Liam Smith moved a big step closer to retaining the ACU Centre motocross title he won for the first time last year when his closest rival hit mechanical problems in the final race at West Kimmeragh on Sunday.

Beau Brown won the opening two races of the Ramsey MCC event on his recently-acquired 250 Yamaha two-stroke from Smith’s 250 KTM, with Junior Enduro World Championship regular Jack Keenan rock-steady in third.

Soon to the fore in the third and final moto, Brown’s hopes were dashed early on lap six when the YZ250 lost all compression and rolled to a halt.

Smith powered to victory by a clear margin from Keenan, who had been at the rear of the field on lap one, with the returning-from-injury Bobby Moyer third in the race and third overall ahead of the ever-improving Tommy Lee and Harry Shand.

So Brown, who tried to make the finish line and push past the chequered flag in a vain attempt to salvage some points, had to settle for ninth on the day - losing his overall lead in the series. He now trails Smith by 22 points with one round remaining at Knock Froy.

There was a family one-two in Group B where Luke Saunders won all three motos, two of them from his father Graeme who had started with a third place behind Aaron Watson in the opener. The latter leads that series by 10 points from Watson.

Motocross
Close action in the deep sand of West Kimmeragh during the second Group B race with Martin Corkish ahead of Aaron Watson and Stan Cubbon (JW) (John Watterson)

Harry Beattie rode impressively to win all three 125 races, but Marley Meechan and Ryan Christian also looked impressive in second and third on a day when series leader Jacob Wilson was clearly detuned from an early crash in practice on the CRF250.

Riley Faragher and Abe Cain had their usual tussle for honours in the 85cc Big-Wheel class that Faragher won two wins to one. Thomas Clague took 85SW and Blayze Turner reduced Leo Harrison’s lead in the 65cc class to a mere two points with victory on the day. Alex McCanney was the lone Auto.

Motocross
Leo Harrison (pictured) leads Blayze Turner by a narrow two points heading into the final round of the Isle of Man 65cc mx contest (JW) (John Watterson)

RESULTS

Adult Group A: 1, Liam Smith 129 points; 2, Jack Keenan 122; 3, Bobby Moyer 113; 4, Tommy Lee 112; 5, Harry Shand 108; 6, Chris Moore 106; 7, Ryan Christian 105; 8, Travis Meechan 100; 9, Beau Brown 90; 10, Ryan Cringle 66; 11, Ethan Blackley 57. Adult Group B: 1, Luke Saunders 135; 2, Graeme Saunders 124; 3, Aaron Watson 120; 4, Niall McCanney 116; 5, Stan Cubbon 111; 6, Martin Corkish 108; 7, Ruairi McGovern 103; 8, Adrian Smith 101; 9, Aaron Kirk 99; 10, Jayden Page 96; 11, Charlie Dickinson 86; 12, James Smith 83; 13, Nathan Kelly 64; 14, Josh Blackley 62; 15, Aaron Hislop 59. 125/250F: 1, Harry Beattie 135; 2, Marley Meechan 126; 3, Callum Christian 120; 4, Jacob Wilson 114; 5, Leo Gray 111; 6, Jake Kelly 108; 7, Olly Runge 104; 8, Logan Muncaster 103; 9, Alfie Philips 99. 85cc Big-Wheel: 1, Riley Faragher 132; 2, Abe Cain 129; 3, Jason Keig 120; 4, George Watterson 113; 5, Stan Dentith 112; 6, Mav Meechan 107; 7, Isaac Artus 71. 85cc SW: 1, Thomas Clague 132; 2, Elijah Corrin 129. 65cc: 1, Blayze Turner 132; 2, Leo Harrison 129; 3, Stanley Cain 117; 4, Antony Millward 112; 5, Seb Inman 101; 6, Lorelei Wilson 98; 7, Archie Blair 73. Auto: Alex McCanney 135.