No MX1 Brits in Portugal!
By TMX Archives on 13th May 10
When the MX1 GP lined up at Agueda on Sunday there was not a single British rider at the gate for the first time since the Canadian 500cc GP on 29 June 1975... 35 years ago!
As then, the absence of Brits at the gate is due to injuries suffered by CCM factory riders. Some 35 years back it was John Banks and Vic Eastwood who were forced to miss the North American tour through injury. This time a hand operation will keep Tom Church (pictured left) away and team-mate Stephen Sword is still not 100 per cent recovered from the viral infection which saw him miss the Italian and Dutch GPs.
Director Austin Clews advised Youthstream of the absence of the Buildbase CCM team in Portugal and Spain, explaining: Tom Church will be undergoing an operation on his hand later this week, which will put him out of action until the French GP. Stephen Sword's condition continues to improve but blood tests reveal that he is still suffering with a viral infection, which was affecting him during this weekend's Maxxis MX1 Championship.
As a result of this situation, CCM Racing will unfortunately be absent from GPs until at least the French GP.
TC' has been handicapped by an injury to the thumb since Mantova, while Sword has not been 100 per cent all year because of the viral infection.
The fact that both CCM riders finished in the top three of the final moto of a tough day's racing at Duns underlines their drive and determination.
Hopefully both riders and the Builbase CCM team will be able to reap the rewards when they return to GP action in the second-half of the season.