Eccles gets back on the Euro Trail
By TMX Archives on 4th May 12
After a sterling final season in the Big-wheel 85cc class when he won Everts and Friends and took the Dutch national title to the wire with a moto win on his way to third in the series 15-year-old Michael Eccles from Pontefract is back on the European trail again in earnest this summer as he contests the European 125cc crown for RB Racing.
The urge to race abroad had come early for the Eccles family, despite the distance from Yorkshire to the Channel ports.
However, the biggest boost of all came at the end of last year when former British championship contender Richard Boot decided to form a team with WPR and went looking for a promising rider to support.
Richard, who runs a steel fabrication firm in Chesterfield, had noted Michael's name as he started to look around for a youngster to back, but, despite the proximity of their home bases, didn't know Michael until last year's Dirt Bike Show.
"I had seen Michael's name in the results of a couple of Red Bull Pro Nationals and wondered where he had gone, then
I happened to start talking to Michael's mum and learnt about his other achievements,” said Richard.
The day after the YMX2 opener at Canada Heights – where Michael scored an amazing ninth overall on his 125cc machine against the four-stroke hordes – WPR pulled the plug. But Richard was determined not to leave the Eccles' in the lurch:
"I'd always prepared for the contingency and we will go ahead with our full programme,” he said.
"We are here for the long-term and Michael will be an integral part of RB Racing for as long as it takes for him to show his full potential.”
