Wat' Euro stars
By TMX Archives on 23rd Apr 08
THE ACU Motocross Academy jetted off to Cingoli, Italy, last weekend to compete in the opening round of the European 65cc, 85cc and 125 Junior championships where there was some podium success for the squad and some strong all round performances against a quality field. The riders, David Games, Josh Waterman, Sam Davis and Ben Watson were joined by fellow Brit Matthew Moffat and flew out on Friday ready for the two day competition where they were also joined by Michael Eccles and Jack Kelly in the 85cc class and Tom Kelly who rodeone of only of three two-strokes in the 125cc class.
The very hard-pack fast former GP venue presented a new challenge to the riders, but Watson in the 65cc class and all the 125cc riders managed to make it through Saturday qualifying and into Sundays championship races, although Games suffered a heavy fall in the process injuring an ankle and arm in the process.
Sunday morning dawned with a blue sky and beautiful sunshine, a welcome change following some recent UK events and the camp was set up again ready for the days event.
Watson was out first and got away at the front of the pack in moto one and came round at the end of the first lap in fourth place. Ben then found a new lease of life and within the space of the next lap had taken the lead and pulled a gap on the rest of the field. Unfortunately as Ben went into the last lap a back marker fell and took Ben down with him relegating him to fifth place at the flag.
Ben went to the line in race two with a point to prove but didn't get the start he had hoped for and completed the first lap at the back end of the top 20. However, he was making steady progress though the pack and posted laps 1.5 seconds quicker than his nearest rival. By the start of the last lap he was nipping at the heels of Russian rider Ivan Baranov and made a dive for the inside only to have the front-wheel wash-out and he went down. This time though Watson had a good enough advantage for him to remount and finish in second place and clinch second overall, a well deserved podium place.
With nobody sure what to expect of the 125cc riders it was a disappointment to see Games tangled up with the start gate after the rest of the pack had got away in heat one.
Eventually getting away David retired after two laps so as not to aggravate his ankle injury for race two. Davis also fell in the early stages of the race but gallantly persevered and got back up to 28th at the flag. Waterman and Moffat were fairing much better, however, and after good starts were making progress through the pack to finish ninth and tenth at the end of the gruelling 25 minute plus two lap moto. Tom Kelly just missed out on the points in 23rd.
Buoyed by Watson's earlier performance the older riders all got away well at the start of the second moto and came round inside the top ten at the end of lap one. Davis and Games unfortunately clashed leaving Davis again to fight his way through the pack whilst Waterman, Games and Moffat maintained their places up near the front.
Towards the end of the race Games soreness started to take its toll and he slipped back to finally finish in 14th place. Moffat and Waterman managed to push each other on to finish just 30-seconds off the lead in sixth and seventh place, while Davis came home in 31st with Kelly in 26th.
All in all it was a good weekend of experience for the young ACU Academy riders that will hopefully help move them towards their goals in the future.
EUROPEAN JUNIOR MOTOCROSS
CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 1 - Cingoli, Italy
JUNIOR 65cc
Race 1: 1 D Pootjes (NL), 2 J Furbetta (I), 3 E Facchetti (I), 5 Ben Watson (GB).
Race 2: 1 I Baranov (Rus), 2 Ben Watson (GB), 3 R Savioli (I).
Overall: 1 D Pootjes (NL), 2 Ben Watson (GB), 3 E Facchetti (I).
EMX2
Race 1: 1 G Del Segato (I), 2 S Tarraneo (I), 3 F Smola (CZ), 9 Josh Waterman (GB), 10 Matt Moffat (GB), 23 Tom Kelly (GB), 28 Sam Davis (GB).
Race 2: 1 G Del Segato (I), 2 S Tarraneo (I), 3 E Michailov (Rus), 6 Matt Moffat (GB), 7 Josh Waterman (GB), 14 David Games (GB), 26 Tom Kelly (GB), 31 Sam Davis (GB).