With 2026 Two-Day star Sam Lycett injured from a crash last time out, and several other top names also absent, honours in Motocross Championship Round Six had been up for grabs.
But no adult rider avoided the drama on an outwardly beautiful day at the Pleinmont track, with Isaac Le Flem requiring medical attention after a crash in the senior grand final that brought the day to a premature close, following on from top woman Jenny Mahe breaking her collarbone in an earlier B Group incident that delayed the programme heavily.
Waddingham was among the other riders facing less consequential crashes.
But the 23-year-old’s scratches from the grand final barely blemished a very positive day, where he took runner-up to Mark Burbridge in heat one and won the next two.
‘It’s really good. I’ve only come back for this half of the season,’ he said after the second post-summer championship round.
‘I’ve had a bit of a break for the past two years, so it’s good to get in and get on a bike again – battle against people I used to race against and have some really good battles.
‘I wasn’t able to get any wins last week – it was very tight racing – so to come back and get two, I’m quite happy.’
The opening heats proved rather tight, with veteran Burbridge edging a 3sec. victory over Waddingham in the first, a result that was reversed in the second.
Waddingham’s win in heat three came after beating young Cody Wallbridge by 6sec. Burbridge had led for more than half the race before an otherwise minor spill dropped him several positions.
In a dramatic A and B Group grand final, Aaron Lesbirel claimed the win from AJ Gregg after the lap-six stoppage.
Waddingham hopes to continue battling such riders locally in the coming months, but he also has his eyes on off-island events.
‘After having a break, I’m going to try to smash it again and do as much riding as I possibly can.
‘Good day and a good event. The club’s come on strong in the past year or so.’
Young Zach Wallbridge won each of the three B heats, including one that had to be re-run after Mahe’s crash.
On each occasion he was ridden closest by newer face Morgan Davis, who had followed dad Matt into the sport and was racing alongside him earlier this season.
Tait Smit claimed a clean-sweep in the 85s from top small-wheels rider Rudi Wickins, who just about held off Freddie Nelson in the grand final.
After an opening win from Finn Parnwell-Peters in the 65s, Emilia Wallbridge put in a show of girl power to take the next two.
But Parnwell-Peters topped it all off with victory in a grand final where Wallbridge suffered an off. Toby Girard took three runner-up placings.
In the shaft class for the very youngest riders, Thomas Burnett won all three races from newer rival Bruin Hewlett.
MX captain Lloyd Wallbridge feels that work on the track before meets has boosted the quality of racing on show.
‘The track prep is making it more interesting,’ he said.
‘It’s not just hard-packing one line anymore, it’s forming lines in different places where you don’t normally have them, so it’s good to see the racing is getting better – in all the groups as well.
‘It’s not just A and B. We’ve got the 85s and 65s, and the little autos and shafts, they’re having a good battle as well.
‘It’s good to see a few girls coming up as well.’
