It's been another good week for Maxxis-sponsored Team Green with the team split on duty. Dylan Woodcock jumped on a plane and jetted off to northern California to race the famous Mammoth Mountain MX, while Joel Rizzi and Lewis Hall continued to go after the British Masters championship back in the UK at Pontrilas. Fourth team member Jed Etchells, who like Dylan is focusing on the MX Nationals as his second series to the Thor British Nationals took a weekend off back at home on the Isle of Man.
It’s been a really good week for Dylan, not only racing on what has to be one of the most beautiful motocross tracks in the world but also against some of America’s finest young talent and he didn’t let himself down. After getting to grips with his supermini KX (109cc – something we don’t get to race in the UK) he posted some great results and learned a lot, making some new mates along the way. He was rewarded with sixth overall in the Supermini Class, with his highest race result being a fourth. He didn’t fair so well in the Supermini 1 class after a first turn crash with several other riders and then an off track excursion in another race to avoid a fallen rider kept him out of the top 10 overall. Then in the Supermini Allstars race on Friday a puncture put pay to any good overall finish and start gate pick for the second moto, try as he might with a solid ride from virtually last to 12th it was always going to be a tall ask to break into the top 10.
There were podiums for the team back in the UK as Joel and Lewis finished second and third respectively with yet more solid racing. Joel took another race win as he grows in confidence, while Lewis was nursing another broken thumb….yes, the other one! Well at least he can’t break anymore, as he’s only got two! He’s now in a plaster resting up and hoping to be back for the fourth round of the Thor British Youth Nationals at Desertmartin next month. He has a slender two point lead now in the British Masters over Eddie Jay Wade with Joel back in third only 14 points behind.
Jeff Perrett – Team Manager
“It’s been a good few days since the last Thor British Nationals. Being out in California with Dylan is obviously a good experience for him and he’s learned a lot with still so much training and riding to do while while here. Having said that, it’s a real shame that Lewis broke his other thumb. He’s still leading that championship but it’s likely he’ll now have to miss the next round on 4/5th July, so that will be effectively the championship lost for him, which is a real shame because he’s been riding so well but he’s strong kid both physically and mentally and he’ll be back….he’s relentless like the Terminator. Joel is a strong position in third, so lets hope he can find more race wins and try and win his first title on the team in his first year, that would be awesome.
Dylan Woodcock – #60 Big Wheeled KX85/Supermini
“Mammoth was awesome! It was such a cool week up there in the mountains. I didn’t really notice the altitude when I was riding, I was just focused on trying to go flat out! The riders over here are so aggressive and fast on the first few laps and that’s helped my speed. My starts were much better too. I’ve got another two weeks here with Jeff so we’re going to ride and train as much as we can so I come back stronger to try and get that lead back in the Thor British Youth Nationals. We’re also going to be calling in to see the guys at Kawasaki USA, Thor and Monster. They’ve all been so helpful while I’ve been here, so I’d like thank them, my dad and the rest of my family and all of my other sponsors. So far it’s been such a good experience for me and now I’m even more motivated than ever before.”
Joel Rizzi – #912 Small Wheeled KX85
“I was really happy to get another race win and have some good races with Eddie and Lewis. I’m getting more confident and things are starting to get a bit better and I’m starting to get rid of those little costly mistakes. Hopefully I can get some more wins at the next round and put some pressure on Eddie. I don’t think Lewis is going to be able to race the next round so I’ve got a good opportunity to maybe come out of the next round with the points lead. It’s a shame Lewis has broken his thumb because we were both going for this championship and now he’s out.”
Lewis Hall – #9 Small Wheeled KX85
“I’m not having a lot of luck lately but that’s racing. There’s nothing I can do now other than let it heal and be back for the next Thor British Youth Nationals. I’m pretty gutted because it’s going to be virtually impossible to win the British Masters now and because of that disqualification in the British Youth Nationals it’s almost impossible to win that too, so I’m just going to come back and try and win as many races as possible now because I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m really looking forward to Desertmartin, it’s my type of track, rough and sandy.”
