Did he or didn’t he?
May 19, 2008
That’s the question on everyone’s lips this morning, did Tommy Searle take out Shaun Simpson or was it a racing accident?
There’s no two ways about it the move could have been avoided but whatever happens it will make the next round of the world championship which is being staged in the UK at Mallory Park all that more interesting for sure – one race not to be missed.
Image by Tempestini E.
Back to Italy then, Searle put in a solid performance to finish in third overall and that was after leading the first moto by a considerable margin, only to see the wee French kid Aubin come passed and relegate him to second, "I made some mistakes and just tried to stay on the bike," he said. "I did try to catch Tyla and Cairoli in the second heat but I wasn't able to manage it. Also the track was ruined after all the rain at the weekend."
Race one was certainly interesting with home town favourite Cairoli hitting the dirt in corner two and raced back to a remarkable fourth position. Rattray did what he needed to do and crossed the line in third.
Race two was different though with Cairoli looking like he was out for a stroll in the park and whooped everyone’s ass with a great performance, Rattray improved by one position to second and Searle dogged it out for third. Race one winner Aubin didn’t repeat his performance from moto one but did enough for sixth.
The rest of the Brits had a mixed bag with Simpson having a personal battle with Frossard in moto two and stayed ahead for fourth which put him fifth overall, Stephen Sword had a great first race but disappeared in race two after being hit by Goncalves, “I felt pretty good in the first few laps and I was coming through quite well. I made a pass right around the outside of Rui Goncalves and then in the next corner he just hit me flat out in the side. It was totally uncalled for but I suppose that’s just racing. After that my bike was totally bent – the handlebars, the subframe, everything!”
Image by Ray Archer
Other point scoring riders in Italy included Carl Nunn who didn’t have great race one but changed that in moto two with a strong tenth position, Elliott Banks Browne or ASBO as a certain Kenny Kay called him on national TV (not a good nickname) rode solidly and even found himself in the top ten in race one, “The track was very demanding today but I had a good start, the bike was working so well, and it all seemed so easy. I could keep my 8th position for nearly half an hour, but just one slip was enough to lose it. I hit a kicker bump coming out of a corner straight into a table top and flew over the bars,” explained Elliot.
Jason had to retire in moto one but got on with the job in moto two and finished with three points.
Next stop Mallory Park for the British MX2 contingent, more fireworks and more great racing for sure.
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