Broken wrist (update II)

Another two weeks out

Well Elliott’s been back into hospital today and their’s good news and bad news, good news is the pin has been removed! The bad news, he’s back in plaster now for another two weeks. He’s gutted as he’ll now miss the first round of the Maxxis MXY85 and there’s still the possibility he could miss out on round four of the British Masters at Hawkstone Park. At least he’s been able to concentrate on his revision for his school exams with no distractions. Apart from the Xbox and a couple of Xbox friends Brad Todd and Lewis Mcmahon!!!!

Broken wrist (update)

Well after nearly two weeks in plaster Elliott’s been back into hospital for a check up. Old plaster off, new x-ray, new plaster on, wait a couple  of  hours to see the Doctor. Then 5 mins later out the door with a come back in three weeks note!

Nice little tent peg, three weeks and you're coming out! I hope!

Ups and Downs at British Masters rnd 2 (Foxhills)

Elliott waits for the doctor to tell him how long he's going to be out of action for!

Round 2 of the British Masters and after Elliott winning the final race of last seasons meeting we were really looking forward to a good weekends racing. Elliott qualified 11th after a rough session where he was put into the fence at the start of timed qualification. His luck certainly changed in Race 1 when he flew out of the gate and rounded the first corner in third place, he pushed hard for the first few laps and then with some very consistent lap times went on to finish in 4th place. Race 2 and his start was ruined when a rider fell right in front of him, he hit the brakes so hard I think he did a handstand going round the first corner. Elliott made up a lot of places on that first lap and just kept on pushing he eventually finished in 8th place. On Sunday morning Elliott walked the track and watched the Pro’s qualify. Elliott’s worst start of the weekend came in Race 3, once again he would have to come from the back. He got up to 8th place before he fell after he landed a jump at the bottom of the track  just at the start of the Hill section. He got thrown over the handle bars and landed face first, with his peak pointing skywards he got back on his bike and tried to make up the handful of places he’d lost but he would have to settle for 12 place. Final race and he needed a good one, he got off the gate well and put in his fastest laps of the weekend, he was battling for 5th place with three other riders. Then as he went through the woops at the start of lap four both Elliott and the bike ended up jumping the paling fence at the side of the track. He had doubled the first two woops but on the third he hit the face of the next jump, the impact dislocated and broke his wrist. The paramedics were great in dealing with his injury,  as were the staff at Swindon hospital who operated on him that evening, re-aligning and pinning his wrist before setting it in plaster. So he’ll miss the next round at Whitby but he’s hoping to be fit in time for round four at Hawkstone Park.

CNWSSC Rnd 1 at Norley

First holeshot, race win and overall for 2012.

Elliott had been to Norley a few times as a spectator but never as a rider! So when we made the decision to go racing rather than just practicing last weekend, Elliott was made up to find that Cheshire Northwest SSC were holding round one of their Championship at Norley. The track was being watered as we got ready for practice and looking really good. Elliott had walked the track whilst I was sorting his race entry and taking his bike through scrutineering, he then used his  two laps of practice to try a few different lines. Before the start of race one he asked if the £10 a holeshot rule still stood? Something I’ve done for several years, luckily his starts aren’t the best so my £10 usually gets to stay safe in my pocket. On this occasion it wasn’t and he went into the first corner in first place, he was then overtaken on the inside of the second corner, he then spent the next few laps trying to make up some time on the rider in front. Half way through the race and he did seem to be closing the gap but not by much and it was only when the rider in front made a mistake that Elliott was able to take the lead. He completed the next couple of laps and took the race win.

The meeting was held up early in the second block of racing due to a rider injury, with time going on the club made the decision  to cut the meeting to just two blocks of racing. Elliott knew he would have to win the final race to take the overall for the day. His start wasn’t as good as his first, arriving at the first corner in fourth place but as he came back into view from the trees he was in second and very close to the leader.  Elliott kept the pressure on for the next few laps and once again the rider in front made a mistake handing Elliott the lead. Elliott rode really well in the final few laps, taking the chequered flag and getting his first overall of the season in the big wheel class.

British masters Rnd 1

Well first meeting of the season out of the way and the weather and track conditions couldn’t have been any more different. The track at Mallory park was in great condition on Saturday for qualifying and the first two races, then on Sunday morning the rain started and it didn’t stop until the racing had finished. Elliott qualified in ninth place and was feeling good for race one, he didn’t get the best of starts coming out of the first corner in 16th but he was soon up to 10th. Over the next few laps he made a couple of mistakes but still made up a another couple of places to eventually finish 6th. Race two and the start was a lot better and he was sitting in fourth place and riding really well, he

Elliott finishes 7th overall

lost the front end going into one of the corners and it cost him as he ended finishing in 5th place. Sunday and the rain drenched track made the racing more of a battle to keep the bike upright and moving, Elliott got a bad start in race three but managed to battle through the mud and up into 6th place before falling in one of the ruts. He managed to get the bike out of the mud and restarted and went on to finish 8th. We jet washed him and the bike and got him ready for race 4. His start was his best of the weekend but he dropped the bike half way round the first lap and went from 3rd down to 8th place which is where he finished the race, he finished 7th overall for the weekend. Elliott wasn’t very happy with how he rode on Sunday but based on this being his first race since he broke his wrist at the British Masters meeting at Milton Malsor in 2011 and what I’d seen on saturday I’m quietly confident he could have a very competitive 2012.

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Off Racing's Elliott doing his thing!