PHILLIPS ON THE PODIUM

It has probably been long overdue but Kiwi hero John Phillips finally hit the podium in the United Kingdom this week.

The Rotorua rider, a key member of the Kiwi DBG Suzuki Team, finished 5-3 in his two MX2 races at round six of the British Masters Motocross at Hawkstone at the weekend.

“I came 5th in race one, where I held off Bryan McKenzie for several laps until he made the pass. I tried to stick with him but, when he passed the 4th-placed KTM rider, he kind of gapped it and I couldn’t get past the KTM so settled for 5th.

“The track was really rough by the time we had race two, which was great. I got another pretty good start, still spinning off the start line but my Suzuki got me to the first corner in about 5th.

“Again I went too wide on the second corner and lost a few places. I was comfortable with the track and just kept pushing finally catching and passing the KTM rider to sit me in 4th with Neville Bradshaw in front of me when he seemed to have bike trouble and I passed him to ride out the race for an easy 3rd place. That gave me third for the day.

“I am stoked I made the podium and I’m determined to make it a few more times before the season finishes.”

He said fellow Kiwi DBG Suzuki team-mate Kieran Scheele, of Hawke’s Bay, also rode well at the event.

“He had a crash at the start of his first MX1 moto but came 6th in his second one.”

That was good enough for Scheele to finish the day ninth overall.

A third Kiwi member of the team, Masterton’s Bjarne Fredericksen, is sidelined with injury sustained the previous weekend and he is heading back to New Zealand.

“He smashed his hand and has ruptured a tendon that he had operated on during the week, so he’s flying home,” said Phillips.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Brad Anderson won both races in the MX1 class at Hawkstone, while Steven Clarke dominated the MX2 category.

After six rounds, Phillips is ranked third overall in the MX2 class, while fellow Kiwi Kayne Lamont (Suzuki), from Mangakino, a non-starter at the weekend, is down in 27th spot overall.

In the MX1 class Fredericksen is the highest-ranked Kiwi, even without his appearing at the weekend, in 19th overall, while Scheele is in 26th spot for the championship.