Report: IMBA MX2 European Championship
By Mike Wood on 20th Jul 16
After round two of the IMBA MX2 European Championship was cancelled due to a waterlogged track, there was a distinct contrast in conditions which greeted Team AMCA GB on Saturday.
Clear blue skies and soaring temperatures were the order of the day for the latest IMBA action held at Allaire in North West France.
Representing Team GB at this always popular event which starts in daylight and finishes under floodlights in the early hours of Sunday morning were Josh Waterman (JD IDS Transport KTM), Lewis King (Wulfsport Rock-Oil Suzuki), Jack Gardner (FUS Moto4 Fro Husqvarna) and Ryan Pottenger (Wulfsport Rock-Oil Suzuki) with Adam Wells (Apico Yamaha) coming in as a late replacement for the injured Zac Stealey.
When the action got underway, reigning four-times IMBA Champion, Dutchman John Cuppen recorded the fastest qualifying time, just pipping Lewis King. That form was repeated in the opening as the immaculate Cuppen took the win with King a very close second and Karl Schepmans of Belgium third.
Next best for Team GB was Waterman, who got home in fifth, with Gardner seventh, Wells tenth and Pottenger 23rd.
Moto two at Allaire was again all about Cuppen and King as they locked horns in a truly fantastic tussle.
For the majority of the contest it was King who led the way until the flying Cuppen managed to squeeze through in the closing stages. Gardner, has another very impressive European Championship outing in a string fourth. Waterman was fighting hard at the top end of the contest to bag a strong fifth. In what was a very productive moto for the battling Brits, Wells also earned tenth and Pottenger 23rd.
Unfortunately, in the final floodlit Allaire clash, the gallant King's hopes of a deserved podium spot were dashed when mechanical gremlins struck, restricting him to a frustrating 24th place.
Flying the Union Jack in style this time around was Waterman who took a challenging second spot, enough to also earn him the runner-up placing on the day.
With Gardner also well down in this moto, the next Brit home was Wells in eighth as Pottenger took 20th.
Next up for Team GB is their home round at Penkridge, Staffordshire, on July 31 when Waterman will attempt to reduce the 44 point deficit that currently exists between himself and Cuppen.
Results
IMBA European MX2 Championship: 1 John Cuppen (NL) 60+60+60=180 points, 2 Josh Waterman (GB) 45+45+54=144. 3 Karel Schepmans (B) 50+41+45=136, 4 Christoph Selent (D) 43+43+47=133, 5 Lewis King (GB) 54+54+17=125, 6 Jacky Tausch (NL) 47+50+26=123, 7 Fabio Tessari (I) 39+33+43=115, 8 Adam Wells (GB) 35+35+39=109, 9 Quentin Nowak (F) 31+27+50=108, 10 Jack Gardner (GB) 41+47+16=104,... 23 Ryan Pottenger (GB) 18+18+21=57,...
