Tommy Searle went 2-1 to take the win in MX2 at Hawkstone Park and his first British championship win of the year. After finishing runner-up to teammate Rizzi in race one, Searle holeshot race two and pulled away from Chambers, Valk and Rizzi to take the moto win and clinch the overall.
Searle said in post race interview: “I’m really, really happy to win that because the class is fast this year, really fast. Some say I’m sand bagging but I’ve made it harder work for myself! You’ve got Cas Valk , Jack Chambers, they have come in and Joel is riding really, really well. The start is so, so important for us and today I ripped two unbelievable starts and I thought now is my time, I can’t blame it on a a bad start anymore! So I just let it have it and kept pulling away then managed that gap and bring it home. I really, really enjoyed it. So happy for the Dirt Store team because they have put in such a big effort this year.”
Jeffrey Herlings went 1-1 with ease in the 450 class at Hawkstone Park, looking at one with his machine. Herlings gated second in race one before quickly displacing Bobby Bruce and pulling away. Herlings then holeshot race two and despite some quick pace from Mewse at the beginning, keeping Herlings in sight, the Dutch star edged away and then really put the hammer down to take another win.
Herlings told Jeff Perrett. “He (Mewse) was really good, he kept me honest in the beginning (moto two), he was pushing quite hard. It was a good practice day for me. Really enjoyed it, 1-1 and extended my points lead to 9 with two to go so it’s looking good. Let’s get back to the main focus and Sweden next weekend.”
And how was the new part on the KTM and did it help his starts? “Quite positive,” said Herlings when asked by Perrett. “What we were hoping for the start, that didn’t happen, I think we were a slight bit better but we need to make the details good, – it’s’ hard to make it really fast and not get wheel spin. You need to make it a perfect combination so we are still exploring. It’s a completely new set-up. Going up the hill I felt way more power than my previous bike, I think we just need to make it a good detail and finish it off. Bur we are short on time, we have a triple header coming up with three GPs, it’s hard to make good testing days. These are the best testing days when you are racing.
“We are looking good for the championship there as well. We are P3, the end goal would be to finish on the first spot. It will be super, super difficult, but I’m still believing it could still possibly happen.”
