The fifth round of the MX Nationals was a battle through the pain barrier for Geartec Husqvarna’s Elliott Banks-Browne as he looked to make ground on the series lead at a sun baked Canada Heights on Sunday.
Suffering from back and hand injuries received at a mid-week local race 10 days before, Elliott knew it was going to be a tough weekend from the beginning, but he put on a brave face and pulled off a good lap time in qualifying for fourth.
A fast start in Moto 1 put him in second behind his title rival Jake Nicholls, who he chased down until he pulled his back on one of the rollers, and had to nestle in to the second position and guard the points.Disaster was to strike at the start of the second race when Elliott went down on the first turn giving him a mountain to climb on the pacey circuit to get himself back with the front runners and in the points. Showing good speed and track craft he worked his way up to 6th in the Pro MX1 class for 4th overall.
This points haul now secures second position in the MX1 Championships with one round to go, and with Jake Nicholls just 31 points ahead, the title chase, although a long shot, is still on going into the final round of the series at Cusses Gorse in September.
Paul Mason – Team Manager
“Elliott was quite badly beat up from his previous crash so to come away with fourth overall, and to secure second place in the championships is very, very good. To go to Canada Heights black and blue and to come away with what he did just shows his determination to keep going, as at one stage we thought he wouldn’t be riding with the injuries he had. Mathematically we can still win the title so he has kept us in the hunt and we look forward to the final round”
Elliott Banks-Browne
“I didn’t feel too bad on the bike to start with considering my injuries. I felt a bit ropey in practice and qualifying but got the 4th fastest lap time in MX1 which wasn’t too bad. I got a good start in the first one, and was second behind Jake. I went with him for the first half of the race, but I went into the rollers and over jumped one and it pulled me funny and I hurt my back really bad. So after that I was in survival mode but I had such a good lead I was alright for second.
“In the second race I had an awful start and got all sideways and someone cut across me, so at the top of the hill I tried to cut in, but there had been a big crash and I got caught up in that. I still felt a bit second hand after the first race but I starting coming through, but it was so hard to pass with the dust. To be fair they couldn’t have done a better job with the track, that was just the way it was with the berms. I kept plugging away until the end and managed 6th just off 5th. It was a shame as that was the first podium I have missed all year but it is what it is. It’s a shame I couldn’t pull some more points back on Jake but the title is still there, and anything can happen, its motocross”
With a week of rest and recovery it is hoped Elliott will be fit enough to compete this weekend at Hawkstone Park in the fourth round of the Bridgestone British Masters, where he holds a 24 point lead at the top of the MX1 standings.