22/02/09

The MMX Under 21 and Open Championship first round get's underway at Little Silver in Devon and Kristian Whately riding his Refurb/Hanson Racing Kawasaki is on a blistering pace.

Qualifying on joint top spot with seasoned professional Brad Anderson the first race gets underway where Kristian comes home fourth with stiff competition coming in the form of Carl Nunn, Stephen Sword and Tom Church of which all are present or past Grand Prix riders. Second time out Kristian brings the Kawasaki home in 7th so gets a fifth overall and some good points scored for the start of the 09 season.

Round 1 MMX U21 and Open Championship

Greg gives Kristian some encouraging words

Image supplied by Stuart Cawse

27/02/09

As the 2009 season gets rolling a new sponsor for Hanson rider Kristian Whatley has signed on the dotted line. No Fear shall be providing Kristian's race kit for the season which he is delighted about. He would like to pass on his thanks for all that his previous sponsor Wulf has done for him in over the past year.

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Other news today is that New Zealand racer Nikki Scott who was due to compete in the Womens Nationals which are to run alongside the DEP Championship has had to pospone her plans. She managed to separate her shoulder recently and it is taking a little more time than she thought to recover fully. She will be taking part in the second round and is making every effort to get back to full fitness.

02/03/09

Good news came in the form of confirmation that Rob Herring will be joining Greg Hanson in the Veteran Grand Prix at Mallory Park on the 31st May this year.

Rob (The Fish) Herring who has always been a Motocross fans favourate will also be riding the awesome Service Honda 500cc two stroke which he tested today at Apex practice track near Gloucester.

08/03/09

Round one of the Maxxis British Championship took part at the Canada Heights venue in Kent at the weekend and it was changeable weather that greeted the riders at the sandy circuit in the south east of the UK.

In timed practice Hanson rider Kristian Whatley qualified 14th only five seconds off the pace off super fast American Zach Osbourne who took top spot in qualifying on the day in the MX1 class.

Race one blasts off the gate and thirty minutes plus two laps later Kristian brings the Kawasaki home in ninth place. After a fall in race two he scores eleventh place meaning a eighth place overall.

Although disappointed with the result Kristian knows that the best is yet to come and with the wealth of talent that he beat on the day including Grand Prix racers it is all good experience to take on to the next round at the historic Langrish circuit in Hampshire on the 22nd of March.

15/03/09

News from the weekend just past and Kristian Whatley had a strong ride at KWS yesterday with two third places against very stiff opposition in the form of Brad Anderson and Billy Mackenzie.
Qualifying went well with Kristian posting third behind Jordan Rose and Brad Anderson with Billy Mackenzie posting fourth fastest, with the confidence and experience growing Kristian was positive about the two moto's ahead.

Race one went extremely well at half distance Kristian was holding third seven seconds off Brad with Mackenzie only a short way ahead. Kristian then got a rhythm going and managed to reel Brad in towards the tail end of the race, although ending up third it was an excellent ride and good for all concerned.
In race two again Kristian was strong throughout posting another fine third place with Billy again winning and Kristian finishing seven seconds behind Brad on a very rough Culham circuit. Our rookie has defiantly gained good confidence and strength this weekend and was an excellent workout leading up to round two of the Maxxis British Championship at Petersfield (Langrish) this coming Sunday 22nd March.

Image supplied by Colin at www.cj-mxphoto.co.uk

22/03/09

Kristian Whatley's form and pace is improving every week with what was looking like a possible fifth place in Moto 1 in the MX1 class at the historic Langrish circuit in Hampshire when he picked up a front wheel puncture that eventually dropped him out of the points. Kristian recovered for the second Moto picking up 8th place from a mid pack start and blasting past both factory CCMs of Dougan and Church in the process.

Chris Wrattens day in the MX2 class was looking impressive also with a good qualifying time and in Moto 1 was in a point scoring position when he cross rutted and fell resulting in fifteen stitches in his knee and unfortunately the end to his day.
School boy riders Joe Bamfield and Rik ruddick faired well in the MXY2 class which is the proving ground for the United Kingdoms youth talent. Joe Bamfield was looking good for two point scoring rides but a front wheel puncture meant retirement for him from race one when in the points. After a poor start in race two Joe pulled up to seventeenth and secured his first national point in his first ever national meeting.
Rik Ruddick who was suffering from a nasty weekday training crash pulled out two point scoring rides for 18th overall with Joe 20th overall and both riders knowing they can improve on the first round performance.

Image supplied by Colin at www.cj-mxphoto.co.uk

28/03/09

Team riders Joe Bamfield and Rik Ruddick pictured with New Zealands Nikki Scott who is over in the uk to race the DEP Ladies championship for Hanson Racing.

.03/04/09

Taken from the Kawasaki website:

Things move fast at Team Green, and the latest announcement from Kawasaki further underlines the Japanese manufacturer’s considerable commitment to off-road sport.

Ross Burridge, who has been with Kawasaki Motors UK for nearly three years within the company’s Marketing Department, now takes over from Alex Brawn to become the new face of Kawasaki off-road sport in the UK.

A former national level trials rider, and owner of a KX450F, Burridge has been tasked with looking after Kawasaki’s official British Championship motocross teams, as well as the youth Team Green squad with special emphasis on rider development.

Burridge has taken his mandate as a talent scout seriously, and in his first week is already making a significant positive change within the Kawasaki racing stable.

“I have already noted the spectacular progress made by Kristian Whatley since he became a supported rider only a short time ago”, comments Burridge. “He has been mentored by a former champion and is surely destined for greater things in the world of motocross.”

“Greg Hanson has worked with me to find an expanded team structure and support for Kristian. I am happy to say that we have agreed terms with the official Kawasaki Motors UK MX team, LPE, for Kristian Whatley to ride for them for the remainder of the season”.

For LPE, the signing of Whatley is being seen as further vindication of their decision to increase their commitment to the British Championship, as owner, Steve James, explains.

“Our ambition to work alongside Kawasaki has come to fruition. Now we are in the fortunate position of securing the services of one of the UK’s most promising riding talents. I think this will mark the next step in our evolution as a team”.

Greg Hanson is equally enthusiastic about the new arrangement and paid tribute to the way that the deal had come together.

“Initially we got bikes and support at the last minute when Kawasaki Motors UK stepped in to help us. Now Ross Burridge has made his first priority as new Team Green Co-ordinator, the goal of furthering Kristian’s career. I could not be happier”.

Whatley himself has been at the centre of the action and confirmed his pleasure at the deal, while revealing a further cause for celebration.

“Just to get some support so close to the start of the season was all I expected from Kawasaki to be honest. Now Ross has worked with Steve James to sort this deal out, I am over the moon. Added to that Elliott Banks-Browne’s father, Ian, is set to be my mechanic. He used to spanner for my dad, Jem, so it feels like this deal was meant to be.”

www.kawasaki.co.uk

Greg would like to wish Kristian every success in his career.

10/04/09

Greg attends a 500cc Two Stroke only day at Apex practice track near Gloucester. Stars and bikes from the past and the present in the form of the awesome Service Honda 500AF take to the track on this one off special day. With Greg Hanson, Dave Thorpe, Rob Herring and Scott Elderfield in attendance this was an awesome display of big bore two stroke riding.

To watch video from the event click here VIDEO

12/04/09

Easter bank holiday weekend is usually associated with bad weather and eating far to much chocolate but for once the rain stayed away which meant that the DEP Two Stroke Championship with the DEP Women’s Championship running alongside would run without threat of it turning into a mudder.

In the Women’s Championship Hanson Riders Nikki Scott and Tess Hayward would be competing against some of the best women’s talent in the country. This was to be Nikki's first race since badly injuring her shoulder at home in New Zealand and the first outing for Hanson Racings newest recruit Tess Hayward.

The first race was incident packed with Nikki hitting the dirt but regaining composure to fight back through the field whilst Tess had another rider come across into her path landing for a large downhill double jump and her handlebars connected with the other racers bike sending her off the track through the wooden posts. Although rattled by the incident she managed to bring the bike home in seventh place. After an incident filled first race for Nikki the plucky New Zealander brought the Hanson Honda home in fifth place.

Race two for the ladies and it was to be more bad luck for Tess Hayward as after getting off the gate well the race was red flagged due to the left hand side of the start gate not falling properly, this happened twice. Once the race was finally underway both Nikki and Tess got their heads down and with Nikki finding the flow of the Wiltshire circuit she came past the flag in fifth with Tess bringing it back in tenth.

Race three and it was now turning into the Natalie Kane show with three race victories for the young Irish lady but again Nikki and Tess kept on going showing heart to bring the last race of the day with a third for Nikki and another tenth for Tess.

“At the moment Nikki is really suffering with the fractured scapular that was aggravated a week ago with a practice crash and was nearly in tears after the last moto on Sunday,” said team boss Hanson.

“Considering she has only ridden five times since the injury in January, it was a great performance at the weekend. Nikki posted second in qualifying only a second off Natalie Kane, so, when she gets bike fit, I think we will see a lot more.

“I am really impressed with her the lads could learn a lot from the dedication and determination she has that’s for sure.”

"This was the first outing for Tess as part of the team and I think nerves played a big part of her day but that is to be expected, we will now concentrate on getting her ready for the next round of the Women's Championship that runs alongside the Under 21 and Open Championship in May at Asham Woods".

In the Expert Open class the first race blasted off the line with Greg holeshotting but disaster struck when a rear wheel puncture saw an early close to the first race.

Race two and again Greg got out of the gate very quickly seeing him second around the first bend with Luke Hill a fellow Service Honda rider out in front. The battle was on between Luke, Greg, Mark Eastwood and Dave Willet with some awesome racing between all of them with Greg bringing the 500cc home in a very respectable third.

Race three and Greg suffered more bad luck with bike problems so ended the day with another DNF but that’s racing sometimes and with an awesome showing in race two it certainly keeps the Hanson name in the forefront of people’s minds.

24/05/09

Another bank holiday weekend and this time it's to Frome for the MMX Under 21, Open and Womens Championship at the ex GP venue of Asham Woods.

For old news click here