European Classic Scrambles Championship in Sweden R3

Written by MIKE WOOD Tuesday, 21 June 2011 00:00

Emma Deer made the very long journey to Vrigstad in Sweden and despite obvious tiredness she still very kindly found time to send us her report and pics from what was the third and final round of the European Classic Scrambles Championships.

After the excellent performances of the British riders at round 2 of the European Classic Motocross Championship, the Brits left in convoy last weekend to make the lengthy journey to Vrigstad in Sweden for the final round of the championship. With all of the classes still open in terms of the overalls, nervous were abound as the sun rose on the woodland circuit.

In qualifying the British gained some great grid positions. In the 66+ class Terry Challinor qualified 6^th and Pete Jerred had an excellent 12^th. In the 60+ class Chris Castles had an 11^th, Roger Dunford was 12^th quickest, Alan Arnott had an 18^th and Roger Powell was 20^th. In the 50+ class Rupert Copping popped in an excellent last dash lap to qualify 7^th quickest. In the 35+ class current European Champion Scott Hayworth qualified fastest, with Wayne Partington 3^rd, Keith Best 5^th, Tim Manton 7^th and Chris Collins 9^th.

In the 66+ class Challinor knew 2 class wins would give him his 3^rd 66+ European title. As the gate dropped for the first heat Challinor blasted his BSA to an excellent holeshot. On the first couple of laps German rider Wolfgang Buttner hounded Challinor, but the strength of the British rider eventually stood out and he had his first win of the day. Jerred fought hard for his 15^th placing. In the 2^nd heat it was Challinor again who got the holeshot and once again although pushed by the foreign competitors he went on to get his 2^nd race win and take the championship. Jerred took a 16^th to give him 15^th overall on the day and 9^th in the championship.

In the 60+ class it was Finland rider Heikki Nurminen who took 2 excellent heat wins, which along with his other excellent previous championship results gave him the 60+ title. The British riders gave chase to the foreign competitors though. Castles had 2 consistent 12^th positions, which also gave him 12^th overall on the day and 9^th in the championship. Dunford had an excellent 9^th position in heat 1, but gearbox issues in heat 2 resulted in him finishing down the pack in 24^th, this gave him 16^th overall on the day and a hard fought 5^th overall in the championship. Welshman Powell had 2 consistent results with an 18^th and a 17^th giving him 17^th overall on the day and 12^th in the final championship standings.

In the 50+ class it was Dutchman Peter v.d Nieuwnhof who took 2 stylish heat wins which add to his previous 3 victories in the championship gave him the title for 2011. Sole British competitor Copping took an 11^th in heat 1 and a 10^th in heat 2 to give him 10^th overall on the day. His final position in the series was a very commendable 9^th overall.

In the 35+ class, mechanical issues at round 1 in Germany had left current European Champion Hayworth with needing not only to win both heats in Sweden, but for results behind him to also go his way. With this in mind he blasted his BSA out of the gate in heat 1. On lap one his nearest rival Belgium rider Bjorn Verdoodt took a tumble which left him down the pack. With Hayworth taking the victory and Verdoodt only managing an 8^th, the result after calculations was that the British rider required another heat win and as long as Verdoodt had a result no better than 3^rd Hayworth would be champion. As the gate dropped it was another British rider Partington who raced his CZ to the first corner to take the holeshot, Hayworth however halfway round lap 1 had squeezed past to take command of the race. Verdoodt meanwhile was back in 4^th but looking for a way to the front of the pack, but another slip up languished him back down the pack. By the drop of the finish flag Hayworth had taken his 2^nd victory and as he looked behind to see Verdoodt only gaining 5^th, the British rider knew the title was his once again. Partington took a 3^rd in this 2^nd heat and along with his 5^th in heat 1 gained him the final podium spot on the day and 4^th in the championship. Best took 2 4^th positions on the day to give him 4^th overall in the days standings and 5^th in the championship. Manton mean while had a crash on the start of heat 1 resulting in him taking only a 10^th position, and with an 8^th in heat 2 this gave him 9^th overall on the day and 6^th in the championship. Collins had 2 consistent rides with a 6^th and 7^th to give him 7^th overall on the day and 8^th in the championship.

It had been an excellent weekend and series for the British Riders and we all now look forward to the Classic Des Nations in September.

Round 3 Results

+66 Class

1^st Terry Challinor (England), 2^nd Wolfgang Buttner (Germany), 3^rd Johan Roosink (Netherlands), 15^th Peter Jerred (England)

+60 Class

1^st Heikki Nurminen (Finland), 2^nd Helmut Mielenz (Germany), 3^rd Jorgen Ahlstrom (Sweden) 12^th Chris Castles (England), 16^th Roger Dunford (England), 17^th Roger Powell (Wales)

+50 Class

1^st Peter v.d Nieuwenhof (Netherlands), 2^nd Miroslav Nejedly (Czech Republic), 3^rd Jan Hrdina (Czech Republic), 10^th Rupert Copping (England)

+35 Class

1^st Scott Hayworth (England), 2^nd Flemming Vad (Denmark) 3^rd Wayne Partington (England), 4^th Keith Best (England), 7^th Chris Collins (England), 9^th Tim Manton (England)

Championship Results

+66 Class

1^st Terry Challinor (England) 2^nd Johan Roosink (Netherlands) 3^rd Wolfgang Buttner (Germany), 9^th Pete Jerred (England)

+60 Class

1^st Heikki Nurminen (Finland), 2^nd Helmut Mielenz (Germany) 3^rd Jorgen Ahlstrom (Sweden), 5^th Roger Dunford (England), 9^th Chris Castles (England), 12^th Roger Powell (Wales)

+50 Class

1^st Peter v.d Nieuwenhof (Netherlands), 2^nd Miroslav Nejedly (Czech Republic), 3^rd Jan Hrdina (Czech Republic), 9^th Rupert Copping (England)

+ 35 Class

1^st Scott Hayworth (England), 2^nd Bjorn Verdoodt (Belgium), 3^rd Flemming Vad (Denmark), 4^th Wayne Partington (England), 5^th Keith Best (England), 6^th Tim Manton (England), 8^th Chris Collins (England)