Disappointing Arenacross start for Adam Chatfield
By Sean Lawless on 6th Jan 16
Buildbase Honda team-mates Adam Chatfield and last years runner-up Angelo Pellegrini had a steady start to the 2016 Monster Energy Arenacross Tour powered by Ford Ranger at Manchester Arena on Saturday night.
Adam, the 2013 AX champion, ran 4-3 in his heat races and came home sixth in the Main Event.
The 28-year-old Brazil-based rider was clearly disappointed with his performance.
"I struggled a little bit,” he admitted.
"I had a fourth and a third in the heat races – I just wanted to get into the final because the level's really high this year and there are a lot of good guys.
"In the Main Event I didn't have a great start – I think I was in fourth – and then Cyrille Coulon ran me wide and it messed me up and I went back to sixth.
"It's not been a great start to the series for me because I should be a top-three guy – I expect to be on the
podium – but it's on to the next round and we'll go from there.”
Angelo mirrored his team-mate's heat results with a 3-4 but crashed early in the Main Event after
running into the back of Josh Hansen and could only recover to 10th at the end of the 14-lap race.
"Last year I didn't make the Main in the first round and felt that I started on the back foot so this time it is an improvement,”
explained the Italian.
"The crash is just part and parcel of arenacross racing – it can happen to anyone – and I'm looking forward to next weekend in Scotland.”
Team boss Dave Thorpe is expecting better results this weekend when the series travels to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow for rounds two and three. "First off I have to say the track was really good,” said DT.
"Justin Barclay did a really good job and the track preparation was excellent.
"In the heat races they rode conservatively to the point where they could have pushed a bit harder but they wanted to make the Main Event safely.
"The heats are not what it's all about but they give you the position for the start and, as with all arenacross events, everything was on the start.
"In short our riders lacked a little bit of aggression in the Main Event and in truth a little bit of pace on the night.” ight.”dfsdfksdflsd'flsd'flsd'
