MATCH REPORT: Penketh lands Brian Makepeace Trophy

To the delight of the host clubs supporters, Leon Penketh won the inaugural Brian Makepeace Trophy at the Junior Southampton Grand Prix on Bank Holiday Monday – forming part of the 60th Anniversary celebration meeting, fittingly honouring the co-founder of the Southampton club, his great-grandfather Brian.

In front of a bumper crowd, a host of the countries top junior riders, two visiting Australian internationals, produced excellent, exciting, fast, and fiercely competitive racing on a grippy Southampton raceway – the all action Penketh, celebrating his first England call-up for the upcoming Home International took the family honour with 19 points, ahead of England Internationals Torsten Jolly of Kesgrave on 17 points and Kenzie Bennett of neighbouring Poole club on 16 points – with Heat 14 being the decisive race of the match where both unbeaten Leon and Kenzie met – in a very tight and combative encounter a final lap exclusion for the Poole rider resulted in the home rider needing just a third-place in his final ride for him to secure the top step on the podium.

Strong performances from the Aussie riders Ryan Knights, producing his best display of his short tour and team-mate Blake Frencken, along with another newly called up England junior Shaun Kell of Ipswich all finishing on 15 points and missing the chance of a podium run-off by a single point.

A fantastic meeting that showcased a wealth of young talented Juniors with a good number on the road to great future in our sport – The Junior Southampton Grand Prix was a huge success all-round and the countdown has begun as the event will be staged again in 2024 on a similar date

Leon Penketh (Southampton) 19, Torsten Jolly (Kesgrave) 17, Kenzie Bennett (Poole) 16, Ryan Knights (Findon, Australia) 15, Blake Frencken (Findon, Australia) 15, Shaun Kell (Ipswich) 15, Mason Martin (Hethersett) 13, Owen Geach (Exeter) 13, Feroze Langos (Poole) 12, Olly Saunders (Poole) 12, George Whale (Southampton) 11, Sonny Whale (Southampton) 9, Harvey Yard (Exeter) 8, Josh Nottle (Poole) 8, Jamir Randall (Poole) 7