It’s been a season of real highs and lows as the P1 SuperStock and AquaX UK Championships head to Bournemouth for the fourth and final round of the season. The teams and riders have tackled everything, from choppy seas in Scarborough to steady conditions under the sun last weekend in Cardiff Bay. Now it’s time for the Grand Finale, but what’s at stake?
Things started off in Scarborough where 10ft waves put a halt to SuperStock and AquaX Enduro action on the opening day of the season. Once the waves had died down it was Quantum Racing who handled conditions best, beating Pertemps Network and Rawbank to top spot.
In AquaX Enduro 300 class, world no.1 Eric Francis travelled over from the US to take on UK champion and world no.2 Phil Pope. It was the Brit who came out on top, despite both riders notching up a win apiece. Richard Rowe swept up the honours in the 250 class and Duncan Johnstone snatched victory in the 200 class. Jim Goodchild and Aaron Rowe were dominant in the AquaX Sprint classes.
The P1 roadshow then travelled to Scotland for the very first time where it was the turn of Pertemps to get on top of the podium in varying conditions across the weekend. Rawbank suffered a nasty incident with Quantum Racing which left both out of the running for weekend honours as Experience Kissimmee pipped the later to second spot.
Pope was once again on top in the AquaX Enduro 300 class after picking up three victories from three races, whilst Richard Rowe mirrored that feat with victory in the 250 class once again. Paul Handley came through by a point in the 200 class to beat Scottish racer Johnstone. In the Sprint series it was Simon Gill who claimed victory on his first appearance of the season, whilst Reanna Wilson took victory in the rookie class.
Gosport played host to round three of the UK championship as the teams and riders headed to the south coast for the midpoint of the 2016 season. SuperStock found a first time winner in Experience Kissimmee as the experienced Jackson brothers racked up their first ever weekend victory. Pertemps kept their lead in the championship with second, whilst Rawbank returned to the podium with third.
The 300 class were powerless to stop Pope from taking his third straight round in the AquaX Enduro series and with it his sixth straight race victory, although Joe Harvey gave him a good battle in race three of the weekend. Richard Rowe continued with maximum points and Johnstone was back on top with 60 points from 60 in the 200s. Simon Gill was once again in fine form, although Cameron Green’s third ensured he stayed top of the P1 AquaX Sprint Elite Championship standings. Aaron Rowe came through for a two-point victory in the rookie class.
Cardiff would be crucial to the SuperStock title race with a total of 100 points on offer. It was Quantum Racing who narrowly edged out Pertemps Network after qualifying on top and overcoming a defeat to Pertemps in heat three to land the weekend spoils in a hard fought Super Final in front of tens of thousands around Cardiff Bay. Experience Kissimmee’s 5th handed Quantum second place in the championship standings, although Pertemps now take a 39 point lead into the final round.
It was once again that man Phil Pope who took the maximum points in the AquaX 300 Enduro class, whilst Richard Rowe’s unbeaten run in the 250 class came to an end, losing out to Adrian Wilson in race two and three to hand him his first weekend victory of the season. Duncan Johnstone, leader of the 200 class, suffered a tough time of things in Cardiff as Paul Handley closed the gap at the top of the standings to just three points. There will be all to play for in Bournemouth.
Simon Gill dominated the AquaX Sprint Elite class to take the lead in the overall championship standings from last year’s winner Cameron Green as the Sapphire Racing team held all three spots on the podium with Tom Miller and Harry Robinson second and third respectively. In the rookie class it was Aaron Rowe who held off challenges from Rich Davey and Steven Combstock to pick up the honours. Lucy Gadsby made it two weekend victories from two in the Junior Sprint class.
Titles are on the line in Bournemouth and we can’t wait for an exciting weekend of racing to end a fantastic 2016 season.