Bunce goes to appeal
By Andy Foulkes on 8th Feb 13
BRITISH X-Country champion Carl Bunce topped the UK entry at last weekends shortened Le Touquet beach, race but only after video evidence finally proved he had finished fifth.
From the off, Bunce's transponder didn't work and his team spent all race, and some time after, convincing officials in their poor French where he was in the race.
The race was shortened to an hour-and-a-half as the tide came in faster than expected, which meant results had to be taken from the last completed lap, which created
further confusion.
The next highest Brit was Bunce's Rocketman Suzuki team-mate, Ant Barrett, who was 32nd overall and fifth in the Vets class. Welshman Ben Morgan was the 35th of 409 starters.
"Fortunately there was a video on the finish line as back-up, which was a good job as lots of rides had the same problem,” said Team Rocketman's Jason Smith.
Carl Bunce may have had the advantage of video evidence to stake his claim to a top position at Le
Touquet, but other Brit riders were not so lucky. Sheldon Seal was docked at least a lap and should have been awarded a top 20
position.
Similarly, the Paul Winrow/ Stef Murphy team were also in the top 20 by their reckoning, but were also demoted in the dubious results. Chris Murphy also reckoned he was a lap up on what he was awarded.
