Brits perform well in European championship
April 23, 2008
The ACU Motocross Academy jetted off to Cingoli in the Marche region of Italy over the weekend for their first taste of European Championship racing. The eight bikes left midweek in a van with two of the dads and the riders, David Games, Josh Waterman, Sam Davis and Ben Watson joined by Matthew Moffat flew out on Friday ready for the two day competition. Michael Eccles and Jack Kelly were also in attendance in the 85cc class and Tom Kelly riding only 1 of 3 2 strokes in the EMX2 Junior races.
With it being a new experience for all of the riders nobody knew what to expect and the first set of free training showed that the riders were going to be able to hold there own against the tough European Competition. Ben was the first of the riders to take to the circuit and after the first session found himself in a credible 12th position just under 4 seconds off of pole. With 45 EMX2 Junior entries all of the riders went out together and found themselves posting times good enough to be in the top half of the table with Sam topping the list in 11th position and Josh in 21st having burnt out the clutch on his Kawasaki.
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Ben on the podium
Following some tinkering on the 65 of Ben to allow for the altitude of the circuit he was able to improve his time to within 3 seconds and posted 6th place. Some frantic work had seen Josh’s suspension and plastics transferred to the one spare Kawasaki and the riders took to the course again for the second session of free practice with Sam again posting the quickest time in 11th place but this time with all of the riders in the top 20 with David in 13th, Josh in 17th and Matthew in 20th.
It was now time for the serious business of qualification but with the mornings times it appeared that all of the Academy riders would make it through to the main races. The EMX 85 class was first up and split in to two groups following an entry of 60 riders, unfortunately neither Michael nor Jack managed to finish in the required positions to go through to the Sunday races.
Rob Meek had been working hard during the break working with all of the riders on their setups for the afternoon and everybody was up in the grandstands to see how Ben was to get on. The hard work seemed to have paid off and Ben was holding his own out on the track and posted the third fastest time just 1.43 seconds off the pace.
The EMX2 Junior riders made their way to the waiting zone for their chance to make improvements. Once again Sam came out on top with an eventual time giving him 12th place. Josh Waterman came out 18th and following a nasty fall David Games qualified in 19th and came away with a sore ankle and grazing to his right forearm. Matthew had improved on his time posted 15th with Tom bringing the 2 stroke in for 34th and all had qualified for the main races.
Saturday night was spent chilling out at the Hotels and the chance for the riders to catch their breath and discuss Sundays strategies after repacking the hire van with all of the gear.
Sunday morning dawned with a blue sky and beautiful sunshine, a welcome change following some recent UK events and the camp was set up again ready for the days event. Ben was first out for morning warm up but failed to get a clean lap and posted 14th fastest time but new he had more to give when it came to racing.
The EMX2 Junior Academy riders continued to post times in the top 20 but David was suffering a bit from his injuries and a problem with the clutch on his Thor KTM resulting in more work for the dads back in the pits.
None of the riders were experiencing any adverse affects from nerves and Ben was keen to get out for his first race of the afternoon. Ben got away with the front of the pack and came round at the end of the first lap in fourth place. Ben then found a new lease of life and within the space of the next lap had taken the lead and pulled a gap on the rest of the field and posted a lap time almost 1.5 seconds quicker than his rivals. Unfortunately this leap to the front of the pack escaped the attention of a blue flag marshal who spent the remainder of the race waving the flag at Ben. Ben went into the last lap comfortably in the lead but unfortunately a back marker fell and took Ben down with him relegating him to 5th place at the flag.
With nobody sure what to expect of the EMX2 Junior riders it was a disappointment to see Games tangled up with the start gate after the rest of the pack had got away. Eventually getting away David retired after 2 laps so as not to aggravate his injury for race 2. Sam also fell in the early stages of the race and gallantly persevered and got back up to 28th. Josh along with Matthew were fairing much better and after good starts were making progress through the pack and finished 9th and 10th at the end of the gruelling 25 minute plus two lap races. Tom Kelly just missed out on the points coming home in 23rd.
Ben went to the line in race two with a point to prove but didn’t get the start he had hoped for and completed the first lap at the back end of the top twenty, however he was making steady progress though the pack and again posted a time 1.5 seconds quicker than his nearest rival. By the start of the last lap he was nipping at the heals of Russian rider Baranov and made a dive for the inside only to have the front wash out and he went down, this time they had a good enough advantage for him to remount and finish in second place. Once all of the counting had been done Ben had managed to clinch second overall and a well deserved podium place.
Buoyed by Bens performance the older riders all got away well at the start of the second EMX Junior moto and all came round in the top ten at the end of lap one, Sam and David clashed leaving Sam again to fight his way through the pack whilst Josh, David and Moff maintained their places up near the front. Towards the end of the race David’s soreness started to take its toll and he slipped back to finally finish in 14th place. Matt and Josh managed to push each other on and finish just 30 seconds off the lead in sixth and seventh place. Sam came home in 31st with Kelly in 26th. The two good rides by Matthew and Josh put them in 7th and 8th places in the current standings.
All in all it was a good weekend of experience for the young ACU Academy riders that will hopefully help move them towards their goals in the future.
Qualifying results
EMX 85cc
Qualifying
1 84 J Herrlings Netherlands
2 13 D Ullrich Germany
3 25 P Karner Austria
53 69 M Eccles Britain
54 143 J Kelly Britain
EMX 65cc
Qualifying
1 41 P Jonass Latvia
2 22 E Facchetti Italy
3 29 B Watson Britain
Race 1
1 4 D Pootjes Hetherlands
2 35 J Furbetta Italy
3 22 E Facchetti Italy
5 29 B Watson Britain
Race 2
1 28 I Baranov Russia
2 29 B Watson Britain
3 71 R Savioli Italy
Overall
1 4 D Pootjes Netherlands
2 29 B Watson Britain
3 22 E Facchetti Italy
EMX2 Junior
Qualifying
1 2 E Michailov Russia
2 262 G Del Segato Italy
3 53 A D’Angelo Italy
12 37 S Davis Britain
15 36 M Moffat Britain
18 35 J Waterman Britain
19 34 D Games Britain
34 171 T Kelly Britain
Race 1
1 262 G Del Segato Italy
2 68 S Tarraneo Italy
3 5 F Smola Czech Republic
9 35 J Waterman Britain
10 36 M Moffat Britain
23 171 T Kelly Britain
28 37 S Davis Britain
Race 2
1 262 G Del Segato Italy
2 68 S Tarraneo Italy
3 2 E Michailov Russia
6 36 M Moffat Britain
7 35 J Waterman Britain
14 34 D Games Britain
26 171 T Kelly Britain
31 37 S Davis Britain
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