the track with Elliott a full straight behind, one of the leading riders fell on the corner after the table top holding the pack up long enough for Elliott to gain enough to have some of the riders in sight. He tried the outside line of the final jump before the spectator area and nailed it first go. On the very next lap three riders went for the inside line on the exact same jump Elliott was a couple of yards behind and he took the outside line once again just managing to pass the third rider on the inside of the left hander. He was flying round the track putting in his best performance of the weekend, Rich was encouraging him on with each lap over the far side of the track and as he once again approached the final jump he rode right round the outside of another two riders. Elliott finally finished the race in fourth place picking up fourth overall.

The weekends racing was brilliant and we were all so glad that we had been able to be there as we stood and watched as all our stuff left the meeting, Elliott’s bike in the back of Colin Scott’s van and the caravan on the back of Andy Jackson’s pick up. I would just like to thank everyone for their generous offers of help and support over the weekend, a massive thank you must go to Colin Scott and Andy Jackson with out them we wouldn’t have been able to either get all our gear there or get it all home. Thank you!

Northern Youth MCC Championship

Salkeld, Penrith,

12/07/09 Round five

It was the first time Elliott had been to Salkeld this year and with less than a dozen riders in each of the 85cc class it was decided to run both classes together. The track was a bit soft in places after overnight rain, during practice Elliott coped well with the conditions.

In race one he struggled to get off the line and he found himself at the back as he rounded the first corner, he made up a few places going down the hill and after a couple of laps he had fought his way up to 7th place were he finished the race. He wasn’t riding well and in the early part of race two he was again struggling for pace, he fell making a pass at the bottom of the hill and it seamed to get him fired up for the rest of the race. He was soon finding himself being lapped by the leaders and once again he seamed to pick up some speed finishing the race in 7th   place. 

The final race of the day and his start was a lot better as he fought his way through the pack to the first corner; he managed to pick up a few more places as he raced down the hill. He was soon up into 5th place but Owen Potts was chasing him hard going into the final lap, Elliott still had a comfortable hold on fifth place but as he rounded the penultimate corner his bike stopped, the engine had seized. So with the help of Stuart Peebles we pushed Elliott and the bike across the line.

His riding had improved over the day and even though the bike had let him down he came away with a smile on his face, after saving his best race till last and picking up 7th overall.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

14/06/09 Round four

Elliott came down after the practice session complaining he didn’t like the track conditions, “it’s like hard pack” he said “you know I hate hard pack!” It was the driest we’d ever seen it, for the first time in a long time we had problems with visibility due to the dust coming off the track.

He got a good start though in race one and was sitting just outside the top ten and riding well enough to keep the chasing riders behind him, he then made a mistake at the bottom of the track and he span the bike around and dropped it. This allowed the chasing riders through and Elliott was back in fourteenth place, Joe Sutcliffe was catching him fast as they went into the last lap and Elliott made another mistake which put Joe right behind him. Joe closed right up to Elliott and powered past him as they went up to the final table top. Elliott crossed the line in fifteenth place and wasn’t at all pleased with his riding.

In race two he got another good start but couldn’t do anything about holding his position in the pack, Tayla Smith passed him half way through the race on his way to finishing twelfth, with Elliott finishing in fourteenth place behind Aaron Roe.

Much to Elliott’s relief the final race was cancelled, Elliott had finished fifteenth overall. He hadn’t enjoyed the racing one little bit. “I hope it’s wetter next time we come and back to normal” he said.

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

30 & 31 /05/09 Round three & four

We arrived at Haverigg for round three and four of the Cumbria Youth Championship early on Friday afternoon making the most of the summer weather, the sunny weather making the track the driest we’d ever seen it. Elliott was looking forward to his first race after the injury he picked up last time out at Preston docks four weeks previous, he’d returned to the docks last week for a mornings practice session in preparation for this weekend.

With only a dozen riders in each of the 85cc classes the decision was made to run both class together, this would be the first time Elliott had raced this way and he was looking forward to the prospect of competing against the big wheel 85 riders. Race one got under way with a poor  start but he made quite a few places up during the first few corners and after a couple of laps he was sitting 7th or 8th in the SW class chasing after Owen Potts and even further ahead of him Joe Sutcliffe and Mitchell Meadows. He rode well and picked up a couple of places when other riders made mistakes in front of him. The next two races went the same way Elliott settling into a comfortable rhythm and not making any mistakes, picking up an 8th and a 7th place to give him 8th place overall

On Sunday Elliott once again battled mid pack with Tayla Smith, Mitchell Meadows and Owen Potts. He made a mistake in race one allowing the hard charging Ben Green through on the last lap as he came back from an earlier fall. In race two he spent two laps trying to keep Scott Hail behind him, Scott was now riding a Suzuki after his bike had let him down in race one. Then in race three he picked up his best finish of the day riding to a 5th place finish which gave him 7th overall.

Vale MXC

Preston Docks MX, Preston,

03/05/09

The track at Preston Docks was perfect for the days racing and Elliott couldn’t wait to get out for practice. He’d practiced here the week before and was made up that he could now clear the final table top, the problem was when he did he couldn’t get the next corner right. This time though he got it spot on in practice back braking the bike to bring it down and he got the corner spot on.

Race one and Elliott got away quite well, he did get cut up a bit as they turned to head up the hill but he managed to keep the bike upright and finished the first lap mid pack and pushing hard. He went into the final couple of laps chasing Sam Godkin and Tayla Smith but he couldn’t make up anymore places and finished in eighth place.

Race two and once again Elliott was riding well this time he was battling with Callum Barber for fifth place in the final few laps. It was close right up to the final corner when Elliott dived down the inside in a final attempt to grab fifth place but Callum managed to hold him off and finishing in fifth place Elliott in sixth. Elliott was now sitting sixth overall going into the final race.

Elliott was sat on the gate for race three when the heavens opened, he got away well and managed to avoid Callum and Sam who had fell just after the first table top. He was going well but as he came to the whoop section he fell with the bike coming down on top of him, as it did so it had cut into his little finger. The paramedic pulled of Elliott’s glove and we could then see his nail and the final part of his finger had been ripped off and was hanging at the side. We took him to Preston hospital where an x-ray showed he had also broken the final part of the bone, the bone was glued back in place and the tip of his finger was then replaced along with the nail.

He’s hoping to be fit enough to race at Haverigg at the end of the month though he did ask “if I can’t ride can we still go”! He has also got his SAT’s coming up and isn’t able to write so someone will be doing that for him during the exams so he’s quite happy with that!!

Newton le Willows MCC Championship

Bleak Hall

18/04/09 Round one

Elliott hadn’t raced at Bleak Hall since his 7th place finish in the Autos back in July 2005, since then he’s only competed on a couple of other hard pack tracks the last of which was Dean Moor last year on his 65.

We spoke about using the days racing as a training day, with there being only youth riders racing on Saturday Elliott had four races to learn to the different techniques used on hard pack compared to his usual sand tracks. Practice went reasonably well but he was struggling for grip in the corners and was at times looking quite ragged as the rear tyre would grip unexpectedly and send him across the track.

His first start was a good one and he came round the first corner with Tayla Smith, Tayla took fourth with Elliott fifth but after a couple of laps Elliott had dropped a couple of more places. He was behind a group of three riders and went to pass Joshua Semple down the inside of one of the corners but as he did he collided with the back wheel of Joshua’s bike and both of them fell to the floor. Elliott was now mid pack of the twenty five riders, he hadn’t given up the chase though and going into the final lap he was back up to ninth. Then half way round the final lap and on the same corner as his earlier mistake he spun the bike 180 degrees and fell once again he was now back in twelfth place where he finished the race. He came off the track really upset with his performance, he apologised to Joshua for his earlier mistake before he made his way back to the van. After we talked through some of his mistakes he eventually got it into his head that all we wanted him to do was use the experience of each race to his benefit, hopefully then over the remaining three races he would get better and start to enjoy the racing a lot more than he was. 

Race two and once again he was up at the front in fifth place, he was still a bit on the ragged edge and Joshua behind him was at times taking avoiding action as Elliott couldn’t seam to hold any sort of line coming out of the corners. Eventually Joshua made a pass for fifth and left Elliott to finish the race in sixth place, Elliott came away from the race with a bit more confidence and a bit happier.

Then came his worst start so far, he was very close to the back but after a few laps he’d fought back up to 15th place. Elliott kept on pushing and eventually finished in tenth place, with one race left he was sitting ninth overall and his technique was improving with every lap. Another poor start in race four and half way round the first lap he was up to seventeenth place but then he made his one and only mistake dropping the bike and he had to come from the back. It was probably the best race to watch as he just kept catching rider after rider, he’d got to grips with the conditions and instead of taking a couple of laps to pass one rider he was now picking up a couple of places with each lap. Eventually he finished behind Bradley Storey in eleventh place and picked up ninth place overall. He still doesn’t like hard pack and can’t wait to get back onto the sand but he did admit to enjoying the last couple of races.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

12/04/09 Round three

With a lot of the top small wheel 85 riders away at Leuchars it gave Elliott the chance to get some big points towards the championship after the disappointment of the DNF he suffered at the last round. For a change the track was dry and bathed in sunshine for the days racing. Only eight riders took to the gate, Elliott came round the top in fourth place chasing Aaron Tallentire. Scott Richardson was closing in on Elliott just as Elliott closed in on Aaron, Elliott got some good drive coming round the bottom and as he headed up the hill he made a pass on Aaron but it was Aaron back in third as they came back down the hill. They both disappeared out of site over the hill and when Aaron came back into view Elliott had dropped back after a mistake, now it was Scott who had closed the gap on Elliott and he was really close as they disappeared once again. This time it was Scott who made the mistake and Elliott was clear to take the fourth place.

Race two and Elliott came into view in third place as they came off the drop off but he dropped it going round the tight left hander at the bottom of the hill Scott getting caught in Elliott's back wheel. Elliott was now in seventh but it as usual he started to close down on the riders in front of him, David Morgan was sitting in sixth and Elliott was chasing him down and he managed to make a pass coming into turn one. Elliott then battled for a lap with Owen Potts before taking fifth place, Scott Richardson was the next rider but he was riding well and Elliott struggled to close the gap. It was only when Scott dropped it at the bottom of the drop off that Elliott was able to take fourth and that's where he finished.

The final race of the day, Elliott had another good start, Scott made his move for third place passing Elliott as they came round the right hander before they go up over the hill before turning left towards the drop off. Scott made it over the hill just in front of Elliott but Elliott was going to fast and ended up with his bike landing in Scott's back wheel, Scott must of wondered what was going on as he dragged Elliott's bike another couple of metres round the corner. Elliott got to his feet wrestled the bike free before setting off once more. He came passed me on the bottom sweeper pointing at his chest where he had banged it on Scott's rear fender. He battled on making it back up to sixth place by the end of the race and finished fifth overall to pick up his highest placing of the year so far!!

Cumbria Youth MCC Championship

Haverigg

21 & 22 /03/09 Round one & two

Saturday

After an engine rebuild during the week Elliott was back on his own bike for the weekends racing at Cumbria Youth M.C.C. Elliott’s struggled to get out of the gate in race one, he came over the first table top around four from the back and he struggled to settle into the race. He was fast enough most of the time but he struggled with lines through the corners especially the one after the big Table top at the bottom end of the track. He dropped the bike there on two consecutive laps and was never able to make up the lost time, he came away from the track totally shattered and disappointed with how he’d rode.

Race two and once again he would have to come from the back of the pack, he was still struggling with the conditions with the track now even rougher after the first block of adults. Elliott battled away but was still losing places after dropping the bike on numerous occasions, he then seamed to settle down and he started to make up a few places on the final couple of laps.

Going into the final race of the day he still wasn’t that happy with how things had gone in the previous two races, we told him to treat it as a final practice for the next days racing. We then watched as he struggled off the line once again but then he started to ride really well and he was soon closing down and passing riders in front of him. This time he wasn’t making the mistakes and riding the corners more confidently, he was soon chasing Joe Sutcliffe and Tayla Smith. He had to ride well to close the gap on them which he did eventually passing them both and opening up a small gap, Tayla stuck with him though and was able to capitalise on Elliott’s one and only mistake as he dropped it on the same corner he’d struggled with all day. Elliott got the bike going a bit quicker this time though and could see Tayla just in front of him! The last lap came too soon for Elliott though and though he’d closed the gap he’d have to settle for his best finish of the day just behind Tayla. He finished eleventh overall just one point outside the top ten, he now had a renewed confidence in himself and was looking forward to the next days racing.

Sunday

Elliott got away from the gate a little better and was positioned mid pack as they went over the first table top, he was about tenth place after the first lap after being passed by Tayla Smith and another couple of riders. After a couple of laps of going backwards down the pecking order he settled down and started to make up places, it was good watching him ride so well. He just kept chasing hard after who ever was in front of him and after a great race he finished in eighth place.

Race two was much the same his start was better and going into the final lap he was sitting in seventh place just in front of Greg Hyett and Brad Todd. He then made his one and only mistake which allowed both riders through, he’d dropped the bike on the sweeping corner before the first table top. It took him an age to lift the bike but he managed to do it and get away before loosing anymore places, finishing the race in ninth place.

Elliott got the worst start of the day and was sitting behind Owen Potts and Ben Walsh he came off the bottom table top and round the corner Owen hesitated and Elliott dropped the bike. He’d lost the length of the straight by the time he got going but by the time he got back round to the table top he’d passed Owen, he then dropped it once again in exactly the same place. This time he got the bike up quicker and managed to pass Owen for the second time before the table top and as he approached the corner he cut down the inside of Ben and managed to keep the bike upright and make the pass stick. We then watched as he clawed back the gap to Callum Barber, Joe Sutcliffe and Tayla Smith. At this point he was riding the best I’d seen all weekend, the gap just got less and less with every lap. Two laps to go and the three riders were just in front of him and as he come to the fifth corner from the end the three riders in front of him all fell, Elliott ended up riding over the top of one of the bikes and getting stuck. He fought to get the bike free and finished the race off just behind Joe, which was enough to clinch ninth place overall.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

15/03/09 Round two

Elliott came into view in race one sitting in fifteenth place after a poor start, he started to pick up a few places over the next few laps after battling with Scott Richardson, Tayla Smith and Arron Tallentire. He then disappeared over the hill in front of Scott Richardson and that was it his race was over, his bike had stopped at the top with engine trouble. He received his first DNF of the season and after riding so well to get up to seventh place he was gutted.

Race two and Elliott was riding Brad Todd’s spare bike (Cheers Brad!!). Elliott got a better start and came round in about tenth place. He was enjoying riding Brad’s bike “it’s a lot faster than mine Dad!” he told me at the end of the race. Elliott was making up places with every lap; he then caught Scott Richardson in eighth place and a couple of laps of trying he was able to pass him to finish the race in eighth place.

He was looking forward to race three now and he got his best start of the day coming into view in fifth place he held that for just the first lap before dropping it on turn two. He got back into the race around fourteenth spot chasing Ben Walsh and Owen Potts, Elliott was pushing hard and worked his way up to tenth passing Scott Richardson. Arron Tallentire was in ninth place but there wasn’t that many laps left for Elliott to catch him, they came off the drop off for the final time Arron made a mistake at the bottom corner Elliott closed the gap and eventually was able to get passed to take ninth place.

Elliott with his first race DNF finished last but thanks to Kevin and Brad he was still able to get some points towards the Championship were he is now sitting in tenth place.

Newton le Willows MCC Championship

Preston Docks MX, Preston,

08/03/09 Round one

Elliott’s second race on his 85 was with Newton le Willows MCC and took place at the track at Preston Docks MX, it’s a track Elliott practices on regularly and enjoys riding. The weather hadn’t been the best but the track was great and with the newly installed concrete start put in where the old auto / minibike track used to be, we knew it was going to be hard work for Elliott to get round the first corner and up the hill without getting caught out.

His first start put him near the back as they headed for the corner and as he turned to go up the hill it looked like he’d made it unscathed, then as he straightened up his front wheel was clipped and it was enough to knock him off balance. He just managed to keep the bike upright but he was now in 23rd place. He set about catching the riders in front of him and at the end of the first lap he was up to 15th place. Over the next few laps he fought for position with Steven Webb, Aaron Roe and Will Bimpson, but his biggest battle was passing Dilan Lewis they swapped places on numerous occasions over the next few laps. Elliott eventually managed to pass Dilan and set about catching Will Bimpson, he managed to pass Will and go on to finish the race in 7th place.

Race two and yet again he got stuck at the first turn and would have to work hard to catch the riders in front of him. He passed Dilan for 9th place and found himself with four other riders battling for fifth place. Elliott rode really well and he managed to catch and pass Callum Imrie and Hayden Barnsley, he was now in 6th place. He tried hard to get passed Callum Barber in front of him for the 5th place, although he could sometimes pass Callum he could never make it stick and 6th place is were he finished.

The final race was restricted to three laps, due to the lack of time. I told Elliott he would have to get off the gate a lot better in this race as he would struggle to make many places up in just three laps. It turned out to be his best start and this time he got round the corner and up the hill without too much trouble, he was soon up to 7th place fighting for 6th once again with Callum Barber. Callum rode well and didn’t allow Elliott any chance of getting past; Elliott did push him all the way to the finish to secure 7th place and 7th overall. Elliott had to ride well in all of the three races as there was always a rider just behind him pushing for the position, he also in most cases had someone just in front of him and he never once gave up the chase for that extra place right up to the chequered flag at the end of the days racing.

East Cumbria MCC Championship

Low Gelt, Brampton,

22/02/09 Round one

We traveled up to East Cumbria MXC for the first race of the season; the track had been shortened due to a water logged section at the bottom corner of the track. Elliott was looking forward to his first race on his Kawasaki small wheel 85 in its new black and green livery. He was a bit apprehensive at the start of the day wondering where in the twenty riders he would be competing but after a couple of laps of practice he was feeling a bit more positive.

In race one he started quite well and picked his way through the field in the first few laps eventually reaching tenth place. We watched as he disappeared over the hill heading for the back section and waited for him to appear again, it seamed quite a while before he did and it was obvious he’d been off, he was now back in fourteenth place chasing Owen Potts. Elliott fell once again at the bottom corner after the drop off and finished the first race in fourteenth. He came to the bottom where we’d been watching the race a bit disappointed in himself. Colin Scott took him to look at the state of the ruts he’d been riding through so well and he came back with a bit of a smile on his face and looking forward to race two.

Race two and he came out the gate well and found himself once again right in the middle of the pack battling with Aaron Roe, Scott Richardson and Tayla Smith. He battled away trying to make a pass on the riders in front of him and eventually got up to ninth place chasing Aaron Tallentire. Aaron had quite a lead on Elliott and on the last lap Elliott once again dropped it in the deep ruts at the bottom of the drop off and he would have to settle for ninth place.

Elliott was now sitting in eleventh place overall with one race left, in the final race Elliott once again resumed his battle with Scott Richardson. Scott was holding on to tenth place with Elliott pushing hard behind him, eventually Elliott was able to make a pass going up the hill towards the back section. We watched from the bottom waiting for him to appear coming round towards the drop off, it was Scott that appeared first he’d got back past Elliott and was now back in tenth place. It was now the final lap and Elliott closed right up on Scott as they came down the drop off for the final time but as they got to the left hander he dropped the bike. Scott was away but then as Scott turned right for the table top he dropped the bike on the face of the jump, right at my feet! Colin and I got him up and I told Scott that Elliott had dropped his bike but was now up and going again. He crossed the table top with a slender lead over Elliott and was able to hold onto it right up to the chequered flag.