IMBA MX1 at Meijel

Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 20 September 2011 00:00

In a very thrilling conclusion to the 2011 IMBA MX1 European Championship,the destination of the title was to go right down to the wire and a nail-biting final moto.

At Meijel,Holland on Sunday ,Belgian Jelle Grade dramatically snatched the crown away from reigning Champion,German,Frank Jansen-Teitz with Grade’s winning margin being just a very narrow six points!!.Taking a superb third spot in the final reckonings was Brit Lee Dunham with teammate Clinton Barrs bagging enough points to earn a very fine fourth.The going was always going to be tough at Meijel,but despite their lack of opportunity to compete on sand tracks,the Brits gave their all and much more.Indeed Dunham’s eventual 11^th overall on the day certainly did not reflect just how well he competed,whilst Shaun Pearce was also very impressive in 12^th as Barrs finished 15^th and Richard Meakin 17^th.

Going into the final round at Meijel,Teitz’s advantage at the top was 25 points,however that lead looked immediately vulnerable as main contender Jelle Grade’s Belgian squad arrived in Holland with Sven Breugelmans,the 2005 and 2008 World MX3 Champion included in their line-up.Breugelmans role was to shield Grade and thus hopefully help him to overhaul Teitz in the battle for the crown,but would that plan work??.Well in moto one,as Grade got off to a flyer ahead of Vince Riechers,Erwin Robins,Breugelmans,Sven Wouters and Jarno Verhorevoort, Teitz was already in trouble and down in 11^th.Of the Brits,Shaun Pearce was leading the way at the end of lap one in a great 7^th with Clinton Barrs 10^th and Lee Dunham 13^th after initially gating 3^rd before being forced to take evasive action in a first turn incident.At the front,Grade controlled proceedings until lap seven before Dutchman Erwin Robins hit the front,and much to the delight of his home supporters,there he stayed.Cruicially though Grade got past the flag in 2^nd spot with his quality minder Breugelmans close behind in 3^rd,Riechers 4^th,Verhorevoort 5^th and Teitz getting back to earn 6^th.In this hard fought moto one,the AMCA lads took 13^th,14th,15^th,16^th places with Dunham leading home Pearce,Barrs and Meakin.Dunham had earlier been involved in a great tussle with Czech rider Thomas Lhotsky whilst Barrs suffered a puncture.

Moto two and Dunham pulled a great holeshot and lead the pack before the super quick Belgian and Dutch riders stamped their authority on proceedings.Indeed the Belgian title quest was now going exactly to plan as Grade hit the front on lap three with Breuglemans occupying 2^nd spot as Teitz after gating in 6^th dropped back to 8^th.On completion of the moto,it was to be a massive victory to Grade with Breuglemans expertly fending off a trio of very determined,hard charging Dutch lads in Riechers,Robins and Verhorevoort as Teitz eventually recovered back to 6th.Of the Brits,Dunham was first home in 11^th with Barrs 14^th,Pearce 15^th and Meakin 20^th.Cruicially this moto two result meant that Grade had also leapfrogged Teitz to now lead the IMBA MX1 title chase by three points!!.

So a last race decider for the 2011 crown between Grade and Teitz with former World MX3 Champ Breugelmans adding extra spice to the battle along with the quality Dutch aces on their home soil.Well despite the focus being firmly on the top lads,it was to be Brit Lee Dunham who superbly led the long drag race into turn one.By the completion of a frantic opening lap,Dunham was 9^th as Grade set the pace with Breugelmans in 2^nd ahead of Reichers,Robins and Teitz,the Belgian title plan was on course to succeed.However just one lap later there was to be drama as Breugelmans crashed,dropped to 10^th and then retired as Reichers overhauled Grade at the front.Now vulnerable and under pressure,Grade was also passed by Robins as Teitz moved menacingly up to 4^th.The battle for the title was now definitely on but Grade was not to be denied as he remained very cool to thus see off Teitz,the latter then stalling in the closing stages.At the flag,Grade took 3^rd to thus claim his first IMBA title,finishing just six points clear of Teitz,what a conclusion to the MX1 series!!.Once again Dunham was top Brit in this final IMBA MX1 moto,getting home in 10^th with Pearce 11^th,Meakin 14^th and Barrs 20^th after suffering a couple of falls.Well done again to the Team AMCA GB riders on their fantastic efforts through 2011.

Mike Wood (www.moto-action.co.uk)

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