It was a true day of mixed emotions for Jesse James at Brookthorpe for the latest round of Cotswold Youth & AMX Club Championship. Heading into race day, Jesse was determined and keen to gain more valuable Championship points as the Championship standings start to heat up. With the race bike in for work following last weekend’s NORA92 British Cup at FatCat Moto Parc, it was down to the practice bike to get through the days racing.

Read below how the day went for Jesse:

Jesse headed to Brookthorpe for Round 10 of the Cotswolds Championship which were running with Seven Valley Motocross Club. Although they were running together they were pointing Cotswolds and Seven Valley separate towards the Club Championships.

Jesse was racing in the hopes of getting enough points to make it into the team event later in the year.

Unfortunately we didn’t have his race bike with us for this event as it was with his mechanic having it’s brakes and several other jobs done on it after it took a battering at the last round of the NORA92 British Cup, so it was a case of using the practice bike for the event.

He went out for free practice and we could see he was having major problems from the word go. Struggling mechanically the bike had no power which led to him getting a truly awful gate pick for the first race. His dad and a couple of friends worked hard on the bike after practice to try and get it ready for race 1.

Race 1 – From the start of the race Jesse knew he still had issues with the bike and it was heart-breaking to watch him race and listen to the bike coughing and spluttering around the track. His frustration must have been unbearable but he stuck it out because he knew he needed to get some points. He showed real courage and commitment and limped the bike home in 6th.

He bought the bike back and they went back to work on it changing and checking every possible thing they could before Race 2.

Race 2 – The heavens opened and the track became and absolute sloppy mess (unrideable) and as Jesse waited on the start line the big bikes that were racing could barely get round there were bikes stuck on the sides of jumps smoking, bikes being towed off the track it really was awful. We honestly thought they would call it but they did not. Jesse’s race left the gates half of them only did a lap some lap times hitting the 11 minute mark. The bike was still playing up and as he rode past you could see it was truly sole destroying for him not only fighting with a track that was causing chaos but also his bike. He eventually finished the race in 7th.

It was a really hard and disappointing day for Jesse. Most kids would have just thrown the towel in and given up but not Jesse he is a true fighter and even when the chips are down he gives it his all. He’s off next weekend to Clearwell for the next round of Cotswolds Championship and is very much hoping for a great day of racing and some much needed Championship points.

As always thank you NORA CRS, Coach Robb and everyone that has his back. WE ARE NORA !!