Launched at the beginning of 2009, the Kawasaki Masters Championship has fast become one of the most hard fought and popular events within the AMCA motocross calendar.

Designed to recognise and encourage young talent and created to be a proving ground for riders at the early stages of their competition career, the series had only two main rules, all bikes had to be Kawasaki KX250F machines with riders of an agreed standard to keep the racing close and fun.

The final round of the 2009 AMCA Kawasaki Masters Championship recently took place at the north east venue of Whitby.

On what has been claimed to be one of the best tracks in the country, and with the week of rain leading up to the event, the pre-dampened track gave perfect tacky conditions for a sunny weekend of racing.

With it being the last round of a hard fought and highly competitive season, one lucky rider was going to win probably the best prize of any current UK motocross championship, a brand new 2010 Kawasaki KX250F – a prize which made the series one of the most highly subscribed in British Motocross.

The pack of snarling four stroke Kawasaki’s had competed all season with this amazing prize in mind, and the 2010 bike was within touching distance for Paul Smith coming into the last round. The Sheffield based rider had a big lead in the series, but even at this late stage he could still be beaten by Paul Neale or James Shaw. You can bet there were some pre-race nerves in the Smith awning over the weekend for sure.

Saturday’s racing, attended by Steve James and Kawasaki UK's official MX team, LPE,  witnessed some huge efforts being exerted....that was not just his opinion, ex Team Green rider, Ryan Voase was also on hand to offer help and advice.

Paul Neale put in a stellar effort taking two victories but Paul Smith, with one canny eye on the championship, rode smart and stayed safe to bring his bike home second. Meanwhile disaster struck James Shaw who had a shot at the title when he DNF'd the first race ending his hopes for the title. Zac Stealey rode well and consistently - as he has done all season - to bring home two creditable 3rd places.

Sunday and it was still all to play for. With Smith just needing 3 points to take the title, the gate dropped and it was Neale in the lead riding flawlessly. Smith, meanwhile, was second, while Dean Simes, Bradley Lofthouse, James Shaw and Zac Stealey all had a great battle for 3rd place.

Suddenly Lofthouse went out and Stealey put a move on Shaw on the last lap to take 3rd. Shaw was 4th and a good ride from Simes in 5th rounded out the top of the field. It was all about the front guys though, and a gallant effort from Neale saw him take the win. Smith, who rode smart again, stayed out of trouble and brought his KX250F home in second to win the 2009 AMCA Kawasaki Masters Championship 2009 and with it the first prize of that much coveted 2010 KX250F.

After the race Smith commented: "It’s fantastic. I have been thinking all week about this. I had to get through without making any mistakes and I did. It’s awesome, I can relax now and have fun it the last race."

With the championship settled, it was the deserving champion Paul Smith that went out in the last race with the red number one plate on his bike and took the final victory in front of Neale then Stealey 3rd and Dean Simes with the best result of his weekend in 4th.

The overall for the weekend was Paul Neale 1st, Paul Smith 2nd and Zac Stealey 3rd

 Paul Neale: “It’s been a great series. I really enjoyed it and its just a shame I had a few bad races at the beginning or the title would have been a lot closer"

Zac Stealey: "I really enjoyed the series too. Its good racing for some amazing prizes"

Team Green Coordinator for Kawasaki Motors UK, Ross Burridge, shared the riders enthusiasm for the series which has been vaunted as the first of its kind in the UK.