Reports IMBA MX2 and AMCA MX1 at Brookthorpe
Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 28 June 2011 00:00
On what was the hottest day of the year so far,riders representing Team GB in the IMBA MX2 European Championship(round 2) at Brookthorpe on Sunday,remained totally cool,calm and very focussed to thus produce a superb performance and fill six of the final top ten overall places.
Leading the way was wildcard rider Ben Saunders with a fantastic runners-up spot,joined on the podium by the top two Dutch lads Ronnie van Rooji and Rene Albers.Whilst Saunders starred,Carl Benjamin despite still recovering from a fractured ankle bagged a very brave and strong 4th with Jack Taylor 5th,Shane Holmes 6th,Scott Mathia 7th, Scott Williams 9th and final team member Tom Neesam 15th.
Supporting the main IMBA action was round four of a dramatic,intruiging AMCA MX1 Championship chase. Taking the overall win once again at Brookthorpe was that man Richard Cannings with Brad Turner 2nd and Lee Dunham 3rd.Although Turner(2) and Cannings bagged the moto wins,Dunham,still recovering from an energy sapping virus produced a very determined performance,full of character, to thus increase his title chasing advantage.
Back to the IMBA European clashes though,and expectations were high for yet more British success as the gate dropped to signal the start of moto one.However in a hotly contested opening turn,both Mathia and Saunders were to bite the dust.Saunders though was quickly back in forward motion and giving chase whilst the unlucky Mathia restarted a distant last!!.Up front,the rapid Dutch pairing of van Rooji and Albers were showing just why they are the riders to beat in IMBA MX2,leading proceedings with Williams a great 3rd ahead of AMCA teamates Holmes and Benjamin as Taylor held 7th.After their earlier falls,Saunders and Mathia were already making progress up the leaderboard and by lap two,Ben had remarkably got all the way back to 9th with Scott in 24th.At the top end of the proceedings,a enthralling British battle was now raging for the right to earn 3rd spot and although Holmes got up to make himself a firm favourite,front-end handling problems with his Yamaha machine was to eventually push him back down to 6th.At the flag,with the dynamic Dutch duo in complete control,Benjamin had worked very hard to see off his teamates and earn that 50 point finish for being the third man home with Taylor 4th,Saunders 5th, Williams 8th,Tom Neesam 12th and Mathia 13th.
What a battle IMBA moto two was to produce as Albers grabbed the holeshot with Saunders,Benjamin and van Rooji in hot pursuit whilst Mathia(5th),Holmes(6th),Williams(7th) and Taylor(10th) were also charging hard.Five laps in and much to the delight of the cheering crowd,Saunders swooped past Albers.However the Dutch youngster is a class act and he came firing back to again challenge the Brit with van Rooji also joining in on the battle in the closing stages.However in a very tight finish,Saunders was to just hold onto the win whilst Benjamin was again flying high in 4th ahead of Holmes,Mathia and Taylor.Making it a very successful moto for the Brits,Williams got home in 9th with Neesam 17th.
So to the final moto and what a start by Scotty Mathia as he gloriously claimed the holeshot aboard his Wulfsport Honda to thus lead the IMBA pack.By lap two though,Scott had been passed by both van Rooji and Saunders,but could the latter now go onto repeat his race two success?.Well,despite his very best efforts,Ben found van Rooji a very quick and intelligent opponent,,and the Dutchman refused to be moved,eventually taking the win by just over two seconds.Having his best race of the day,Taylor took a great 3rd closely followed by a trio of super Brits,Holmes,early leader Mathia and Benjamin.Again battling hard,Stormer Suzuki mounted Williams got home 11th with Neesam 17th.Well done you AMCA lads on another quality,proud IMBA performance!!.
What about AMCA MX1 then,well despite recent illness,Lee Dunham found the energy to be first man away in moto one closely followed by Brad O’Leary,Richard Cannings,Shaun Pearce,Clinton Barrs,Aaron Crowder and Brad Turner.Quickly Turner got past Crowder only to suffer a very painful moment!!.After clipping Barrs back wheel,the KTM rider fell dislocating his shoulder.Incredibly,Brad then pushed the collarbone back into place himself before continuing the race,ouch that hurt!!.Upfront,Cannings had menacingly moved past O’Leary before then snatching the lead from Dunham on lap six.On conclusion of proceedings,Barrs was to take a vital 3rd spot ahead of O’Leary and Lee Payne who had a great ride,climbing the leaderboard after gating in 14th.Showing an instant improvement in form since switching back to Honda machinery,Pearce just edged Crowder for 6th whilst Turner somehow got home in 8th.
Following his moto one problems,Turner showed just what a determined character he his by leading the second MX1 AMCA clash from gate to flag with the top four places remaining constant throughout as Barrs took 2nd with Dunham 3rd and Cannings 4th.Moving up the leaderboard again was Payne,blasting past Crowder and Glen Phillips to earn 5th whilst Pearce,Simon Lane and Michael Reynolds had a great tussle for 8th.Earlier in this moto,James Lane and Rich Meakin had retired after slipping off whilst O’Leary had a strangely subdued race,eventually finishing well down in 21st.
After ‘having a very stern word with himself’,O’Leary displayed all of his trademark fire and determination at the start of the final MX1 clash,grabbing the holeshot to thus lead Payne,Turner,Chris Neesam,Crowder and Cannings with Dunham down in 8th.Whilst it was ecstasy for O’Leary,the start of moto three was to prove total agony for title chasing Barrs as the Kawasaki rider lifted,fell, and was then struck by several following riders!!. Incredibly the tough Barrs was soon on his feet and chasing the fast disappearing pack.Three laps into the contest and that man Turner was out in front again with Cannings and a determined Dunham also getting the better of O’Leary.From here onwards,Turner controlled to the finish,a result which as seen him move up into 2nd in the Championship standings.With Cannings,Dunham,O’Leary,Payne and Crowder filling the remaining top six places in this moto,Matthew Williamson was to have his best ride of the day and earn a strong 7th.After his earlier painful start straight fall,Barrs gallantly got home in 24th to thus earn himself 17 more Championship points.
Well done to the organising Ross Falcons MXC for getting the track watering just about spot on,and to all riders for their efforts in entertaining the crowd with some great motocross action in such exhausting conditions.
Mike Wood (www.moto-action.co.uk)
Results
