Mitchell's full of Latvian spirit
By TMX Archives on 15th Aug 07
BRITISH Champion, John Mitchell, and the ATV World team made the long trip to the second round of the European Quadcross Championship in Latvia on Sunday and took a second place and a win in the two races, plus the series lead.
In the first of the two 30-minute plus two-lapraces, Mitchell nursed his ATV World Yamaha across the line in thirdspot after losing all his engine coolant, but was promoted to secondplace when French Suzuki star, Jeremy Warnia, was penalised by60-seconds for exceeding the noise limit in the race. Mitchell's ATVWorld team-mate, Paul Holmes, rode the race of his life to take ajubilant fourth place at the flag.
Mitchell holeshot the second race and then overshot the berm in the second corner.
Fortunately, Warnia followed the Scotsman andblocked the track, which allowed Mitchell to retain the lead and buildon it, taking the win by a massive one-minute 49-seconds at the flag.
Holmes didn't do so well this time and emergedfrom the second bend tangle at the rear of the field. He pulled throughto an amazing eighth position, but a bent rear sprocket ended in adisappointing DNF for the ever-improving youngster.
The British contingent reported a superb track andorganisation, with excellent viewing and fantastic hospitality from therace-mad Latvians.
Over 11,000 spectators attended the event with most of them camping at the track which boasted first-rate facilities.