IMBA MX1 R1 Switzerland

Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 12 April 2011 00:00

The former GP circuit at Wohlen,Switzerland provided the venue for the opening IMBA MX1 European Championship meeting of 2011.On a day of contrasting fortunes for the AMCA lads,current IMBA MX2 Champion Lee Dunham finished a fantastic 3^rd overall on his MX1 debut.

Also having a great day in the Swiss sunshine was Clinton Barrs with a superb 4^th whilst despite having a broken finger and swollen hand,Brad O’Leary finished a very brave 11^th overall.Suffering a badly cut arm in the final moto,Richard Meakin still took 13^th spot as IMBA debutant Shaun Pearce picked up a very respectable 24^th place despite encountering problems with the exhaust system on his Husqvarna machine.

On a stony,dry circuit,Swiss wild card rider Reto Vogelsang hotly disputed the opening moto leadership with O’Leary,chased hard by Dunham,Belgian Vincent Collet,Dutch rider Erwin Robins and Barrs with reigning IMBA Champion,German Frank Jansen-Teitz in 8^th.Lap two and O’Leary had dropped back to 5^th,moving up to now challenge leader Vogelsang was to be the rapid Collet before the Belgian crashed out in spectacular fashion,his bike cart-wheeling down the track.In an ever changing leaderboard,it was to be yet another Belgian Jelle Grade who was to then take full advantage of Collet’s misfortune and thus slot into 2^nd with Dunham 3^rd,Barrs 4^th,Teitz 5^th and O’Leary 6^th whilst the remaining Brits Meakin and Pearce held 17^th and 21^st respectively.Two laps from home and Teitz was to display his class,eventually finding a way past the gallant Barrs whilst O’Leary stalled his engine.So at the flag, whilst the super quick Vogelsang took the first IMBA win much to the delight of his home supporters ahead of Grade,Dunham was a great 3^rd,Teitz 4^th,Barrs 5^th, O’Leary 10^th,Meakin 17^th and Pearce 20^th.

After his great opening ride,Dunham gated in 2^nd spot behind that man Vogelsang during the early stages of moto two with Barrs again flying high in 6^th spot,a very sore O’Leary 11^th,Pearce 13^th and Meakin 23^rd.As the race unfolded,Teitz moved through from an early 5^th to eventually snatch 2^nd place from Dunham on lap six whilst Collet was to again taste the Swiss soil when crashing out whilst holding a strong top ten placing.On completion of proceedings with Vogelsang taking another win,Dunham was the top Brit home in 3^rd with Barrs 5^th,O’Leary 11^th,Meakin 12^th and Pearce after encountering machine problems still a fine 17^th.

So to the final Swiss moto,and what a dramatic encounter it proved to be for the British riders.Whilst Vogelsang completed his hat-trick,Barrs was to produce arguably the ride of the day.Gating in 2^nd,Clinton was hot on the heels of Vogelsang for the opening five laps until his rear-brake pedal snapped.Despite no rear-stopper and on a fast, hillside circuit littered with stones and downhill jumps,Clinton still got home in a fantastic 4^th spot even keeping British teamate Lee Dunham at bay.Fifth place though for Lee was still enough to earn him a memorable 3^rd overall and podium placing on his IMBA MX1 debut.In this last clash,O’Leary(17^th) was to suffer a big off,further aggrevating his already painful hand injury in the process and Pearce(37^th) picked up a puncture.Meakin despite having a flying stone badly cut his arm,still displayed great determination to get home in an impressive 12^th.

Well done to all the AMCA riders,next stop,Krasny Dvur in the Czech Republic!!.

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

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