Canada Heights cancellation brings British Sidecarcross Championship to a premature end
By Tracy Thacker on 30th Sep 19
This weekend the final round of the ACU Pro Clean British Sidecarcross Championship at Canada Heights was cancelled due to heavy rain.
The club had worked hard to ensure the even went ahead despite forecast rain, but the situation got worse with heavy downpours before practice which added to the water laying on the track from overnight rain, and rider safety needed to be a priority. It just wasnt meant to be.
As you can imagine this was terrible news to those with a championship dreams still alive. The points as they stood were taken as the championship results and the champions declared.
- Stuart Brown / Josh Chamberlain - 289
- Jake Brown / Joe Millard - 253
- George Kinge / Lewis Gray - 214
- Michael Hodges / Scott Grahame - 192
- Dan Foden / Roy Bijenhof - 190
- Tony Grahame / Charlie Ide - 158
Stuart Brown and Josh Chamberlain back together after two seasons apart were declared British Sidecarcross Champions.
This is something they have both been working so hard to make happen. Amazingly this is Stuarts 16th championship title and the seventh for Josh. And what a 2019 season for the pair, in fact, they won all but one of the races this season and I expect they would rather forget that race. With spokes breaking up to drop them out of the lead, then a five-place penalty for refuelling outside of the designated area surely one to forget.
But that one race was quickly put behind them and they continued the season to increase their lead and finish 46 points ahead of second place. In addition to this, they are fourth in the world standings too.
It must be the first time that father and son take the top championship positions. Jake Brown joined with Joe Millard as an early-season change after his 2018 passenger Zac Snell broke his leg during winter training. The pair quickly found their rhythm and stayed together for the rest of the season, proving to be a great match.
Interestingly, all the top six teams including both Brown Teams had a new passenger for 2019. George Kinge and Lewis Gray together took a brilliant third place after a consistent first season. Even leading races at the previous round, they certainly didnt make it easy for their rivals.
Scott Grahame, the regular passenger with Michael Hodges, has been out with a broken leg since a crash at the Latvian GP but the team have fought on with the help of temporary replacements and managed an amazing fourth place.
Chasing a top-three position all season were Dan Foden and his Dutch passenger Roy Bijenhof and right-handed bike, they were just two points behind Hodges in fifth.
Unfortunately, Brett Wilkinson (the defending champion) and passenger Ryan Humphrey only participated at two rounds and the team are still out with injuries picked up at the GP in France a few weeks ago. This was following a bag crash at the start of the season where Brett needed a back operation. Its been a tough season for the pair.
So now just the awards night and the parties before the hard work starts again ready for next season.
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