Nunn proves point with first British title.

After finishing runner-up on no less than five previous occasions, Carl Nunn has finally broken his British Championship jinx after clinching the 2005 MX2 crown, one round early, last weekend in Whitby.

The 25-year-old finally confirmed the crown after leading the series since round two and maintaining a 100% podium record. Molson Kawasaki's Gareth Swanepoel scored his first ever British Championship success with victory in the first MX2 moto and Bike it Yamaha Dixon Racing's Billy Mackenzie clinched the second race; the duo ending Nunn's 50% win ratio.

Nunn had won the previous five rounds but was knocked from the top of the overall classification on Sunday as Mackenzie notched his maiden winner's trophy of the season with a 2nd and 1st. Nunn's nearest competitor prior to Whitby, Tom Church, had seen his campaign prematurely curtailed due to knee surgery and Mackenzie was a hefty distance behind in the points table.

Nunn thus needed to finish inside the top sixteen in the second moto and embarked on a steady ride to third place, after originally taking the holeshot into the first turn. The new champion endured a more frantic outing earlier in the day when some close racing with O'Neal Yamaha pilot Brad Anderson sent heart-rates soaring in the KTM camp.

"With about ten minutes to go I thought the title was in the bag," the new number one commented. "I did not even realise the race was over right up until the chequered flag and it caught me by surprise, hence the reason I was not celebrating that much!

"It was a funny day. I don't think I rode as well as I could have done, but I did what was needed and it was important to keep that 100% podium record. We still have two more motos to go and I want to keep this going right until the end.

"I think this proves a point to the 'nay-sayers' and people who have been critical of me in the past. I have been in the top three every moto and to win the title like that is very rewarding.

"I am really happy with how I kept my form up through the series. I want to give a big thank you to my team, my mechanics and my sponsors, they all made this happen and I really appreciate it," concluded Carl.

Nunn will now travel with factory KTM team-mates Tyla Rattray and Marc de Reuver to Desertmartin for the final round of the FIM World Championship this weekend.

Meanwhile, the final meeting of the 2005 British Motocross season will take place on October 9th at Matchams Park, site of this year's British Grand Prix.