IMBA MX2 at Kleinau

Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 27 September 2011 00:00

In recent years,riders representing Team AMCA GB have rather dominated the IMBA MX2 European Championships.

In 2009,Lee Dunham,Phil Mercer and Matt Porter scored a 1-2-3,then in 2010 we went one better with a 1-2-3-4 thanks to Dunham,Mercer,Jack Taylor and Sean Frayne.Not to be outdone,the team of 2011 were again superb on their European travels with IMBA debutant Shane Holmes finishing a great 2^nd with Jack Taylor 3^rd and both Carl Benjamin(7^th) and Scott Mathia(8th) inside the final top ten.The remaining 2011 Team AMCA GB riders,Scott Williams and Tom Neesam also performed in style,earning respective 11^th and 15^th places overall.

 

During the final round at Kleinhau,Germany on Sunday,Holmes was to produce another class performance and get on the podium again behind Italian winner Manuel Zecchinati and eventual Champion Rene Albers of Holland.On the stoney,hard pack track,Taylor took a very strong 5^th on the day with Benjamin 9^th,Williams 14^th,Mathia 16^th and Neesam 18^th.

Moto one at Kleinau and all the Brits were off to a flyer before Benjamin and Taylor were involved in separate opening lap incidents which were to drop them well downfield and with an awful lot of work to now produce!!.The unlucky Williams was also in trouble early on,crashing and picking up a front wheel puncture.Up front though Holmes and Neesam were flying high and holding down top seven positions.As the race settled down,the Brits continued to battle hard but unfortunately not without further incident as Taylor slipped off on a loose cambered turn and an already sore Scott Mathia after a heavy practice crash caused by a slowing Dutch rider,was to again taste the German soil!!.On completion of this frantic,incident packed moto,Swiss star Andy Baumgartner was first past the flag ahead of German wildcard rider Marcel Machler,Manuel Zecchinati and the new IMBA Champion Rene Albers. First Brit home was Holmes in 5^th with Benjamin getting back for 7^th,one place ahead of Taylor.With Neesam in 13^th, both Mathia and Williams still gallantly completed the moto,taking respective 27^th and 35^th places.

Moto two,and a great start for the British lads as Holmes held a strong 2^nd place just ahead of teammates Taylor, Benjamin,Neesam and Mathia with Williams 15^th.Disaster was to strike again for Benjamin though as he fell on lap one and remounted last.Whilst Mathia and Neesam also then slipped down the leaderboard,Holmes and Taylor were still proudly flying the AMCA flag and displaying their class at the front of the pack.On completion,the dynamic duo were to get home in great 2^nd and 3^rd places respectively just behind winner Albers.Gaining better reward for his sterling efforts,Williams was to enjoy a rather more profitable moto two by taking an impressive 10^th with Mathia 12^th.Working very hard,Benjamin hauled himself back from last to 14^th and Neesam took 21^st.

So to the final moto of the IMBA season,and a fantastic start by the Brits as Taylor got away in 2^nd closely followed by Holmes in 4^th and Benjamin 9^th and also right in contention.Lap two though and it was all change as Taylor fell, dropping back to 12^th.In an impressive last race performance though,all of the Brits typically gave their all right to that last chequered flag.Getting home first was Shane ‘Casper’ Holmes in a fantastic 3^rd with Taylor 7^th,Benjamin 8^th, Williams 10^th,Mathia 13^th and Neesam 17^th.Well done to all of Team AMCA GB on their fantastic efforts throughout 2011!!.

Unfortunately team leader Colin Price missed Sunday’s final round after being taken ill on his way to the event. However all of the riders would like to thank him for help and guidance throughout the 2011 campaign and wish him a very speedy recovery.l

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

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Results

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