Buildbase Honda riders Adam Chatfield and Matt Bayliss dug deep to grind out two points-scoring rides during a tough night for the team at round six of the 2017 Arenacross Tour, staged at Sheffield Arena on Saturday.
The team was reduced to two men after Pro Lites rider Chris Bayliss was struck down with food poisoning and, after solid if unspectacular qualifying sessions, both transferred directly to the Pro AX Main Event with Adam running 2-3 in his heats as Matt went 4-4.
When the gate dropped on the 14-lap final neither rider started well but Adam put all his indoor experience to good use and quickly threaded his CRF450R through into third. However, his hopes of a podium finish never materialised and he faded back to sixth at the flag.
“I’m disappointed,” he said. “After a bad start I made a few clever passes on the opening lap to get myself near the front but that was as good as it got for me tonight.
“It’s Wembley next and I won there last year so I’m going to London looking to sign off on top. If I can do that then third or even second in the championship isn’t out of reach.”
Matt had an even tougher time in the Main Event and, after coming so close to a podium last time out in Belfast, he had to settle for ninth on a track he never quite gelled with.
“The track was very soft and it never really clicked for me today,” he said. “I did all right with two fourths in my qualifying heats which put me straight through to the Main Event. I thought I was riding okay but I guess I wasn’t because I ended up ninth which isn’t very good.
“It’s frustrating considering the way I rode at the last round – it feels like a bit of a step back – so I’ve just got to move on and focus on the last round. If the dirt at Wembley’s the same as it was last year then I should be a lot happier.”
Team boss Dave Thorpe was very matter-of-fact at the end of the night’s action.
“Sheffield’s been very average for us,” he said. “It’s disappointing but that’s what happens sometimes, that’s racing.
“Chris rode really well in morning practice although he felt a bit unwell and between qualifying and the evening show he came down with food poisoning. He’s bed-ridden – he couldn’t even come and watch.
“Adam didn’t get a good jump out of the start in the Main Event but did very well to get through to third on the first lap. He got picked off by a couple of riders and then dropped back – he had nothing left to give.
“Matt didn’t have the best of starts in the Main Event but in truth he never really got going.”
Buildbase Honda now heads to London’s SSE Arena at Wembley for the final round on February 18.