Reports Hereford MXC John Lambert Memorial motocross
Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 26 April 2011 00:00
The Hereford MXC staged a very special meeting on Good Friday as riders and old friends gathered to compete in memory of John Lambert.Read on for Peter Reed's report from what proved to be an emotional event for all concerned!!.
Set in the stunning Herefordshire hillside at Walterstone,a record crowd gathered in glorious Spring sunshine on Good Friday to witness a bumper entry including old friends compete in memory of Hereford MXC club president John "Lambo" Lambert.A reduced race card saw two groups of "Old Friends" races where over 60 riders and former club members had a one off outing in this special day.Before the first gate dropped the crowd were treated to a moving parade lap led by Lambo's old bike piloted by son-in-law Terry Lloyd and followed by John’s son Paul and grandchildren, Ellis, Ethan & Kia.
In the eagerly anticipated Old Friends Group 1, the top four favourites didn't disappoint with former double AMCA Champion Andy Watkins on a 1993 500 Honda, Former top AMCA Experts Simon Baldwin and Paul Rogers and Lambo's son-in-law Terry Lloyd, a former top five championship and IMBA rider all entertaining the crowd in a day long dust up.It was Baldwin who took the moto one victory with Rogers 2nd and Peter Bolton 3rd, with Lloyd and Watkins left with plenty of work to do after only finishing 6th & 11th respectively following earlier problems.However both bounced back in moto two,with Lloyd taking a stunning win and Watkins following him home whilst Baldwin & Rogers kept up the pressure on the overall with 3rd & 4th respectively. In the final moto,Veteran Watkins showed his class as he gated first and led from gate to flag for a faultless final moto win. In the battle for the overall,it was to be Rogers though who took the honours as he followed Watkins home. Following a spill in that last moto.Baldwin had to settle for the overall runners up spot as Lloyd rounded off a great ride and an emotional tribute to Lambo by taking the final step on the podium.
In the Old Friends group 2 former Clee Hill favourite Terry Jukes took the overall win,recording a faultless three out of three race wins aboard his two-stroke KTM,a great performance by the super smooth,ex top Border group Expert.Former top Hereford Rider Anthony Munn secured 2nd overall and top AMCA Veteran rider Andy Prosser, who is in his 31st successive season as an AMCA license holder swapped his modern machinery for a 1983 500cc Kawasaki which he brought home in 3rd.John Crockett finished the day 4th and Lambo's son Paul rode hard all day in tribute to his Dad and was narrowly piped for 5th by Kevin Wallace.
In other classes it was youth versus experience,and in a super fast Unlimited Experts race,top MX1 rider Simon Lane and top MX2 rider Kieran Mulloy battled out all day in a thrilling tussle. In a super moto two,17 year old Mulloy after posting 5th in the opening race despite an heavy spill then displayed great character to bounce back in style.Gating in 2nd spot,Kieran followed and even passed the 2005 AMCA Open Champion Lane,to lead on his home track. However the experience of Lane shone through as he went on to win both remaining moto's despite a great fight from the young MX2 rider. A superb ride from Clinton Thomas was rewarded with 3rd overall on the MX2 machine with MX1 riders Duncan Powell and Matt McLean rounding off the top 5.
In the Seniors Unlimited MX1 Rider Matthew Evans recovered from a moto two spill to win both remaining moto's and tie with Jason Randall on points, but Evans took the overall as he beat Randall to the final chequered flag of the day. Micheal Crowdace filled the last spot on the podium with Steve Walker and Cory Szpadt rounding off the top five.
In the MX1 Juniors Andrew Frazer-Holland won the overall with Hereford riders Hedley Smith, Johnathan Evans and Daniel Clarke battling all day to finish 2nd, 3rd & 4th respectively. Wayne Vance piped Sean McKenzie to 5th.MX2 Juniors saw home club rider Harley Jones produced a faultless hat-trick of race wins as the 16 year old secured the top Hereford Club Rider of the day. Cameron Evans finished 2nd with Matthew Caine filling the final step of the podium. Adam Fowler and Josh Morris took 4th and 5th respectively.
The Inter Junior class saw a win for local day license rider Callum Crockett as he took all three wins on the day. John Collins was next best whilst Adalaide Watkins filled the final step of the podium. Elliott Woodward and Conor Brookes rounded off the top five.
The Hereford Club would like to thank the land owner Paul Sevenoaks for allowing the use of the circuit for free and Hereford St Johns for their reduced fee. Also many thanks to Stewards Paul Honeywell & Ray Davies, start gate operator Carl Webb, PA Operator Dave Collins & Transponder system operator Gemma Collins along with Group Co-ordinators Colin Price & Johnathan Williams and Llantrisant MCC, Ross Falcons MXC & Gloucester MXC for their generous donations. A special mention to Andrew Linton for his superb track preparation and watering and to Glen Owen and Kevin Milward in their support on the track.
With returns still to be finalized the day looks set to have raised a sizable amount for two charities County Air Ambulance & The Charles Renton Cancer Support Unit chosen by John’s wife Hilda, who joined Hereford's Peter Reed in presenting trophies and special commemorative plaques to the winners on the day.
A huge thank you to all involved, a fitting tribute to a well known and well loved member of the local motocross scene.
Report by Peter Reed and images by Moto-x-Tina
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