IMBA MX1 R3 at Oss

Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 26 June 2012 00:00

Take a typically tough Dutch track  then also throw into the mix persistent sometimes heavy rain,well that’s the challenge that faced Team AMCA Great Britain as they tackled round three of the IMBA MX1 European Championship at Oss in Holland on Sunday.

Yes the Brits did not gain the results they were probably looking for, but every IMBA point bagged was certainly very hard earned.Top of the AMCA lads was Lee Dunham in 12^th with Michael Reynolds 16^th and Clinton Barrs 17^th.Oss though proved a nightmare for the final Team GB member,Lee Payne. Following back brake problems in moto one,Lee then suffered an injured hip in moto two when a fellow competitor landed on him!!.

Payne’s bad luck started right from the off in moto one when falling after clashing with Dutch rider Jimmy Kaal on the opening lap of the contest.Whilst Kaal survived the collision,Payne was then in further trouble as his KTM’s rear brake locked on .Thinking fast,Lee returned to the pits,disconnected the offending link and then returned to action!!.Upfront,German star Frank Jansen-Teitz was leading the charge but Brit Michael Reynolds had also made a super start,holding an early 8^th spot with Lee Dunham 14^th and Clinton Barrs 18^th.

Despite the awful conditions,the classy Teitz made the going look easy,breezing to victory despite coming under late pressure from Kaal who had maintained serious forward momentum despite that first lap tangle with Payne. Reigning IMBA Champion,Belgian Jelle Grade got home in 3^rd just ahead of another impressive German Michael Kaussen and Vince Collet,the winner of round one in the Czech Republic.First Brit home in moto one was Dunham in 12^th with Reynolds on his stock KTM getting home in 15^th and Barrs 16^th.

In an eventful moto two,Payne desperate to make amends for his opening race disaster pulled off a glorious holeshot and lead the charge through the first couple of turns.However Payne was maybe a little too determined, over-jumping and crashing,dropping back to 13^th.In the early exchanges,Barrs,much to the delight of Grandad  Lennie was flying high and the highest placed Brit in a super 9^th with Reynolds making another great start and holding 12^th as Dunham circulated in 16^th.

Now getting to grips with the Oss track,the Brits were fighting hard in this clash and looking very likely to bag some serious points haul and top ten places until it all went wrong!!.First Payne after climbing back up the leaderboard slipped off in a downhill corner then when picking himself up was painfully struck by a following rider and Barrs crashed dropping back to 20^th spot!!.So on completion,that man Dunham was yet again first AMCA rider past the flag,studiously picking off his rivals to earn a strong 11^th,one place ahead of the impressive Reynolds whilst Barrs got back to 18^th.Taking the win in this one was Grade from Teitz and Sven Wouters.

With a battered and bruised Payne sitting out the final clash,both Barrs(9^th) and Dunham(11^th)initially made great starts as Reynolds on this occasion was down in 23^rd.During moto three,the rain had finally stopped but with the track now at it’s very roughest,Barrs was to fall victim of the deep,bike devouring ruts when falling on lap two and dropping back to 14^th.Undeterred,Clinton remounted and caught teammate Dunham only to lose vital IMBA points following a typically unfortunate incident!!.About to take the last lap flag,a Danish rider fell right infront of Barrs, forcing the Bristol rider to take emergency evasive action!!.That one moment dropped Clinton back to 16^th spot, three places ahead of Reynolds as Dunham finished the event strongly in 10^th.Taking the win and the overall verdict was Teitz as his main rival Grade could only get home in 6^th,still a superb effort considering he was down in 20^th spot on lap one!!.

In the Championship standings,former triple Champion Teitz is back in charge,holding a 50 point lead over Vincent Collet with reigning Champion Grade in third whilst Dunham is the leading Brit and ready to pounce in 5^th.The IMBA MX1 class now moves onto Nympsfield where our Brits will be very determined to move rapidly up the title leaderboard.Date for your diary,Sunday 15^th July,it’s sure to be a cracker!!.

Mike Wood 

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