Pendrich Kawasaki Take 2 Championships At The Scottish Nationals
For the final time this season the Pendrich Kawasaki squad geared up for their last competitive outing of the year this past weekend and headed to Woodside, Elgin, for the final round of the Scottish Motocross National Championship.On Saturday and aboard his KX250f, Bryan Mackenzie found his funk early in the day for a late October morning and steered his way around the tight, sandy circuit relatively unchallenged en route to picking up a maximum of race wins but more importantly the title of Scottish Motocross Nationals MX2 Champion for 2013.Mackenzie lined up again on Sunday aboard his entrusted KX250f but this time in the National (MX1) category and with team mate, Ross Rutherford, along side him.After a chilled out Saturday evening in the race truck where the team poked fun at each other, Ross was the recipient of much of the 'stick' for the quality of his starts this season and so came out guns blazing in the first moto of the day leading the pack early with Bryan in tow. After a few laps of the gap 'yo, yo-ing' between the two, Mac took his opportunity as Rutherford made mince meat of a berm and swooped by. Ross tried to stay close to the #121 for the remainder of the race to maybe return the favour and capitalise on a Mackenzie mistake, but with arms pumped up like Popeye it wasn't to be ending the race 2nd behind Mackenzie.Bryan, still shocked to be ousted out of the first turn in race one by Ross, stole his teammates starting gate for race two as the two joked on the starting line with Ross claiming that it wasn't about where he started but about the quality of his technique (which came to him in a dream). Right enough, the #295 backed up his claim and grabbed the top spot again as he led the field away for the second time. Once again Bryan and Ross went at it for the opening part of the race before a problem slowed down the #295 dropping him to 9th. Mackenzie was now in a race of his own but disaster struck at the half way point as he too had a problem and was forced to retire.So out of the running for the overall of the day, the Pendrich pairing were still in a battle for the top 2 championship positions coming into the final race of the year. Mackenzie, this time on a KX450f, finally took a start away from team mate Rutherford and set the early pace. A big fall from the #121 on lap 2 almost took down Rutherford too as he narrowly missed bits of bike and body and squeezed passed the flailing Mackenzie. Bryan remounted and set after his team mate and by half way the duo once again found each other and threw elbows and swapped paint. However Bry's persistence paid off again and he capitalised on another Rutherford mistake to pull by and go on to claim the race victory and the Scottish Motocross National Championship. Team mate, Ross Rutherford, took the final runner up spot of the day and ended the season in second position giving Pendrich Kawasaki a well earned 1-2 in the overall standings.Big wheel 85 pilot, Lee Perfect, was back in action after a month long hiatus. Lee, riding the all new KX85, steered his way to finish inside the top 3 in each of his 5 races over the weekend to land himself in second overall and grab the runner up spot in the Scottish National Big Wheel 85cc championship.After a long season, team owner Mark Perfect reflected on the campaign: "It's been a fantastic season. We've come a long way in such a short space of time and the riders have performed brilliantly at each event. Bryan and Ross have had some real memorable races this season, together and individually, at these events and others, and they showed their class and sportsmanship again today by being able to race hard against each other but remain the best of friends off the track.Lee too has done some great things this season, breaking his collarbone aside, and he's maturing into a great rider. This year was a learning season for him taking him to bigger events and learning the trade, so to speak, and next year I think he will be a solid force at any event.I'd like to thank all of our team for making it such a great year and the sponsors who support our Pendrich Kawasaki team. We share our achievements with all of these guys as without them it would not have been possible. Thank you again, it's been awesome."BryMac: "What a cool weekend. I won two Scottish Championships which feels awesome as I love to support the sport here at home. I had some exciting battles with Ross today, he was really on the gas but I'm most pumped for the team and our sponsors. Everyone has done a mega job all season and I hope between myself, Ross and Lee we've made them proud to be apart of what we're doing."Rossco: "Well I thought it was about time I let Bry win a Scottish Championship as I've been holding on to it for the last 4 years. No, jokes aside, we've both rode really well this season and today I gave it my all and we went at it. I'm happy with my day and my year as I've made massive improvements in my 'game' and hope that next year I make some more improvements to take another step forward. that would be perfect. I'd like to say thanks to the whole Pendrich Kawasaki family that we have, they've been great all season and made it a year to remember. Thank you to all of the sponsors too for giving me this opportunity this season and I look forward to being back out there next year."