Press Office

National Series Round 5 - 15th August 2005  

The Royston Rockets BMX Racing Club were competing in the Midlands round of the2005 National Series at the Chesterfield BMX Club last Sunday and once again the entry was high with almost 380 riders taking part, which ensured very competitive racing on the fast downhill track. Although the very heavy rains came just before Saturday’s practice session causing the whole afternoon to be abandoned the early morning dawned dry and the an enormous amount of work by the clubs members got the track into good condition so it did not affect the racing and the finals on late Sunday afternoon were held in bright sunshine.

 In their first National event, Bradan Blanche in the 6 and Unders for the big track very daunting but still managed a few laps to take 2^nd in the class B final whilst brother Aston took 6^th in the Novice 10-13 class. The 7-year class saw Ethan Lewis unphased by the long track and high obstacles track and recorded a hard earned 7th in the “A” final. In the 9-year class both Royston members made the semi finals with James Handleigh qualifying for the “B” final which he won with team-mate Zach Stevens finishing in fifth in the “A” final. In the male 19+ class, Ashley Seaton qualified for the class “B” Final where he finished in 5^th and Ben Godfrey made it to the “A” final where he took 7th, whilst Royston’s representatives in the 40+ Cruiser class, Leroy Seaton, rode well to take 3rd in the “B” final. Three riders were taking part in two classes with Jonathan Roberts taking 4^th in the A Final of the Junior Class (17-18 yrs) although he was unable to qualify from the knock our round of the 16+ Pro-Am class whilst brothers Chris and Laurence Mapp were both in the money with Chris taking 4^th in the Elite Class “A” final although he went out in the 16+ Pro Am semi finals and Laurence taking 6^th in the Pro Am A Final and 2^nd in the Elite B Final. Royston only Female rider was Katie Roberts who took an excellent 3^rd in the Female 13-15 class to keep up her challenge for the national series title.

 The next major meeting the Royston Club members will be involved in will be Round 6 of the National Series at Bournemouth over the August Bank holiday and before then they will found practising at the Rockets club evenings, which started in mid May and are now in full swing over the summer.

 Further details of forthcoming club and regional events are published on the club web site at www.roystonrockets.co.uk, or ring 01763 260959 for more information on BMX racing.