This weekend was the team’s first visit to the sand box that is Fat Cat Motoparc for the second round of the MX Nationals championship, and it surely delivered something good.

For Lee Perfect, the team’s Under 15 man, qualifying didn’t quite go to plan. A technical malfunction during qualifying didn’t leave him enough time to put in a good lap and he qualified twelfth. Bryan Mackenzie, still the only Pro class rider, qualified eleventh after both Pro qualifying groups were scored up together.

Lee’s Saturday results were marred by crashes. Two great starts quickly ended in the dirt, and he had to ride hard to undo some of the damage. Two tenths were the result of his efforts. On Sunday, the crashes were but a distant memory as he executed two flawless races. The first race of the day turned out a consistent eighth place after a start in tenth, while the second, with a start in sixth, ended one place up, in fifth, for a ninth overall on the weekend.

Bryan gave mechanic BC an almost-perfect birthday present on Saturday. A flawless first race despite some technical hiccups on the start saw Bryan lead it from start to finish, only to be pipped to the win with but a few feet to go. The second race of the weekend got off the line on Sunday with Bryan in third, followed by a hard battle against rivals and the tough track. With the leader but a bike length ahead, Bryan took second a second time. The adage “third time lucky” proved to be true in the last race; here Bryan executed another flawless race with a lead from start to finish with enough of a gap that prevented any other MX2 bike from touching him. Two seconds and a first were enough to clinch the overall weekend win.

Team owner, Mark Perfect: “It’s been a good weekend, Bryan’s had a good performance in the first race, where he got pipped to the line after he led the whole MX2 chase. The second race was very much the same, when he was right on Neville’s wheel for that win. Two seconds and a first to take an overall, we’re obviously delighted and showing some form now. With the junior class with Lee, we’re seeing improvements, he’s improving every week, and just to see him up there in the top pack of riders is very satisfying, not just for me as his dad but for the whole team.”

Lee Perfect: “The weekend didn’t start off great; I had a bit of a bike malfunction in qualifying which set me back in twelfth for the gate pick. In the first race I couldn’t find the flow, I finished tenth or something in both races on Saturday, and then on Sunday practice felt very good, went out in the first race and didn’t have a great result, but I pulled through for the last race and finished fifth, and ninth overall and hopefully I can improve on it next week.”

Bryan: “The weekend’s been good, it’s quite hard to keep track of the weekend because of the mixed capacity races and scoring, I just focus on where I finish in my class. I had two seconds and a first, I was leading the first race down to the last corner, and almost got the win in the second race too, so I’ve been close to the front of the MX2 pack all weekend, which is what we’re aiming for and all we could ask for really. I’ve won the MX2 overall, but I’ve not really closed down much points on Neville who is leading the championship, and I’m happy to be at the front of the MX2 pack.”